Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-11-14
A NEW THORoUGHFARE.


When the civil war ended, these
United States were still divided by vast
tracts of unoccupied territory, through
which men of singular courage were
pushing the first Pacific railway. The
completion of that road was hailed as a
great event in the history of the nation,
and the remarkable development of the
regions through which it passes has am
ply justified the brightest anticipations
of that day. But that event was espe-
cially important because it bound to-
gether, by ties of iron, states that had
been widely separated. After more than
ten years of constant dependence upon a
single trans-continental route, the COM
pletion of another may we'll be regarded
as worthy of special mention. For ex-
perience has proved that the Union and
Central Pacific, though constructed and
defended with great engineering skill,
are liable to be interrupted by the heavy
snowstorms which sweep over Western
plains or fill the gaps in mountain
ranges.
The second route across the continent,
below the line of SHOWS throughout its
length, will soon be completed. Trains
have been running since the early part
of this year, by way of the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe and the Southern
Pacific, but each of these roads is build
ing and will in due time complete an in
dependent line The connection between
them near Ell Paso, therefore, has not
taken the character of the permanent
establishment of new trans-continental
route. Nor is the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe by any means free from the
difficulties In winter which the Union
Pacific has been obliged to face Dur
ing this month, however, connection will
be made between the Southern Pacific
and the Texas and Pacific, by which
trains can be run below the line of pos
sible interruption by snow, from south.
ern ports to California. 1t is stated. al.
so, that agreements have been made
tween these companies and the Calves
ton, Harrisburg and San Antonio, under
which trains will be run and freight
moved with pro rata division of receipts
Virtually, these roads form one line fol
transportation between New Orleans
Memphis, Cairo, and st. Louis on thu
Mississippi, and San Francisco and Sal
Diego on the Pacific. For the owners o
the Southern Pacific also hold control
ling interests in the Galveston, Harris
burg and San Antonio, and in road
from that to New Orleans; while th
owners of the Texas & Pacific also hav
controlling interests in the st. Louis
Iron Mountain & Southern, which reach
es Memphis, Cairo and St. Louis. o.
the Pacific coast. also, a road is in prog
ress from San Diego to connect with tn
Southern Pacific.
These lines are not as yet quite CON
pleted. The San Diego line has bee
extended but twenty-five miles from tia
/. port. The Galveston, Harrisburg
San Antonio still has gap of sever;
hundred miles to cover between its lir
v from San Antonio westward and its lir
: now in progress from Ell Paso eastwar,
;. But in these days, when railroads a
e built at the rate of more than mile p,
e day, this portion of the line will not r
5 main long unfinished. The Texas
e Pacific, already extended from Texark
d ma more than 700 miles across that va
,r empire which we call the state of Texa
Dr. will probably meet the line stretchil
ne southeastward from Ell Paso within t
j, next week, at point where the t.
s, roads cross each other, more than l,
to miles from Ell Paso, and the running
I'd through trains by this line will be CO
i'll menced without delay.
ly The completion of a railroad line
at close to the southern frontier of I
IN United States will be of great impo
IN ance to the government, as well as
zee commerce. 1t will enable the COVE
ye- ment to move its troops and to supl
nd its distant posts at very great saw
is of money and time, and will hasten
We suppression Of Indian disorders in a
~ IONA and New Mexico Immense
a vantages will be gained, also, in tr;
with the northern states of the Mexi'