The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-12-18

terially to our population and general
commerce. Such considerable exten
sion of the railroad system Of the United
States, ranging only short distance south
of our northern boundary, was needed for
the development of millions of acres OF
fertile territory, which, but this public
improvement, would have remained dor
mant for years, without settlers, and ex
posed to Indian encroach meut whereas
now it will annually, and In rapidly in
creasing ratio, add largely to the genesal
business, greatly augment our taxable
area, aud increase our national prosperity
A comprehensive view of the United
States in connection with a retrospective
glance at what has been accomplished
within the last forty years, since the pre-
sent system was fairly inaugurated, should
satisfy every intelligent thinker that the
immediate construction of the Northern
Pacific Railroad is not premature, in any
practical sense unless all the great trunk
lines of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri,
and Iowa were premature. Most of them
were projected and prosecuted more or
le.s in advance of population, through re
gions to which those roads gave new
values, and frsm which they now derive
large incomes And now alter the lapse
| OF but few years, not one Of these could
be removed without serious detrimsnt to
numerous important aud valuable general
Interests which have sprung up in con
sequence Of the facilities prerted by their
construction. Monetary revulsions, and
the succeeding equalization of values
throughout our country, may retard. tenn
porarily, the extension of this railroad,
and delay Its inal completion bat since
on many accounts there is real need of
such an improvement across the Con
tinent, aud in which so many Of our peo
pie are interested, nothing can be more
certain than its ultimate construction.
The financial gentlemen from Europe
who visited and reported upon this road
to their constituents in Berlin aud Veu-
ma. did not object to recommending their
banker friend. to invest in the bonds of
this company, on account Of any doubt
respecting the merits of the route. or of
its future prospects of population and
business it was solely on account of the
want of adequate provision, according to
their jud dgmeut, for the protection of the
interest for the first few years. In their
carefully prepared reports they indicate
how, in their opinion, that purely fnan
cial matter conld be arranged which. as
they think, would remove the only OBJ
lection that they had raised.
In regard to the climates the topo-
sraphy, the agricultural capabilities, the
soils. the mineral wealth, the grand for
ests, and, indeed, all the leading charac
terstics which 20 to make up great
couptry their views are quite as san
guiue, aud even more hopeful than any
presentation of these matters that has
ever cmanated from me.
1t is obvious that the amount Of inter.
est that may have to be provided for un
til the net income from road business and
sales of lands shall protect it, depend,
very much upon the manner in which
the company may be able to prosecute
the line to complexion whether it shall
linssr through many years, or, by ampe
provision Of funds, be pushed through iu
three years
With the eighty fVc millions Of esti
mated cost in hand, the road could have
been built in three years. 1t is the same
still, 10 regard to time but sixty million:
in round numbers, would now flush and
stock the road, within three years, if the
money were assured, so that contracts
could be made with that view.
Although only little more than one
fourth Of the line is finished. that whicl
is vet untouched could have been finished
in the same time, had the necessary funds
been 10 hand.
will explain, as briefly as can, how
it is that the fourteen hundred and forty
five miles to be built could have beer
done during the three years, and VIII,
they can at any period be constructed ii
that time =
Because the eastern end Of these l44;
miles rests on the Missouri river. a lars,
stream, navigeted by first class steamers
At this point the iron rails, cross ties
provisions, workmeD, and everythiu,
ueedful, eau be conveniently delivere'
, by water Secondly. at a point two hun
dred and FIVE miles west of the Missouri
/ he line strikes the Yellow stone river
which is also navigable for first. elias
steamers to and above this point. Her
is another place at which all the mate
rials, etc can be conveniently delivered
Thence the line continues for about thre
t hundred and fifty miles along the vale.
| of the Yellowstone, which presents pecu
! liar facilities, and where the work of grad
, ing can be sdvantaseously begun at an.
, mum Der of points in the valley, stimuli
! taneou.ly Thirdly, on the Pacific sid
the natural advantages are of much tn
same character. The Columbia river j
/ daily navigated by first class steamers
, and there are two hundred and Efty mile
. of line along its valley, upon which wor
may be commenced at any number Q
points. Then from the mouth of Levi
Fork of the Columbia there are two huH
dred and eight miles, across the Coumbi