The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-12-18
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Letter of W. Minor Roberts -Descrip.
tion of the Country Valuable Infor-
mafiOn

NJ Lyon, Esq with the following valu
able letter of w Minor Roberts. on Tho
subject of the Northern Pacific Railroad
1t will be found replete with interesting
matter, and presents the views OF one
thoroughly aeqainted with this enterprise
as to its present status and future pros
pects.-ED INQUIRER
New YORK, Oct. %, 1873 William
NJ. Lyon, Pittsburg, Pa-Dear Sir =
Since you requested my opinion concern
ing the future prospects Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, many inquiries have
been made by others on the same sub
ject | desire now, through you, to pre-
sen. some views to those who feel an iu
tcrest in this road they are founded up
on al intimate acquaintance with the
country through which it is located, and
I,y experience OF the capabilities of rail
reads generally. 1t is true that my tes-
timony must be regarded as coming from
an interested party, owing TO my conuec
tinn with the location and construction of
this railroad but il the statements are
based on facts, and are correct, and il the
In!erences are warranted and sustained
thereby, that circumstance alone should
not destroy their force Those who have
taken the trouble to see the region from
Lake Superior to the Pacific, as u whole,
aud who have studied the subject care
fully, have, | believe, arrived at two i'm
portant conclusions First. that this
road is needed by the country. and that
the time for its construction has come
Second, that its ultimate success as a
pecuniary investment, aud It's future para
mount national advantages, so far as hu
man judgment can determine, are abund
anily assured.
tcrizc this great railroad project as an
epheD ersl scheme, unsupported by sound
Judgment resting on substantial reasons
but this has not in any Instance, 50 far as
know, proceeded from intelligent meu
who have thoroughly investigated it.
nques'ionabiy 1t is a herculean un
1crtaking. involving an expenditure OF Il
hundred millions of dollars aud those
public spirited gentlemen who have de
voted their time and means to the great
labor of managng It's affairs, instead of
being vilfird as visionaries, should be
honored as public beneiactors.
There are important aud iutriusically
valuable features specially appertaiui"y
20 the Northern Pacific Railroad, which
cannot be essentially affected by the pre-
seut monetary difficulties OF the country
Among these are -
First Its commanding seopraphica
position. being on the shortest practicable
line between the great lakes OF the At
aDtic side and the Pacific Ocean.
Second It's rera aarkably favorable and
superior typographical features, being
chiefly a valley route, Of easy grades.
Third Its various meteorological char
acteristics aod healthy climates.
Fourth lis relations and connections
with the great railroad systems OF Canada
aud the United States.
Fifth Its advantageous functions al
nine different POINTS with the grand wa
1 ter system of The lakes, the Mississippi
| Red. Missouri. Yellowstone, and Colum6ia
rivers, and the Pacific Ocean. Each o.
! these functions has great value they are
all intact, aud cannot be taken away.
THERE HAS BEEN NO IDLING.
Much. too. has been accomplished il
/ the three years that this road has beer
under construction Five hundred anc
| ffty five miles have beeu completed anc
opened for public convenience and Gov
erumeut uses, upon which trains are nov
regularly running, affording excellen
facilities to the rapidly in6owing popula
| tions.
Ten millions Of acres of lands in th,
! State Of Minnesota and in Dako'ah ant
! Washington Territories become, 10 con
sequence, the property OF the company y
| pew, extensive, and valuable regior
has thus been made ready for advanta
geous settlement. embracing within th'
laud limits. in all twenty millions of acres
! hall of which, or ten millions OF acres
belong to the Government. and are oper
10 pre- emption and bomestead Occupation
all being now furnished with first elias
railroad facilities. which they would 40
otherwise have had This large body 0
land has thus been rescued by this com
pauy from comparative uselessness, ans
| brought within the area Of our adyanciD;
civilization.
II this road should never be extdnde'
beyond tho Missouri river, to which poIn
IL is DOW running, only few years VII
eiapse ere il must command lucratlv
trade, because it passes through and tap
the finest wheat producing regions, OF
the globe, now rapidly being settled an
soon to be filled with an industrious an
thrifty population
The same causes which built up an
now sustain the main trunk lines centrini
at Chicago and St. Louis will build u
and sustain the Northern Pacific Raj
road, which will have Eastern water Out
lets at Duluth. Superior. and the Strait
of Mackinaw, and at Chicago aud Mi
waukee, on Lake Michigan 1t is but
question of little time.
The opening of this road across Min
pesota and Dakotah to the immense va