The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1881-11-26
Horace Greeley on the Northern
Pacific.

The following article appeared
as leader in the New York Tribune
nearly fourteen years ago, when a
Pacific Railroad North, South or
Central was still but a vision of the
far sighted statesman or the most
adventurous man OF business. Every
consideration in favor Of the north
ern route of that time is vastly
stronger to-day. The article con-
tains some errors arising from
defective information; but, on the
whole, it ~ accurate aud torcibe,
and rs the well-considered opinion
OF Horace Greeley, at the inception
OF the great northern enterprise, our
readers WILL peruse it with uncom-
ia. II interest
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY
Whle the Central Pacific and Unlon
.
roads, both from the Eastern and Western
points of departure, with amazing energy
and success, the Northern Company has as
get done iittle more than cnlighten the
country on the comparative advantages of
it's route over any other. The reason is
pIain. The former bave large government
subsidy, a loan oi UnItcd States credit, while
the litter has only simple land grant.
These loads lie, ut all points, nearly six hun
never be ,ival-. If there be any jeaiou-y
between them 1t is because the Northern
easier grades, must eventual, be the great
highway OF international commerce between
Europe and Asia, and between A la and our
/ Atlantic >eas.,a,d. But we DO not proI ose
to discuss the relative prospects 81 the roads
/ from any point of view. The vast import
/ ance OF either to the solid and permanent
growth of tie Union, to its CONNIE rclal
prosperity and its defensive strength, is
/ be, ond any possible stimate. In the midst
of the general satisfaction which halls the
rapid construction of the one, we simply
desire to call attention to the grand resour-
ccs which the other is likely to command
to the stupendous empire in extent and in
natural wealth which it is destined to de-
veiop. In tie success of the latter enterprise
New York and New England have deep
interest worthy Of their most practical con.
siderdtion The commercial SUPP IenIacy oil
the city OF New York can never, of course
be disturbed but it may be enhanced and
il seems perfectly evident that should the
trade OF Asia and the great Northwest be
poured into the lakes which wash the north
ern boundary of the Ssate, whatever i.
. broken in bulk or distributed to the Atlantic
/ States will be drawn off to the advantage o
E this metropolis.
The Company is authorized to build a roat
from the head of Lake Superior on lint
north of the fortY-ffth degree of nortl
latitude to Puget Sound, throwing off t
branch down the Columbia Valley to Port
land, Oregon, from point on the main lint
less than nee hundred miles from its west
ern terminus. This is not only the shortes
route across the continent connecting lines
of water communication, but its termin ar,
nearer, the one to Europe, and the other t
] Asia, than those of any other. Seattle, q
, the head of Puget Sound, is one of the fines
and safest harbors on the globe, with
broad and deep channel to the ocean. Il
the distances to Amoor, Shanghai, Cantor
and Calcutta, Seattle has an average advan
D tage of two hundred and sixty miles. Seattl
\ is three hundred miles nearer to Chicago b
, the porthe rn route than San Francisco b
the Central or, it We compare distances I
, the commencement of lake navigation a
the heads OF Lakes Michigan and .Superio
. respectively, the distance Is more tina
i seven hundred miles in favor of the northern
Z route.
: But is this route between termini SO niue
nearer TO each other, aud So much bette
situated with gard TO the great commerci;
. any other entirely practicable? We n
! longer PROFOUND the question in doubt, {
a,tenp pit to solve it upon imperfect data