Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1872-11-23
PROGRESS OF THE NORTHERN PACIFIC
RAILROAD.

MeSsrS. Jay Cooke u Co., agents OF
the Northern Pacific Railroad, furnish
the following interesting statement of
the progress and prospects of the road:
At this date, August, 1872, regular
freight and passenger trains have been
running for six months on schedule
time, over the main line of the Northern
Pacific road, from Duluth to the eastern
border of Dakota, 252 miles; the track
is laid and construction trains now run
considerable distance westward across
Dakota three-fourths of the 2O9 miles
between the Red river and the crossing
of the Missouri is graded; track-laying
is progressing at the rate of nearly two
miles a day, and about the middle of
October the road is to be completed and
in operation to the Missouri river, 200
miles from the west line of Minnesota,
and 452 miles west of Lake Superior.
All material and equipment arc pur-
chased and ready for the completion
and operation of this section of the
road.
On the Pacific coast, in Washington
Territory, a finished section Of twenty
five miles has been in e.ular operation
for some months, and an additional ex-
tent of forty miles is now approaching
completion making sixty-miles at the
western end that will be in running or
der at the present season. This will
give total of SIT miles put in opera
ton in little more than twenty-four
months from the date of beginning
work, Notwithstanding the necessary
delays of the first year attendent upon
the prosecution of thorough preliminary
surveys, and the completion of the best
Inc through densely wooded region.
! A better idea Of the real magnitude
of the work accomplished will be con-
vcycd by stating that the portion of the
Northern Pacific now approaching COM
pletion is considerably longer than the
New York Central Railroad and it's con-
Meeting lines, extending from Albany,
New York, to Cleveland, Ohio; nearly
as long as the combined roads reaching
from Portland, Main, through Boston,
Providence, New Haven, New York,
Philadelphia and Baltimore to Wash
ington; and almost one and q half
times the length of an air line from
London to Glasgow.
In addition to this actual construc-
ton, the work of Surveying anl locating
the entire line across the continent has
been pushed with system and vigor,
summer and winter; careful engineer
iny, and the selection of the best of
several possible line, have in many in
stances reduced the cost of construction
considerably below the original estimates
Continuous surveys and examinations
have been made from Lake Superior to
Puget Sound, with the exception of a
short section on tho Yellowstone river,
which is now being surveyed. The re-
suits OF two years careful examination
more than justify the Company's expec-
tations and statements regarding the
Valley Route to the Paciiic-bo!h in
respect to easy railroad construction
and operation, and the good quality of
the country trnverscd by the line. Ei-
elusive of the sections already complet-
ed or under construction, there are S36
miles now being finally located and
prepared for contract. This includes
the section of 22G miles extending along
the valleys Of Hear river and Glendive' S
creek, from the crossing of the Missou-
ii in central Dakota, to the crossing of
the Yellowstone in eastern Montana,
and the section between the mouth of
Snake river and Lake Pen dOrcille,
wost of the Rocky Mountains.
The section of the road already in
operation across Minnesota enjoys very
considerable local traffic, including the
carrying trade of the British settlements
in Manitoba and the Hudson Bay Com
pany. Three steamers for the accommo-
dation of this latter business, ply on the
Red river Of the north, between the
railroad crossing and Winnepeg, in
British Columbia.
The completion of this seasons con-
tracts will give the road immediate and
permanent control of the very large and
profitable traffic of the upper Missouri
river, including the Government trans
portations in the northwest. A short
distance above the point where the road
strikes the Missouri, the latter bends to
the west. carrying naviyable water
way 1000 miles from the railroad eros
sing to tho foot of the Rocky Mountain
divide, ut Fort Benton, in Western
Montana. AS many as thirty-three
steamers have been employed in sin
gle season to accommodate the trade OF
these upper waters. Thus, on the open
ing of navigation next spring, there
will be direct east and west line for
travel and transportation-part river
and part rail-from st. Paul and Lake
Superior, i'll longitude ninety-two de-
%rees to the western portion of Monta-
na, i'll longitude 40 degrees. From
Fort Benton westward across the sum
niit it is less than 400 miles to the head
OF reliable and constant steam naviga-
ton on the Columbia, which river car.
ries this natural highway to the Pacific
ocean.
The portion of the road now nearing
completion will at once entitle the Nor.
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