The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-01-30
Northern Pacific Railroad.
Intsrestinwg Letter Lrenns CommIssiono
Und0rWood.

- saaas 234- .zio
Interesting Letter Lrsna commIssionsr
Underwood. ss stf
Hon. Thomas Underwood, of Indi-
ana, one of the United States Com
missioners, who, under appointment
from President Grant, recently exam
insd and reported upon the Minnesota
Division of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road, has written the following letter
in reply to private Inquiries from
holders of the Compsny's securities.
1t is furnished for publication by the
recipient: sea = 80
Il LAFAYETTE, IND, Dec. 80, 1872.
DEAR SIR s4ds 1an s8H 4 si4s3
: You ask my opinion as to the value
of lands on the line Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad for the purpose of se-
curity and investment; the location of
the road with reference to prospective
settlements and business; the charac-
ter OF its initial point on Lake Superb
or, SC. o6-, s.4J sssss lass.5 LII
My experience in Western lands
long since convinced me that without
railway communication they. are of
little value, while with it they have
always proved remunerative and
profitable, the taxes on them being
merely nominal, while the advance in
price is rapid. o8E m IsH
/ find on; the line of the Northern
Pacific Railroad, from Duluth TO the
Missouri Valley, both timber and
prairie land, prairie predominating.
The timber, mainly pine and tarnarack
provides that which is desirable in q
prairie country for fencing and i'm
provement of farms. The prairie is
of two kinds, fiat and rolling, and is
interspersed with lakes and streams.
The Red River Valley, and that Of the
Missouri River present to the eye q
vast scope OF rich country, and doubt
it. it can be surpassed. Those who
have settled there claim that the land
produces the finest grades of wheat,
while for grazing and general agricul-
tural purposes it is excellent.
The kind of settlers has much to do
with the value of lands and the solid
growth of new country. find two
classes of these on, the line of the
new road, namely: New Englanders
who go out in colonies and carry with
them evidence of high civilization !;
and Scandinavians, than whom there
are none more generally intelligent
frugal and thrifty. And these classes
of settlers are easily distinguished by
the number and style of the churches
and school houses. noticed at every
railroad town however newly started,
that the church and school-house we're
among the frat structures built. sos
Duluth, the initial point. on Lake
Superior, which is as yet in its swad-
ding clothes, is thrifty and growing
place. 1t has population of some A.
600; banks, with banking capital
of $425,O00; 8 churches; 5 public
schools; 2daily and 3 weeklyvnews-
papers one large elevator with stor-
age capacity of 100000 bushels; a
goodly number of stores, and ample
hotel accommodations. Real estate is
advancing rapidly, and business
houses and dwellings are being erected
by Eastern capitalists as investments.
The harbor is, ample and capable of
receiving vessels of the largest ton
mage. When the dockage facilities
now pl eparing are completed, Icannot
see how it can be made more desira-
BILE. From this point the road has
water communication, by way of the
Lakes and the st. Lawrence river,
with the world, and apprehend that
within very short time the commerce
of this route will be simply immense.
The Company has already completed
large wharf facilities for the tranship-
ment of freight. sssyYoa saG .45.ss.
At Brainerd, 1ocaGed about the cen-
ter OF the Minnesota Division, the
Company has erected extensive ma
chine shops. The town has q popula-
tion. of about 5000, and is rapidly inn
proving, A large trade Is carried on
mere with the lumbermen of the
Minnesota pineries, and last year Que
mercantile house did business of
$25O,OOO. issadf I'd
/ might mention other town sites,
such as Glyndon, at the intersection
of the Northern Pacific with the st.
Vincent Branch of the st. Paul and
Pacific Road, favorably situated in
the very heart of the rich valley OF
the Red river Of the North; also De-
troit, where the New England SOL
diers' Colony is established, and other
places, but probably / have said
sufficient to give you fair idea of the
style and kind of settlements.
Now, can have but one opinion as
to the enterprise as means of invest
ment, and that opinion is based on
past experience and personal obserYa-
ton. | find that the N. p. r.. r., as
far as completed has been constructed
in q good and substantial manner, full
ly up, both in spirit and letter, to the
law and regulations governing its OPP
erations, and equipped, both as 10
machinery and facilities for passenger
and freight traffic, fully and amply.
l find the settlements composed of q
class of people who are energetic and
Industrious. ] find large bodies of
rich land along the line opened 10 the
market. l find the connections both
at the eastern terminus and on the
Pacific coast such as to make 1t val
liable through route for trade. l find
the road backed by vast Land Grant
from the Government, and managed
by men Of character and pecuniary
ability ;and with these facts before me