The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-03-08
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE THIS YEAR.
from the ~. Pan, Press Feb %

From the st. Paul Press, Feb. 28.1
Al u general meetingsOt the board Uf d.
rectors and officers of the Northern Pa.
chic aiRlroad company, held in New
York during the present month, IL was
decided to push forward the WORK with all
possible speed during the available por.
| tion Of tho year 1873, and in accordance
with this decision Il definite program inc
was arranged which will be adhered 10 as
| Gle sely as circumstances will permit.
Immediately following the appearance
| Of settled and favorable weather the line
Is 10 be opened to Edwinton, tho present
| terminal point on tho Missouri river.
This portion Of the work will be com.
plsted by the opening Of navigation On
that stream, all the material required hav-
ing been placed on the ground last fall
prior TO the advent Of cold weather. The
entire line to the Missouri was SO well adj
vanced last year that comparatively little
will be required to place 1t In good run.
ming order from the outlets upon Lake
superior, or the Mississippi river al St.
Paul, to the Missouri.
In anticipation of . radical change in
the direction taken by the travel and traf.
dc from the Western territories to the
more populous states and marts of the
East, the company has determined to ope.
rate two passenger trains per day to and
from Edwinton-one being designed ex-
clusively for passengers, and the other an
accommodation, or mixed train. These
trains will run In connection with q line
Of steamers, which are to mako regular
trips, during the season of navigation,
between Edwinton and Fort Benton, u
military post situated at or near the head
Of navigation on the Missouri river, and
which has heretofore been considered the
point OF divergence toward the gold fields
| Of Montana, or the more secluded, but,
pcrhaps, not less profitable range Of the
hunters and trappers along the base Of
the Rocky mountains, or on the margins
Of tho mbored water-courses.
The line OF steamers will be divided
into two branches, a small fraction thereof
being intended to ply the Missouri, be-
tween Edwinton and Sioux City, thus at.
lording regular facilities to the settle.
ments and military posts on that stream
,ituated below its "NOrthern Pacific cross
ing" Six steamers are to be placed In
the line between Edwinton and Fort Ben
ton, q number considered ample for the
accommodation Of travel and freights
either westward or enstward.b bound.
Should the business OF this new thorough.
fare, however, require additional facilities
tor tho rapid and secure movement of
commodities, the company will supply
them Whenever and as rapidly as the ne.
cessity is indicated.
When the steamers begin their trips to
FOrt Benton, wagon trains will continue
aud complete the connection between the
c,tizcLs Of Montana and those of Eastern
Amvrica, and while this portion of the
route may wear its primitive feature, it
will nevertheless answer It's purpose, and
complete the great direct chain of commun.
,cation established between the northern
cities and the remote territories.
Surveys viii be prosecuted west of tho
Missouri river, until feasible route Is
discovered characteristics of the
country embraced In como portions Of the
Western extension being Of Il nature dis.
couraging to any hope Of successful rail-
roading over tier intricate and broken
surfaces. Special pains will be taken to
secure good route, and when this 10 dis
covered and the line definitely located by |
the engineers, construction will follow i'm. |
msdiately, and will be prosecuted with un.
RENTING vigor.
Perhaps the busiest scenes of the sum-
mer on the Northern Pacific road will be |
found on that portion Of the line lying be- |
tween Puget sound and the base of the |
Rocky Mountains, q distance Of $50 miles. |
Here will be concentrated rs largo force
No can no gathered together advantage.
ously, and the company hopes to have the
entire stretch between tho points named
fully completed and ready for the move.
uent Of trains before the next winter
forces q temporary suspension of opera.