New-York tribune., 1874-12-14
TIE NORTHERN PACIFIC EAHROAD.

70 the EdNor Of The Trtbwne.
SIR: At the last session of Congress Tin May,
1874 memorial TO the senate and House
OF Representatives by the Northern Pacific Railroad
Company, stating Its nsbilty to complete the ROAD
with the means ut is disposal and asking for such add'
tionai legislation would render available the au
already granted by Congress- and secure the accomplish
ment of the great WORK for which the Company was
created. A bill intended to meet he requirements "
the case was also introduced in both Houses Tne
memorial aud bill referred to the Committee on
Railroads In the Senate and to the Committee on inc
Pacific Railroad In the House.
In anticipation Of early action this bill by Congress-
the following statement Is intended to present, brehy
and plainly, the present condition Of the Northern
Pacific Railroad the provisions Of the pending measure
10 ITS early completion, the reasons Oh puo1
utility and necessity believed to justify ana
deia nd H. the benefits iJ will confer oa the Govern
and people. and the radical aud valuable eonUes -,
sious proposed be made by he Railroad COMPANY
Of the required change In the form OF tno
aid granted by tae Governments.
ORIGINAL CHARTER AND GRANTS.
BY act OF CouEtss-wnich passed both Houses by o
nearly unanimous vote and was approved nv Preside"'
Lincoln, July o. lSGi-the Northern Pacific Bai'roau
Company was created and authorized TO build aud mann
tain a continuous saroad aud telegraph line from Lake
Superior Pdgot Bound. tho valley OF Columbia
RIVER with the risR,t to construct branch from some
pOins "a tho main line. across the Cascau
United States we're invited and given an opportunity
to- share In the organization and the Owuershp VI '"0
Congress- regarding the construction OF the Northern
Pacifo Railroad as u national need, ana necessaln1' ,
from It's nagDii ude largely Government WORK oon,
trlbuted suo aid iu tho form Of most valuable Iahu
grant as was believed su ent to secure the oompe-
Tne gfau which Is stu IN ui iorce;
consists OF 12 80 per mile through the states and
25GOO mie through the TERRITORIES traveri
and aggregates, for tue trunk line and autnoTizeu
branch bet 5)Oo00oo aud 60 acres OF foes
mineral, agricultural, and grass lands
REASONS FOR PAST AND PROPOSED LEGISLATION
The recOgnzs fact winch tins legislation was
based as shown by the debates and the reports OF % IN
mittecs In Congress- and which the pending amend
meDt 10 tie Companys charter Is asked. that such
National highway 10 needed by the dovernmeht ana tne
country CHIEFLY for the following purposes:
l. AS military road for the cheap and rapid transit
oelt OF country COO miles width ny 1sO miles III
length Ia nearly an OF which strong miIitary ponce
H. As post route. Tor IL e economical and rapid car
riage Of Unied aes mails 10 tue people VI 'nreo
StaIes aud four Territories. ,..,.
Ill As means oi taeitating and greatly choapehlng
the trausporla OF sdppcs alt annuity goods 10 the
Tue amount annually saved 10 the GOyernnen,,
thereby 10 tue OF tue country. py sos.
las War Department, the Post Office Department ana
mo Ia lI.n Department tuo Northwest, VIII Of itsel
Jusiy the past ana propSsea ic''ioA oi o'""'''' III
~ As "a means securing 10 oar own people great
future commerce. winch Is now In danger oI IIhs no
tle LanGs Of rival ndtiOn Tue G1vrrniuehs Oi ne
ID mlniOu Of Canada. by Iberaly end0wng am De- %,
niles OF tGe NJrshern Pacht l. arising lof th5
lade OF A~ia by tne snort rYdte Irom fus1t scum M ~
di.lncc aud L,De, wuic gne n9rthcrn c0ntneLtA ana
ocean has over Others. ani WHICH, III tIe
must largely control shipments VIII accrue WnoB 10
our Canadian ncl~hOofsA the nIrShefH F"c'no
remains unfinished. &c., -
" As ,he only humane pro npt economical, and per-
ma"cLt setltheut oi tHo uIh'u si-u co''t S h Ia
O3s.s OF tho ARM me 1ih Ia oI the me
nor Deputmcn and Bureau VI l1dita An.rs, ana the
ComBlitees of congress nave ast.eH, S the't i
reno give evidence, tue opinion mat tLe cOnpIe
ton of the EJriAern Pacific R,r1dd VIII solve, peace-
aJy and forever ID" IAiIH p.oeioh ~ t"T 6 '
saving many miilOus 10 ino NdiOual treasury, pc-
sides avolClBg the DoOdshrd ana Daib Of lOrier
motnOds. IAis result Id NJ oJy "tcs "iie ,i ~
lowed the building vi ibe - UU1o" ah0 CenlFdi Ia
cfo Roads. Il SAN more nardod manner IL WI iO-
i,, f,, buI dug of AOitlera Paclh. by rendering
NJ IN possible Tor the warii@o S1A and osher t'ts
res ri TO agriculture. cI.ue ierdIus Ahd Oher pursuits
Vi q uted State, Comm sslJner Of Iaciaa ATIirs IN
annual r,p5ri iOr ls., SAID: "TLo cOLpIo,lOn o. thc
Northern Pacific KArOAu "Iii iIdIy settle tne IIdih
o,.s,1 IA te country north II lc i!no or tne Union
pc1ic Il R.ilrOad ana sJu,L OI tnc B.ltlal border.
