New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-22
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC.
ANOTHER SUPPRESSED REPORT.

HISTORY or TIIE PRoJECr-ITs PRACuCABuIry-
PROPECIs oFrrs ULTIMATE sUccEss-BoHpuot.D
ERb MUST F0REG0 INTEREST FOR WHILE
PROPOSED PROTECTION OF THEIR INTEREsrs.
The following is the report of Herr Foltz to the
Union Bank of Vienna on the condition and
prospects of the Northern Pacific Railway: .l-,
Before coming to a decision upon the financial blsi-
of the Northern Pacific Railway, you deemed Is ad
visabe TO have the undertaking considered by Com
mittee the spot. Accordingly, under your nsruo-
TONS we went TO America in order to collect materials
necessary to form our opinion upon the undertaking,
partly by travelling over the finished portion Of the
Northern Pacific line and parts OF the country ad.
Joining, partly by minute inquiries as TO the state OF
trade and commerce from July 10 October Of this year
Referring TO former reports In during the Journey
we now have the honor 10 send you the result OF
inquiries.
ADVANTAGES OF TIE OVERLAND ROUTE.
The project OF the Northern Pacific Railway Is not
The expedition sent out to establish overland
railway In the beginning OF 1850 and the following years.
had already recommended the Northern route moth
ing but political motives and considerations regard TO
San Francisco and to the Salt Lake colony caused the
first Pacific Railway 10 take the direction of California
But az the year 1854 Government resolved
upon the of the North Pacific line, and for
puT pose granted considerable aid In the shape Of
of pubic land. The nam line begins at the
western end OF Lake Superior extends through Mime
sofa Dakota Montana and Idaho the borders OF
oregon. and ends Washington Territory at the waters
of Puget Sound almost all the running between the
10th aud I7th degrees OF latitude The whole length Of
the line about 1000 English miles. Besides
this a similar concession of public land has been made
for branch line, which Is TO begin at convenient
point the main line and the Cascade Mountains,
and thus shorten the distance between Lake Superior
and Puget Sonnd TO 1775 English miles. Tue eonstruc
ton OF the branch line s however, postponed TO future
time; accordingly report Is mited TO the enamina
ton of the condition OF the main line.
The building OF the line has already been begun at
end. Minnesota in August OF this year the first
section from Duluth on Lake Superior. far as the
Mississippi River u2O miles,, found TO be in working
order while for miles further, far the borders
OF Dakota the grading finished with few Interrupt
tons, and the building materials ready further
distance about English miles, Dakota has been
begun during the last few months, and is to be
peted according to contract by July next year On the
Pacific side there is a section of 70 miles IN length ready
for opening, beginning at the Columbia River, near
Katama while the work is being carried for dis
lance OF 40 miles far Olympia, Puget Sound.
Several attachments of engineers at work laying
out the lines ON the spaces the mentioned
routes.
The condition of the line in general il also very favor
able The whole length OF the route from Lake Superior
through Minnesota and Dakota, far as the Missouri
ties being partly level and part OF gently unduat-
ing character. In Montana the line by gentle
ascent through the great Yellowstone Valley, which has
already been often visited by Government expeditions,
and afterwards approaches the farextendng
Rocky Mountains, which not difficult 70
pass and TO be crossed at hight OF
abont $500 feet above the level OF the sea. The
present overland rsute the same mountain
range at hight Of $40 feet and therefore about 5000
feet higher than the Northern Pacific line For this
sou chiefly the present route pointed out time
ago the most favorable for the Pacific Railway, as 1t
leads through depression in the mountain range.
After crossing second watershed Of less elevation,
the line reaches the valleys which lead 10 the Columbia
River, enters the chief valley of this and follows
it az far as Portland Oregon. The country between
Portland and the remotes point OF Puget Sound is
almost territory covered by the woods Of Washing
ton Territory Owing 10 these circumstances the
srclion OF the Northern Pacific line may be regarded
~ easy, only for short distances III crossing the
Rocky Mountains. aud few points the Column
bia River, will the work I've difficult
ESTIMATES or COST.
The report Of the Chief Engineer Mr. Minor Roberts,
made Sept s. 1869. sets forth the cost of the ue 2oOo
miles in length at $5277 J OF sG3s per average En-
glish mile We have examined the items Of this report
separately aud compared them with the cost OF other
American railways and arrived at the conclusion that
the estimate presents feature Of uncertainty, with
the exception OF the amounts Of interest payable during
period of construction the cost Of ocomoon and
the cost of constructing the most elevated part OF the
line.
In the financial programme OF the road the cost per
nile has already been estimated at s51OOO instead OF
S42s3s as previously proposed, which with con-
scientous supervision the of the builders, we
consider completely sufficient for the construction OF
the line, the surplus contains supply for the
aforementioned Of nsufliciency Besides in
point Of fact according 10 the contracts and bills exam
ned by there has been saving OF from 20 TO rs per
the portions finished and contracted for com
pared with Mr. Robsrts's estimate. Although we do
not conclude from tins fact there will he similar
saving the other portions, the amount saved on
tie first quarter of the line forms guarantee fund to-
ward increase of the building capital for the entire line
CLIMATE ALONG THE LINE
The Northern Pacific line runs in the ATTITUDES OF
Lyons, Zurich Munich Vienna, Pesth, and Odessa, and
on the whole, the climate, soil, and vegetation
similar to those in these places. Wheat and other kinds
grain chiefs products and the time of harvest
agrees very nearly with that OF Middle Europe. But
we did not wish To found Judgment solely per
soual observation during a few months. nor on the
information obtained of the inhabitants on the
spot we have carefully studied the we'll
known work Of Blodget {" Climatoogy OF the
United states'O in regard 10 the climate, and CON-
pared it with the Report of the General Land Office
IN Washington, published annually. Blodget sums up
the result of many years observation in different parts
OF the United states in five maps, which graphically
represent the conditions proper TO Spring, Summer
Autumn, and Winter. The isothermal lines
show altogether That in all seasons on
the Northern Pacific route from Minnesota
the temperature increases toward the West Except In
the Rocky MountansD As emigration Is progressing
rapdy and with the hest in the coolest region
on the route-in Minnesota-and agriculture there
has developed in few years very high degree, there
can be no objection To the climate along the line.