Omaha daily bee., 1881-08-15
THE BATTLE OF THE GIANTS.


At no time in the history Of the
west, since the building of The Union
Pacific and Central Pacific railroads.
has there been such marvellous activ-
ity in railroad construction. Three
roads are surveying lines across the
Rocky mountains from Colorado to
Utah, with the object of reaching
towards the coast, while five connect
ing lines in Nevada propose to span
the space which i%ntervenes between
the Mormon territory and the Pacific.
In New Mexico the Denver & Rio
Grande and Atlantic e Pacific sys-
TENS are pushing rapidly forward into
territory which has heretofore been
untouched; in Montana the Utah &
Northern and Northern Pacific are
rivaling each other in the race for en-
trance to the settlements, while even
Wyoming is reaping the benefits of
the renewed interest in railroading,
and will shortly have connection with
the rich mining camps of northern
Colorado, and in the near future,
with the fertile ranges of her north
ern borders.
Especial interest centers in the o N
test which it is generally believed will
shortly open between the Union and
Central Pacific systems. The man
agement of the Union Pacific have
long been restless under the contract
which makes the Central Pacific their
western connection, and, if rumor is
true, are laying plans to secur an in.
dependent line to the Pacific
coast. Mr.. Charles Crockor, one of the
owners, and vice-president of the
Central Pacific road was recently
interviewed on the subject,
and stated that the Central Pac iic
was thoroughly prepared for any
movements of the kind on the part of
the Union Pacific managers. Accord
ing to Mr.. Croker the Central Pacific
will meet any move westward by the
Union Pacific, by a corresponding
move eastward, and should the for
mer road reach out for the Pacific
coast the Central Pacific will imme-
diately retalliate by seeking the Mis-
souri, river by a line of their own.
Mr.. Croker further stated that Cen
trail Pacific engineers are alrea-
dy surveying line west
ward from Corinne, Utah,
into Wyoming along Hams Fork. If
found necessary surveys will immedi-
ately be pushed through the territory
along the Sweetwater. thence to and
along the valley of the North Platte
into Nebraska until the Niubrara is
reached, which will be followed, says
Mr.. Croker, to its junction with the
Missouri at Yankton. Such a road,
the vice president of the Central Pa
cifc thinks, would prove a formidable
competitor to any through line which
the Union Pacific could control.
Whether or not tho Union Pacific
forces upon its western connection the
building of a new line, the next four
years will witness an unexampled
amount of railroad building in the
west, which, under proper ~restric.
tions, will prove of immense advan-
tage to u people. No one line of
road or system of railways is in the
future to have a monopoly of the AR
rying trade in the western states and
territories. With the extension of
lines already constructed and the
construction of new roads, the
portions of Nebraska and the estern
territories which now await develop
ment will rapidly fill up with indus
trious settlers for whose product the
rival lines will compete. In the bat
tie of the giant corporations the peo-
pie will stand aloof SO long as the
contest does not menace their inter
ests. When it does the popular voice
will call a truce to the contestants.