Iilccd. the promise Is tlat Two years more II hot
auuiner summer the NJTtLcrn Pdchc Riilrpiu VIII
iI,c,t cUnrletely solve Ine great sioux piObrl ana
leave tue 9jJJD Indians ranging between t4e t1l'cOh
"a are the Inuians New-YJrk ANA VI i,ssachuseits
Grant. IN has repor. d, SSgrs'aS OK Va, 'ai, n
ll1nent settlement OF our indian diiicutIes"
VI. As means OF oAdDhIs tue OJVcIniIoht 70 s'toy
rece INC ro- army, ami thereby reduce taAalOu'
a. wi do tnIs by speedily rendering UNNECESSARY the
lar. er d RI ana ultimately ALL OF the troops leretoOrs
AMI uoy req Iircd cOntrVDg the Indians ana pro-
trctiug the settlers ana minu< CON Iuhh!es OF Tue
N,tG West ShOriiy alter completion or tue NORTH
rrn plc,c ROAD most IUrts and near tAe Upper
Alis,,url many number ana strOnSy gdtTsOheu,
c bs safely ana forever bIdOneu anu several re IL
In.uIs of troops relieved Irom ddty. la wCii,
Tho railroad ana tue population III carfles WIN @ WI
r,n,,ce ana rcieve tlo army la tue Northwest Tue
eDnpieton OF the Union" aud "Centrai" PAc.nc was
lO.io oScd W a ilho fcsdlt' At. ,,o
rute OF this passes thrVugn region exceedingly
Icn in gold aud silver, ana the succeSvo discoveries
T ,nes ,T tnese metal, IA tue adjacent country,
fl.,L OF enlZtLtiOu anu SottltLSu
viii continue TO now III tbis dlieetiOn though III uhn
,.had vo,un,e eyen withoui IL rdirvad. Ie wiil
ne perpetual conflict with IN, Indian tTOes, perpetual
de.,a.d lrVls cure safety and ordcI ana
consequently perpetual outlay from tue NATIONAL
Tue cost Of malntanlnga regiment Of cavalry IN tho
NiS-ye,tern Ter ores - staVei Dy mintary exper.s
aL rom SlOJO,U0J sl3JoOe yearly. Tsc numOer ot
troops epiU daris iao Eis Lon yeirs Ia I4e ~ Vi
ry 10 bs an ctcL Dy Duing Of the NOrCherh
PIcno Railroad ranged nom 4,JJ0 10 1000, anJ AN
odtDreaA hOstiues wOiid rcqu'.c this lOfce 10 40
1oavled. TAe permanent release from duty OF oveh
uree or four reguens, by De complexion u this rou'
would annually save 10 the GJvernmeut aahu tAc
nations taApyers amount eq Ial 10 Tue amman III
err,l on the cost ilne. Whether tue eAAcs
rosu. shall prove to % s"uIe"nit greater OF less t
tnIs estmate-here, n a single Item, Is Deneht llev.-
ble tangible uycrslduVwInS, winch must lnure ~
the nation from the cJnpctlOb Oi I1c Northern raco
X jdd, and wch nei ncr Practical Lax payers hOi Pi""
As salnpcs oi official proc. at hand to sub
s,au,alc these coacnsIons: Tue veteran aud disiu-
Cisned Q Qarterulasier-Genoral of tue Army, nia!or
Gen. NJ. I. Meigs IN an oie report "Iiteh "a ioOo % U
Inc importance 10 Inc Government of building 'ho
Northcrn Pacific Railroad, SAID: ,.,.,,
"No means OF inprO sius tie great natlonai DOMAIN,
OF INCREASING by its Products tho national Venuo a
prOsucrity, eau cUDpAre IN Cheapiess and eMeiency
WIN the opening rapid communication ny railway
with those distant, Leaithiui and productive ~
cious" tue enterprise Is one worthy OF lhe
nalion. As military measure, cOntrlousDg ~ Datona
security anu dcieuse alone. II Is worsny tue COS.
efgcLual assistance from tue GJvernment"
FIR tue mode aid best De Srantod ~ 'no
construction OF this road, none appears 10 mo so o.
ectal and speedy, e. impose 81 hght Duruen
upou the the glardnee oI suIncient
OF interest upon portou at least OF lhc act" eo''
construction" ,,, s IN,
the aOoye mentioned report OF Gen. Meigs was in
dorsed rs folIows py the tnen Leutendnt-GeJerdi:
HEAD DlUAHIEIs ARMIES Oh THE UNITED STATES
Aprii ~. lO6j.
The construction Of railroad by the PROPOSED roule
Would " very greas advantage 10 The GoScihmons
pecunary Nv SAVING IN the Cost or transportauon y.
supply troops, whose presonee III Inc couhItJ tn
IA