The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-12-06
THE NORTHERN PA CIFIC x. R.

THE NORTHERN PA CIFIC r. r.
The Secretary of the Interior, in
his report of the condition of the
various land grant Pacific railroads,
reports as follows on the Northern
Pacific:
Stock of the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company to the amount of
Sl00,000,OO0 has been subscribed,
and certificates for 1865 shares
of 500 each have been issued.
During the year 1878 the road was
definitely located from the mouth of
Heart river, on the Missouri, to the
mouth Of Glendive creek, on the
Y Yellowstone, distance of 2O5
miles. The precise point of cross
ing the Missouri river has not yet
been fixed by the company. The
surveys necessary to complete n
continuous line across the continent,
which were left unfinished last year
by reason of the open hostility of
the Sioux Indians of Montana and
Dakota, have this year been brought
to a most satisfactory conclusion
A continuous line has been survey
ed from Lake Superior to Puget
Sound, and the data have been OBJ
tanned for deciding the final location
of the road between the above nam
ed termini. The entire line of the
route has not as yet been definitely
fixed upon. The company reports
that for climate, soil, quantity and
variety Of mineral wealth, and all
the elements necessary 90 the sup
port of a dense population, there is
no zone of similar extent and value
between the Mississippi river and
the Pacific ocean as that "of the re-
gion lying between and contiguous
to parallels 46 and AZ north lati-
tude."
The whole amount expended on
surveys from the beginning of the
work to lst of July last is $685.
S73. The extent OF line surveyed is
3SS miles, and, in addition, 3
$50 of river reconnaissance. The
amount received from passengers on
the road Tin Minnesota and Wash
ington Territory is Sl53,55l; for
transportation Of freight 1898, $40,
which includes a few days of the
earnings in June, 1873, in Dakota.
The expense of the road and fixtures
has been $40, ,O92 $50, and the indebt-
edness of the company is S29,309,-
337. The word expense" as used
above is said by the company to
mean the cost OF the road proper and
its fixtures only The company's
report states that on October |,
1878, trains were running regularly
(both passenger and freight engag-
ed in the general traffic from Lake
Superior to the Missouri River, dis
tance of 453 miles, and from Kalama,
on the Columbia River, northward
65 miles towards Puget Sound. Be
yond that a distance OF 25 miles Of
track has been laid and l5 miles
more nearly graded, which, when
completed (about the ist OF Decem-
Der this year,. will make 4 contin-
nous road from the Columbia River
to Puget Sound, lo5 miles. On the
9th Of last January you accepted
the first 22S miles of the Northern
Pacific Railroad in Minnesota Crom
its junction with the Lake Superior
and Mississippi Railroad, near
Thomson, to the Red River of the
North), and on the 10th of Septem-
Der, 1873, % miles of the road in
Washington Territory, ''on its main
line between the city of Portland,
Oregon. and its western terminus on
Puget Sound" The report OF the
commissioners appointed to examine
the completed portion of the road
-l95 miles-ln Dakota Territory
has not yet been received.