The Van Buren press., 1872-01-30
The 25th Parallel Route.

The Chicago Tribune appCa"s to labor
under the impression that the snow
blockade on The Union Pacific railroad,
which has broken up railroad communi-
cation across the plains, is altogether a
''triAc light as air" and that the com
plants against that rorte vii. cease
Whenever the heavens permit an unob
structed track again. The fact is, the
people Of the country are only just
awakening to the full effects Of tho blum
der committed in tne construction, at
public cost, Of q continental railroad
through dcsolatc northern regions swept
by the heaviest snow storm in winter,
and dissatisfaction with the Union Pa
cinc roads dcapens every day. The cx
tent of the recent blockade, instead of
being magnified, has really been barely
indicated by the reports that have reach.
ed MS. The railroad company has doubt
less made every effort practicable to sup
press Information on the subject, and so
far as the telegraph is concerned, only n
few brief statements as to the state Of a.
fairs along the line have reached the pull
lie. But we have news from other quar-
ters, and principally from the lips Of the
weary and unfortunate passengers who
left San Francisco on the disastrous 2lst
OF December, although it is stated that
the liberal allowance Of two dollars was
offered for each day over the regular
time, the party so compensated to SAY
nothing about it. " From this source
and others we gather enough to convince
us that trip acrosc the plains in winter
on the Union Pacific has variety Of
dangers sufficient to satisfy the most ad-
venturous. The extremes OF hunger,
cold and anxiety appear to be among its
features, to say nothing of broken rails,
broken engines and "off the track in
cdents The arrival. at the same time
Of eight hundred passengers at Omaha,
all OF them some three weeks out" is
rather significant fact particularly
when they are reported half starved,
half.frozen and halfworried to death by
disappointment and veXation But the
perils and delays Of passengers, although
they attract the most attention at pres
ent, are only one result OF the snow bloc.
kade; the interruption in freight transit
is another Where passenger trains have
suffered so much, freight trains must
have suffered much more, and il is fair
to presume that for the last month or so
the business of the road must have been
practically suspended. All this is very
dcplorable, but as its recurrence is con
stan,ly imminent in winter, the question
presses home for immediate solution on
all parts Of the country how can this dir
Gculty be permanently removed?
To secure q railroad route across the
continent commensurate with the re
uuirements of the case and the steady
operation absolutely essential, the ey-
trcmes of high latitude must be avoid
ed. At the very inception of the enter
prise this truth was acknowledged, and
only for influences not necessary to in
dicate, and an astonishing display OF en-
eruv III bad cause, n northern route
would never have been thought Of,
However, popular attention is now di.
rected in the proper direction, and the
demand is for another road suitable for
the purpose in view. That the Both par
allcl route, or the Atlantic and Pacific,
must be the great national roadway for
commerce and travel between the East
and the Pacific slope, there is hardly
room for doubt. The liberality of its
charter, the freedom it will enjoy from
winter Interruptions and the magnificent
country it will open up, give it incalcu
liable advantages and must insure its ear
" completion. We are aware of the
benefits to be derived to st. Louis by q
direct communication with California
anil the commerce Of the Pacific, but We
I do MT advocate this road on such mar