The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-09-13

letter, In which he shows conclusively
that the Northern Pacific is the valley
route across the continent, and as such,
by reason Of its economy Of force, the
most practicable route that has been
proposed. He says the actual distance
is 40 miles less by this route than by
the Union and Central roads, and all
OF 200 miles more may be added to
this difference, gained by reason Of the
lower grades on the Northern route.
The highest point on the N. P. Road is
OF Sherman, being 1926 feet above
the sea level; the next highest is at
Aspen summit, Z, 463 feet, and the sum-
NIT of the Sierra Nevadas, 1902 feet;
while the highest summit on the North
ern Pacific line is about 5000 feet
lower than the Sherman summit on
the Union Pacific. The letter says;
On the Union Pacific road the profile also
shows that for nine hundred continuous miles,
from Sidney westward, the road has an aver.
age height of over 5000 feet, and the lowest
spot on that distance is more than 1000 feet
above the sea; whereas on the Northern route
only about sixty miles, at most, are as high
as 1000 feet; and the corresponding distance
of nine hundred miles, extending from the
mouth of the Yellowstone to the valley of
Clark's river, is, on an average, about 5000
feet lower than the Union Pacific line. Then
allowing that 200 feet of elevation causes
a decrease of temperature of three degrees,
there is substantial reason for the circum.
stance, now well authenticated, that the
SHOWS on the Northern route are much less
troublesome than they are on the Union and
Central Pacific route. At the same time it
should not be claimed that there will be no
trouble from snow on the Northern line.
1.-THE impression would wish TO
create is this: That q line can be SO located
between the valley of the Missouri and the
mouth of the Columbia river aid to Puget
Sound, that for the greater portion of the
distance 1T will not encounter any serious
trouble from snow; and that in the passage
OF the belt range, between the Yellowstone
and the Upper Missouri, and the crossing of
the Rocky Mountains at Deer Lodge pass, no
greater obstacles from snow are likely to be
met with than have already been encountered
and overcome on roads in New England
States and in the State of New York.
Our readers will doubtless be inter-
ested in the cause of the delay in con-
structing this road The Doctor says
More than q year Of dilligeat effort OH the
part of the directors was spelt i'll saving the
IL ~ otc ,it, ~
Inhalation and in securing the creditors all
The assets. This was to all appearance n
transaction most creditable to the head and
the heart of the directors. The creditors
had all their own property for their bonds, if
they should choose to acceptit. About S24,
600, 900 OF bonds were given up for preferred
stock. Some millions were exchanged for
lands. Some bonds are still held back, yet
provision is still made for their transfer for
stock or lands.
The value of the two sections already
built is stated as follows:
The sos miles of road pai,, all cuTlelG ex-
penses and earAea $500, 900 more as per re-
port last year. Of ibis surplus the los miles
of the Pacific division earned 500, 600 over
its expenses.
The whole line is owned by it's present
stockholders. 1t is free from debt, and is
paying no interest-unless it be Oil the Sec
lions built this year--while its earnings are
increasing annually.
AS the time of it's franchise expires soon by
limitation, it earnestly asks an extension of
time to complete Che through line.
AS to the views of the directors, the
Doctor says in conclusion:
T., conversation with Cant ! G. Aims.
worth one of the directors of the n. p. r.
r., he says distinctly that it is the Judgment
and the purpose of some of the directors Of
the Northern Pacific Railroad, with whom
he fully agrees in the plan to urge the sale
OF their lands in the government land offices
at the minimum price fixed OF 81 90 per acre,
and to use the proceeds with other funds at
once to connect the Columbia and Missouri
rivers by railroad, and thence to extend the
road westward on the south side Of the Col
umbia to Portland on the Willamette, and