Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-11-20
Present Condition of the North Pacific
Railroad.

1t is announced that by the middle of No
vembar his new road will be completed to the
Missouri River, 452 miles west Of Duluth. This
Will be an addition OF 2O0 miles since Spring
Trains have been running daily between Du-
| luth, and the Red River since April last, and
new rolling stock is ready to equip the extern
| sion.
| On the Pacific side in Washington Territory
| a small section of 25 miles has been some
time in operation. Forty miles more of track
| will be completed befo1e the close of the sea-
son. Adding the completed portion on the
Pacific side to the Eastern section, it gives
total of ST. miles of track laid in little more
than two years from the commencement of
work. When the DELAYS encountered the first
year in making the surveys and deciding on
the best line through the forest region are
considered, the result is marvellous, and
attests the energy with which the work is
pushed forward. Some idea OF the work ac-
complished will be conveyed by stating that
| the finished portion Of the road in Novembet
will exceed in length the New York Central
with all its lsteralan branch lines included.
Besides the actual construction, the work of
surveying and locating the entire line across
the continent has proceeded with yigor. The
exploring parties have fought few scattering
Indians, but have carried their surveys sue
cessfully to the Yellowstone. The portion
OF the road now in operation has large and
increasing local traffic. It intersects the Red
River at Moorhead. from which point a new
railroad is being constructed northWard up the
valley TO pembina, where it will meet and
join line now being built southwark from
Fort Garry. ltCommands the eastward bound
freight and travel OF the British settlements
IN Manitoba, and also Of the Hudson's Bay
Company. 1t IS also the outlet of large por-
ton of the grain grown in Minnesota.
When the contracts for this season are COM
pleted, the Company will have permanent
business in the great traffic of the Upper Mis-
souri, River, with all the Government trans
pOratiOn in the Northwest 4 few miles be-
yond the point where the railway strikes the
Missouri the river bends to the westward, and
IS navlgable for steamboats, for 900 miles OF
water way from the railroad crossing to Fort
Benton. At the foot of the Rocky Mountains
in Western Montana, nearly forty steamers are
employed during the season in the trade of
these upper waters.
In April next, at the opening Of navigation
there will he direct communication. cast and
west, by rail and river, from Lake Superior, in
longitude 90 degrees, to the populous districts
n Western Montana, in longitude ITO degrees
From his point westward it is about 400 miles
through the passes Of the Rocky Mountains to
that portion OF the Columbia River whence ii
is navigable to the Pacific.
The finished sections of ROAD entitIe the
Company to about ten million acres of land
granted by the Government. constituting an
area about twice the extent of Massachusetts,
Ion million contiguous acres belonging to the
GOvernment are at the same time rendered
habitable and salable. The lands are situated on
either side OF the line and principally con-
sIsts OF excellent farming land. with the pro-
ductive soil characteristic of all the prairie
region. Settlers have already applied for more
than quarter of n million of acres The
Company has already begun the cancellation
OF Its seven-thirty first mortgage bonis by the
proceeds of its sales Of land, and IS accom-
plishInG It's great work with the utmost sue
cess and economy.
There is a prospect Of large emigration of
the tenant farmer class from England in the
coming Spring. One colony alone, recently
formed there, through It's pioneer agents, Sc
cured a tract IN Clay County Minnesota of
1S5 900 acres directly on the line of railway
The intended settlement is to be named Yeo-
VII, after town in the West of England
whence the majority Of the colomsts viii
come. The first contingent OF this colony
numbers about 1000; the remainder will iol-
low in 1873.
The bureau having in charge the Land De-
partmont OF the road has built and furnished
convenient reception@houses for the free ac-
commodation of intending settlers and their
families while engaged in selecting their farms
One of these is at Duluth. another at Brain
erd, where the road crosses the Mississippi
and third at Moorhead, at the crossing Of
the Red River. Emigrants used to trundle
With their ox-carts over forlOrn and desolate
prairies, and bivouac where the night found
them. 1t is quite different now. They are
carried in comfort to the very sites of their
future homes,-and the organization Of the
system is such that they are protected from
imposition or spoliation from the time they
leave their old homes across the water till
they begin the foundation Of their ner ones
under the sunset. Every able-bodied and in
dustrious man and woman who GENES hither
mekes the nation richer and contributes to
the general prosperity, and in This view the
condition and prospects of the road are u
source OF legitimate congratulation.