, 1873-04-17
Northern Pacific Railroad.
From the St. Paul Press. ]

From the St. Paul Press.
AT general meeting of the Board Of
Directors and officers of the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company, held in New
York recently. il was decided to push
forward the work with all possible speed
during the available portion of 1878,
and. in accordance with this decision,
definite programme was arranged, which
will be as closely adhered to as circum-
stances will permit.
Immediately following the appear
ance ofsettled and favorable weather, the
line is to be fully opened to Edwinton.
the present terminal point on the Mis-
soarl river. This portion of the work
will ba completed by the opening of
navigation on that stream, all the mater
lal required having been placed on the
ground last fail. prior to the advent of
cold weather. The entire line to the
Missouri river was so well advanced last
year that comparatively little will be re-
quired to place it in good running order
from the outlets upon Lake Superior,
or the Mississippi River at St. Paul, to
the Missouri.
In anticipation of radical change in
the direction taken by the travel and
traffic from the Western Territories to
the popHlous States and marts of the
East, the Company has determined. to
operate two passenger trains per day to
and from Edwinton-o being desisne!
exclusively for passene ers, and the ether
an accommodation or mixed train.
These trains will run in connection with
q line OF steamers, which are to make
regular trips during the season of navi-
cation. between Edwinton and Fort Ben
ton, ii military post situated at or near
the head OF navigation on the Missouri
River and which has heretofore been
considered the point Of divergence
toward the gold fields of Montana OF to
the more secluded, but, prehaps not
less profitable, range of the hunters and
trappers along the base OF the Rocky
Mountains, or Oh tie margins of the
timbered water courses.
Tie line of Steamers will be divided
INTO two branches, small fraction
thereof being intended to ply the Mis-
souri,, between Edwinton and Sioux
City, thus atfortling regular facilities to
the settlements and military posts on
that stream sit ated below its North I'll
Pacific crossing. Six steamers are to be
placed ON the line between Edwintou
and Fort Benton, number considered
ample for the ccommodation of travel
aud freights either eastward or westward
bound. Should the business of this new
ihofoughfare, however, require addi
tional facilities for the rapid and secure
movement of conmodities, the Conlpa-
ny Will supply them whenever, and as
rapidly as the necessity is indicated.
When the steamers begin their trips
to Fort Benton, wagon trains will con-
time and complete the connection be-
tween the citizens Of Montana and those
of Eastern America, and " iiie this por-
ton of the route may wear its primitive
features, it will nevertheless answer its
purpose, and complete the first direct
I'chain of communication established be-
tween Northern cities and the remote
Territories.
Surveys will be prosecuted west of the
Missouri River until feasible route is
discovered--the characteristics Of the
country embraced in some portions of
the Western extension being Of nature
discouraging to any hope of successful
railroading over their intricate and brok-
en- surfaces. Special pains will be taken
to secure good route, and when this is
discovered, and the line definitely To-
Gated by the engineers, construction will
follow Immediately, and will be prose
cuted with unremit'ing vigor.
Perhaps the busiest scene of the sum-
mer on the Northern Pacific road will
be found on that portion of the line ly-
ing between Puget Sound and the base
OF the Rocky Mountains, distance of
$50 miles. Here will be concentrated
as large force as can be gathered to-
gether adyantaseously, and the company
hopes to have the entire stretch between
the points named fully completed and
ready for the movements of trains be-
fore the next Winter forces temporary
suspension of operations.
The Walla Waila Statesman SAYS: We
learn that work has been commenced
on the Walla Waila and Columbia River
Railroad and that nnthinr now rar,a;nc