The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1878-04-12
PACIFIC RAILROADS.
WHICH Is THE CHEAPEST =?

Philadelphia New Northwest. ai -.5s=
| The four principal routes that have beer
| surveyed to the Pacific have the following
| average elevations above the sea level: a.,
the extreme Southern, or Texas Pacific
route, skirting the border Of Mexico, has
an average altitude of 1890 feet. a.
The 18th parallel route, $500 feet. (3.)
The Middle Route. extending 1,771 miles
from Omaha to Sacramento, 5000 feet.
a. The Northern route, from Lake Su-
pericr to Puget Sound, 1900 feet. The
Middle route (now occupied by the Union
and Central Pacific roads, scales four prin-
ti6adRs ti6adR isa 1885, fAef az faet f6 aSat
it's man line but two SUBMITS, and these
have, an altitude of about 6, 800 feet. Near
" 900 continuous miles on the Middle
route have greater average elevation than
the highest Summit, on the Northern, and
$50 continuous miles on the former line ars
nearly 1000 feet above the highest point OF
the latter.
The remarkably low altitude of the North
ern line, added to to the fact that for much
of its distance it follows the basins of great
rivers, fully entities it TO the designation 1t
Pacific From Lake Superior, for dis
is vast plalu, partly timbered, out mainly
prairie, gradually rising from 1,100 feet
elevation above the sea, near Lake Superb
OF, TO 5000 feet near the Rocky Mountains.
This plain has a varied surface, and in it
flow the nayigable waters Of the Mississip-
pi, the Red, the Upper Missouri and the
Yellowstone and their many tributaries.
Crossing at right angles the valleys of the
Mississippi, and the Red River of the
North, the Northern route traverses the
rolling prairies of Eastern Dakota, enters
tle fertile valley of Apple Creek and fol-
lows this to it's junction with the Missouri.
Crossing the Missouri at Fort Abraham
Lincoln, near the mouth of Heart river,
the route pursues the valley of the latter
some distance westward and strikes the
Yellowstone at or near the mouth of the
Powder river. Following the Yellowstone
Valley co Western Montana the line sur
mounts the Belt range by favorable pass,
crosses the productive valleys of tho Gala
tin, Madison and Jefferson forks of the
Upper Missouri, ascends the valley OF the
latter and Divide Greek, runs through Deer
Lodge Pass, at an altitude of $500 feet
above sea level, and descends the western
slope by the valleys Of the Deer Lodge,
He'll Gate and Clark's Fork of the Colum-
bia to Lake Pen d'Oreille, whence it cros-
ses the great grass plain of the Columbia
river to the mouth of the Snake, not far
above Wallula. From this point the route
follows the banks of the Columbia through
the Cascade Cor Sierra) range, branch
terminating at Portland and the trunk line
extending northward to the main terminal
city on Puget Sound. .. 4....-.
The Missouri and Columbia take their
rise on the same level, their headwaters
interlock and at one point tributaries OF
the two rivers have been united by a miners
ditch-thus forming continuous water
course more than 5000 miles in length,
from the Pacific Ocean, at the mouth of
Columbia, 10 the Atlantic, at New Orleans!
The Columbia is the only river which
pierees the Sierra Nevada mountains; and
.siIS range, whlcn IL scalea ny sno oees.ssl noa
feet above the sea, the Northern Pacific
main line passes through at nearly the
level of the ocean by following the Colum-
bia river. The leading advantages result
ing to the Northern Pacific Railroad from
the low altitude of the valley route along
which it is building are: /. A compare
lively mild climate and a sheltered position.
2. Exemption from deep and drifting
SHOWS in the mountain region, and hence,
with ordinary precautions, entire freedom
from winter distractions. 8. A generally
productive and verdure-covered country
Ranking the road, resulting in rapid settle
ment, large tributary population and
profitable local traffic. 4. An abundance
Of good water. 8. A saving of many
millions in cost of construction with pro-
portionate reduction of interest burden.
3. A succession of natural and easy
grades, which will greatly reduce the cost
,f operating the road and enable the same
motive power to accomplish far greater re-
suits. both in speed and traffic, than are
possible on an elevated or mountain route. |