The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-12-26
From the St. Paul Press.
THE NORTHERN Pa CIFIC RAIL
ROAD

THE NORTHERN Pa CIFYC RAIL
The New \ 1ork papers contain a
statement of the facts and arguments
on which the proposed legislation to
secure the early completion of the
Northern Pacific Railroad is asked.
1t i much too long for our columns,
and for public so familiar as ours
with the Argument, it will be suffi-
cient 10 present a brief abstract en-
bracin9 the salient points.
Referring TO the large land grant
given by Congress in aid ofthe road
the document says this Legislation
was based on the fact that such a
national highway is needed by the
country:
l. AS military road. 2. As a
post route. 3. AS a means of facil-
itating the transportation of Indian
supplies. 4. As means of secur-
ing to our own people a great future
commerce, which is now in danger
Of falling into the hands of a rival
Canadian Pacific, on a route 800
miles north OF the Northern Pacific
S. As the only humane, prompt, eco
nOmical and permanent settlement
Of the ludian question. 6. As a
means Of enabling the government
to safely reduce the regular army,
and thereby reduce taxation. The
number OF troops employed, during
the past ten years, IN the belt of
country along the Northern Pacific
railroad has ranged from 4,5OO to
1000. The permanent release from
duty of even three or fourrcgiments,
which would result from the com
pletion of this road would annually
save the government and the ma
tons tax payers an amount cqlal
to the annual interest on the cost of
the entire liue. These statements
are supported by the official reports
Of the L. s. Commissioner ofIndian
Affairs, Quarter Master General
Mei9s, whose views on the impor-
tance of the road as y measure of
national security and defence are
endorsed by General Grant, by Gen
Custer and other high military and
civil authorities.
Z The Northern Pacific railroad
is necessary To prevent Il serious
and imminent increase of the lndi-
an difficulty in the northwest. Not
only would failure to build it in
definitely prolong the present chron-
lc Indian warfare aid consequent
expenditures, but would go far to
render it more bitter, costly ana
disastrous. The building of the
Canadian Pacific will drive the
game from the country southwark
ln;o American territory. The In
dianS Of British America following
the game will comgregate on the
unprotected frontiers OF Dakota,
Montana and Washington, render
ing necessary either an abandon
ment OF the country by the whites
or great increase of military forts
and troops.
s. The Northern Pacific Rail
road IS required for the develop
ment aud settlement of the belt of
productive agricultural country,
rich with forests, and mines of pre-
cious metals, through which it pas
SEES
9 Finally it is needed as a thor
oughtare for the travel and trade Of
the large population along its line
The people of Montana, for exam
pie, who have in ten years added
sl60,o00,000 of gold and silver to
the wealth of the world, travel 500
miles by stage coach in getting
from the nearest railroad to their
homes, and haul their merchandise
and ship their richest ores with OK.
teams ike distance, while the de-
Velopment of nne-tenths of their sill
Yer mines and the utilization of
their boundleSs natural paslurage
are simply prohibited by the utter
lack ot rall transportation.
We quote some additional re-
markes:
Inc building of the Northern Pacific rail-
soad IS not in any ordinary sense of the
Term a private enterprise. it is a needed
government work, authorized to be done by
corporation "a an instrument in which