New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-05
PROGRESS OF THE NORTHERN PACIFIC
RAILROAD

At this date august, 1871 regular freighI
and passenger trains have been running ioi sN ,bern
n schedule time over the main line of the Not,hSa
paci6 Rood from Duluth a. the eastern border OF Ia
ot 2s2 miles the track IS laid and eonstruc9n cross
Dakota three-fourths Of the 200 miles het"eea d
Red River and the crossing OF tn Missouri ~ two
track LAYING Ia progressing at the rate OF ne r"S
miles day and about the middle OF OCTOBER Ms,so~ri
is 10 be completed and in operation 10 i tue and
River 900 miles from the west line OF nihuofoi ~
I52 miles west OF Lake Superior All nateIaiL , Snr
equipment are purchased and ready for the copioNo"
and operation OF this section OF IRE Ioa, r,.orv fin
on Inc Pacific coast in Washington IcTrllory q III, n
shed section OF % miles has been IN @ az m ,Is ia
now annroochng complet On-making 90 ines ~ tne
western end that will be III rhIins s - rnod nnt i'm
oneration m a LITTLE more than "a months from the de
OF beginning work. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 9 ,roecnti1n Of
tb0ronrb preninary surveys and the selection OF the
best line through densely wooded region , ,o oc
hotter idea of the real magnitude or the WORK ac-
nIsbed will be conveyed by stating that the portion
al fe Northern Pacific Road now approaching eOIlpe,
80, =. considerably longer than the New-IOrk Central
psiiroad ana IFS connecting lines extending rom Al
bany New York 10 Cleveland ONO nearly as long as
tHrPuS and baltimore TO Washington; and almost
one and half times the length OF an airline rom Lon
don 10 Glasgow.
In addition 10 this actual construction the work OF
surveying and Ocaung the entire line across the CONT
nent has been pushed with system ana Vigor summer
and Winter careful engineering, and the selection OF the
best yeral possible lines, have IN many Instances
reduced the cost Of construction considerably below he
original estimates. Continuous SURVEYS and eXaInna-
lions have been made from Lake Superior 70 Puget
Sound, with the exception OF short section on Ihe
Yellowstone RIVER which is now being surveyed The
results years careful examinations more thanJs-
IS Company expectations aud statements regarding
the favorable character OF the Valley Route 10 the Pa
cifr-hotb in respect 10 ease OF railroad construction
and operation aud the good quality Of the country tray
er,ed by the line. Exclusive OF the sections already
completed OF under construction, there are 1856 miles
now being finally located and prepared Tor contract.
the valley OF Heart River and Gleudives Creek, from
the crossing OF the Missouri in Central Dakota, 10 the
The section between the mouth OF snake River and Lake
Pend dOreile west OF the Rocky Mountains.
TRAFFIC.
The section Of road in operation across Minnesota
already enjoys very considerable local trafc including
the carrying trade OF the British settlements m Manitoba
and Of the Hudson's Bay Company. Inree steamboats,
the accommodation Of this latter business ply on the
Red River OF the North between the railroad crossing
aud Winnipeg, IN British Columbia
The completion Of this seasons contracts will give the
road immediate aud permanent control OF the very large
aud profitable traffic OF the Upper Missouri Rysr IN
GLIDING the Government transportation III the North
West short distance above the point where the road
strikes the Missouri he ldteI Dehds 70 tie west carry
ing a navigahe waterway 1000 miles, from the rail-
tain divide, at Fort Benton in Western Mon
iaud. As many as thlrty-three steamers have
been employed in single season TO aGcommo-
date the trade OF these upper waters lnus on the open
ing Of navigation next Spring, there will be direct east
and line for travel and transp0rtauon-part river
and part ra-ifom 81 fdul ana LAKE superior III lohgl-
tude 91 % the popuOns portion Of western Montana, IN
longitude no. From Fort Benton westward across the
summit Is less than 400 miles TO the mead OF reliable
and constant steam navigation on the Columbia which
river this natural highway 10 the Pdcinc Ocean.
LANDS.
The portion Of the road now nearing completion viii az
once entite the Northern Pacific Railroad Company 10,
aud place in its possession about Ten Million acres OF
the lands granted by the GOyenment-an area exactly
twice the size OF Massachusetts, These lands ada
either side Of the track IN Central Minnesota,
Eastern Dakota, and Western Washington. They are
mainly prairie farming ands Of excellent average quail
y the remainder beng covered with valuable forests
OF timber They lie directly IN the path OF Immigration
aud settlement, have suincient rainfall, climate or
unsurpassed heathfulness, and, in the main, sngu-
Iarv productive soil Before advertising its lands, tile
Company had already received applications chiefly from
actual settlers for nearly quarter OF million acres.
The Land Department Of the the Company is fully or
ganized ana in active operation. Nearly two million
Of the COmpapys lauds, partly 10 Minnesota and
partly Washington Territory have been surveyed,
amucd plotted. appraised ana placedD market, at cost
OF about cent per acre, sales being made,
the scvcLtliry first mortgage bonds OF tine Com
pauy have already begun TO be Cancelled by being
received in payment for lands at premium Of zen per
cent
SETTLEMENT.
In connection with the Land Department has been
gained Bureau OF hmm grafton To promote ana hasten
the settlement the country tributary % the road.
Agencies established in tie older States Of the Union
and in Europe through which information is dnused
and every reasonable facility furnished organized col
Oulcs and intending settlers equally whether they desire
10 locate on free Government hOmesteais obtain
railroad lands OF both. Under the auspices Of this
partment large and convenient reception houses have
been built and furnished az each OF several principal
points the road 10 serve temporary free homes Tor
settlers and their families, while engaged in selecting
lands ana preparing their houses. Settlement and
cultivation Oi the country keep pace with the steady and
solid progress OF the road