Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-05-07
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAIL.
ROAD. -.
Commercial Advantages and COnnee.

commercial Advantages and C0nnecs
tiOns. -,.--'-
Puget Sound deep and land lock
ed arm OF the sea, abounding with
natural harbors, indents the western
coast Of the continent in Washington
Territory nearly 200 miles, carrying
the navigation Of the Pacific Ocean
that far Inland and eastward. On the
other hand, Lake Superior extends
the navigation Of the Atlantic Ocean,
the st. Lawrence and the Lake
chains some 800 miles farther west
than Lake. Michigan. The Northern
Pacific Railroad vii span the conti-
nent and unite these opposite inden-
tations or waterways by the shortest
possible line. The harbors of Puget
Sound are already the centre OF ra-
pidiy growing commerce with nearly
all parts Of the world; and the sailing
distance between these harbors and
the ports OF Asia is claimed by expe-
rienced navigators to be materially
less than between San Francisco aud
Asia. At Portland, Oregon, the
Northern Pacific will connect with
the coast lines Of road extending to
California, with the steamboat lines
OF ths Coiumbia River and the coast
wise trade Of the sea. s as -f
On the east, Improvements now
making and projected in the canals
uniting the Lakes and the st. Law
renee viii enable ships to sail direct
" between Liverpool and the head Of
Lake Superior, the eastern terminus
OF the Northern Pacific Railroad.
The sailing distance to Buffalo and
the st. Iawrence is substantially the
same from Duluth as from Chicago,
the actual difference in distance be-
ing less than 80 miles.
At st. Paul and Minneapolis the
Northern Pacific Railroad system
connects with the navigation of the
Mississippi River, with the various
lines Of railroad extending through
Chicago to the Atlantic coast, and
with the general railroad system of
the United States. At the Sault Ste
Marie, on the completion of projected
lines eastward along the south shore
of Lake Superior, the road Will unite
with the Canadian system Of railways,
thus forming a short all-rail. route
from Montreal, Portland and Boston
to the Pacific Ocean.
At st. Vincent, on the northern
boundary of MinnesOta, the Northern
Pacific Railroad will connect lover
the st. Paul & Pacifie) with the Cana
dian Pacific Road, which Is proposed
to be constructed under the auspices
Of the Dominion Government, aud
the general route Of which lies some
$50 miles north Of the line OF the
Northern Pacific Road. This con-
nection win give the Canadian Pa
cific direct rail transportation for
passengers, freight and-eonstruetion
material to and from Lake Superior;
and immediate access to the railroad
systems of the United States and
Canada. ss-o,.s-,.--.------
The humorous nayigabIe rivers
which interseet the route of the
Nortbern Pacific Road render tribu-
tary to 1t the trade ofA much larger
area of country than could otherwise
| be reached by it. Lateral branch
\ lines OF road, several OF which are al
ready projected, will doubtless also
be built byseorporate and local enter
prise as rapidly as the needs OF the
contiguous country require. -r --,.
In brief, it may. be said that the
| Northern Pacific Railroad system, be-
sides being entire and practically IN
dependentin itself, viii, from the
day of its completion, enjoy such IA
vOrahle connections with the lines Of
water and land transit at both termi-
nj, and to the north and south Of its
route, as to make 1t necessity to
commerce, and place its success be-
yond question. s-.-s,,r :, -,,---