Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-11-21
Present Condition of the North Pacific
Railroad.
From the New York Tribune, Oct. %.

Railroad.
From the New York Tribune Oct &C.
1t is announced that by the middle of No
venlber this new road will be completed to the
Missouri River, 452 miles west of Duluth.
This will be an addition of 200 miles since
spring. Trains have been running daily be-
tween Duluth and the Red River since April
last, and new rolling stock is ready to equip
the extension.
On the Pacific side in Washington Territory
small section of 25 miles has been some
time in operation. Forty miles more OF track
VIII be completed before the close OF the sea-
son. Adding the completed portion on the
Pacific side to the Eastern section, 1t gives
total of SIT miles of track laid in little more
than two years from the commencement OF the
WORK. When the delays encountered the hrst
year IN maxim the surveys and deciding on the
best line through the forest region are con-
s1dered, the result is marvellous. aud attests
the energy with which the work is pushed for
ward. Some idea of the work accomplished
Will be conveyed by stating that the finished
portion of the road in November will exceed
in length the New York Central, with all its
lateral and branch lines included.
Besides the actual construction, the work Of
surveying and locating the entire line across
the continent has proceeded with viSor. The
exploring parties nave 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 III
creasins local traffic 1t intersects the Red
River at Moorhead, from which point new
railroad is being constructed northward up the
valley to Pembiho, where it will meet and join
line now being built southwark from Fort
Garry. 1t commands the eastward bound
freight and travel of the British settlements
III Manitoba, and also of the Hudson Bay
Company. 1t is also the outlet of a large por-
ton OF the grain grown in Minnesota.
When the contracts for this season are COM
ha will haEa ant
business in the great traffic of the Upper Mis-
souri, River, with all the Government trans
portation in the Northwest. a few miles be-
yond the point where the railway strikes the
Missouri the river bends to the westward, and
Is navigable for ste amboats for 1000 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 be direct communication, east and
west, by rail and river, from Lake Superior, in
longitude 80 degrees, to the populous districts
IN Western Montana. in longitude ITO degrees.
From this point westward 1t is about 400 miles
through the passes of the Rocky Mountains to
that portion of the Columbia River whence it
Is navlgable TO the Pacific.
The finished sections of road entitla the
Company 10 about ten million acres OF land,
granted by the Government, constituting an
area about twice the extent Of Massachusetts,
Zen million contiguous acres belonging to the
government are at the same time rendered
habltable and salable The lands are situated
on either side of the line, and principally con-
slst of excellent farming lind with the pro-
duetlve soil characteristic of ali the prairie
region. Settlers have already applied for
more than quarter of a million of acres.
The Company has already begun the canceIla-
non oil Its Seven-thirty first mortgage bonds
by the proceeds of its sales of land, and is ac-
comprising its great work with the utmost
success and economy.
There is prospect of large emigra ion of
the tenant farmer class from England in the
coming spring. One colony alone, recently
formed there through its pioneer agents, Sc
cured tract in Clay county, Minnesota, of
lo5, 200 acres directly On the line OF railway
Ihe intended settlement is to be named Yeo-
VII, after town in the West of England
whence the majority of the colonists will come.
Inc hrst contingent of this colony numbers
about 2, 600; the remainder will follow in 1878.
The bureau having in charge the Land De-
partment OF the road has built and furnished
convenient reception-houses for the free &C
commodat.on of intending settlers and their
families while engagedin selecting their FARMS
One of these is at Duluth another at Brainerd,
where the road crosses the Mississippi, and a
third at Moorhead, at the crossing of the Red
tlFer. EInigrants used to trundle with their
ox-carts over forlorn and desolate prairies,
ana b!youGc 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 spohation from the time they leave their
old homes across the water till they begin the
foundation of their new ones under the sun
set. Every able-bodied and industrious man
and woman who comes hither makes the ma
ton richer aid contributes to the general
prosperity, and III this view the condition and
prospects of the road are source of legiti-
mate congratulatlon.