New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-08
THE REPORT OF HERR HAAS.


]. Commissioned expert to inquire INTO the pros
poets Of the Northern Pacific Railway enterprise, have
visited America and endeayored TO collect ON tho spot
as well as by travelling over the extent OF the line
already in working order and the adjoining districts
which that road to traverse. by gathering the most
exact information which II is possible TO obtain con-
corning the state of traffic and commercial intercourse
the material necessary for the formation OF competent
judgment the enterprise OF the Northern Pacific Rail
way. In expressing this judgment IN the following re
port premise that consider it expedien to waive all
specaltcs which may not necessarily have real pear
ing upon that enterprise, and that regard II my uuy
TO conne statement to describing in brief outlines
the enterprise ITSELF and connecting with 1t test OF the
question whether will be in position TO discharge all
those obligations which, according To the promises
made by the projectors it is in duty bound to frlhll
O. According to the charter granted to the Northern
Pacific Railway Company by the Congress OF the United
States with the consent OF the Executive Government
the Company is authorized to build and work an unln-
terruped line Of railway commencing at Lake SUPERIOR
in Minnesota Wisconsin, and proceeding westward,
within the territory o; the United States, to point on
Puget Sound along the valley OF the Columbia River
with branch line from a suitable point on the main
line over the Cascade Range TO Puget Sound.
In support Of this enterprise the charter grants the
Company 20 alternating sections, or 1850 acres OF pup
lie land for every mile Of completed rails in the States
through which the line and 40 alternating sections
25G00 for mile In those districts NOT STU
aed in States Territories These land grants APP
ply to the branch line well to the main line The
charter further grants the right Of way, as well as the
privilege OF taking from the public lands, cost free, all
the materials necessary for the construction OF the line
g. The conveyance OF the land 10 the Railway Com
pany takes place whenever % miles OF unlnter-
rupted line have been soundly and soidly completed,
and simultaneously the Government enters into COW
enan not to dispose OF public land at any sale In
the alternating sections along the lne for less than
& 80 an acre.
BY virtue Of these privileges, the Northern Pacific
Railway Company has commenced building operations
intending the first place TO construct length OF me
from Duluth Lake Superior, crossing the Mississippi
Red River Dakota River and the Missouri, along the
Yellowstone River as far as Bozeman's Pass OF the
Rocky Mountains; thence along Clarke's Fork as far
AZ Lake Pend d'Oreille thence over the Columbia
Plains as far as Lewis River and along this and Column
bia River as far as Cowz River; and lastly along the
Valley of the Cowtz to the southern end OF PUGET
Sound length OF about 1900 miles, for which 100000
acres OF public land will have TO be conveyed 10 the
Company.
G. The branch line, commencing at any suitable point
Of the line aud leading over the Cascade Range 10
Puget Sound which has likewise been PROVIDED TOT Oy
the charter-a line about 400 eco miles long, which
would reduce the distance between Lake Superior ana
Puget Sound TO LIS mles--s not 10 be taken up ~
present but 10 be reserved for future period Accord
ingy the estimates prepared for building the Northern
Pacific Railway are limited the present project the
cost OF the branch line not being included.
ESTIMATES OF COST
These estimates ca cuate the cost OF construction OF