The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-07-13
rHE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD

" L 6AA -
the people are just beginning to comprehend.
Years ago Jay Cooke foresaw this very
thing, but people laughed at his supposed
folly. He was ridiculed without mercy for
undertaking to build a railroad on the line OF
the Northern Pacific, and the average rail
road magnate of that time sincerely believed
that the iron horse would never traverse that
dreary () section of country. But, like the
Congressman who made a speech on the floor
of the House, away back in the %forties, to
demonstrate that Oregon could never, under
any possible contingency, become q State IN
this Union, they were simply mistaken. Jay
than any Of them.
1t is only in the last year or two that the
Northern Pacific and the country through
which it passes has claimed any great share
Of public attention. It is 40 longer looked
upon as an impossible scheme, but as one Of
the most promising railroad projects Of the
decade. The enterprise is fortunately in the
hands Of gentlemen who fully comprehend
the situation, who know and understand the
brilliant future Of the road. Henry Willard,
the President of the N. P. R.R., is said to be
the peer of Jay Gould or Vanderbilt, and his
recent movements and his plans for the fu-
ture Of his road fully confirm the assertion.
Willard is now on a Western tour of inspec-
ton, and while in Chicago he detailed to a
Times reporter some Of the schemes that
have been determined on by the corporation
Of which he is the head. He said that the
Oregon Trans-continenta Company now con
trolled the Northern Pacific and Oregon Rail
way and Navigation line and its branches,
and that this company propose to build i'm
mediatelY 800 miles Of tributary railroad east
Of the Rocky Mountains. Two branches will
be built, one extending from Wadina on the
Minnesota Northern (now included in the
Northern Pacific system) to Breckenridge in
Dakota, and another from Little Falls in q
parallel direction to Big Stone Lake, also in
Dakota. Another line under immediate pro-
ward from Jamestown in Dakota. These
two roads will follow the general course Of
the James river valley, which is said to be
extremely fertile. Th line running north
from jamestown will debouch from the val
ley Of the James into Moose river valley east
Of the Rocky mountains. Mr.. Willard says
that these lines will all be completed within
the next two years, when the Northern Paci-
6c will have {, 900 miles Of tributary railway
il operation. Il IS proposed, also, to increase
the.lin6s Of the Oregon Railway and Nayi-
CATION Company from 300 10 780 miles. Mr..
Willard further stated that the new company
represented al the capital that could be ju-
obviously employed il carrying forward the
plans already matured. The paid II sub
scriptions amount to $50, 900, 600. He pre-
dicted the completion Of the Northern Pacific
as d through trans-contlnental line in two
years. He says that the Northern Pacific
system, when completed in accordance with
present plans, will embrace about {, 600 miles
of main and tributary railway. From this
brief statement, when considered in connec-
ton with the remarkable resources of the
country tributary to the line, it can be readily
seen that the future Of the Northern Pacific
is as bright IS could be wished. That it will
place Montana in the front rank Of Territor-
les, and soon give her 8 place ID the sister
hood Of States, cannot be doubted for 2
moment.