Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-07-11
DAILY POST IHFELLIGEHCER
rvrri.SiirRIsEs o. TnE PRESENT AND
THE FUTURE.

EyrKIPRIsEs o. TEE PRESENT AND
the FUTURE.
II is difficult TO comprehend. at a
glance. says the Willamette Farmer, the
great work that corporations are doing
in constructing railroads in Oregon and
Washington. and the immense amount
Of money that they ere expanding IN
such construction. With all the men
they can procure, and with practical ,
unlimited means at command, they find
It impossible to put through work as
fast a. they desire. Much Of the work
now to be done is very heavy end ex-
pensive. The task of completing con-
struction between this city and the
Cascades is one of more than ordinary
difficulty, but the work is pushed with
all possible energy. Another difficult
and expensive work is the construction
of the Oregon and California Railroad
south Of Rossburg. That also is pushed
with all possible expedition. but cannot
be completed before two years from tie
coming autumn. Then the chief work
of all, that must be put through with
the least possible delay. 80 as to give IA
connection with the East at the earliest
possible moment, is to build the North
ern Pacific road through Montana. That
work goes on steadily and surely. and
will be completed to a point beyond
Missoula the present season. The
Northern Pacific Company is also clos
ing the gap between Portland and Ka-
lama, needed TO make through connec-
tion with Puget Sound. This consists
Of bridging the Columbia near Kalanna
and building fifty miles of road down
tho Columbia river on the south side.
That will be great work to accomplish.
The construction of the bridges across
the Columbia at Kalams, the william
cite at Portland, and Snake river at
Ainsworth, will require millions OF
outlay, and employ the ablest engineer
ing the world can afford. The O. Il. &
N. Co., besides the heavy work between
Portland and Cascades, are building the
road to Pendleton, in Umatilla county,
and the contract is let for grading 12O
miles, from Twin Wells on the North
ern Pacific, to Moscow, in Idaho, which
work was already commenced when we
passed down from Cheney three weeks
ago.
The combined enterprises alluded to,
says the same paper, must already en-
ploy ton thousand men. Besides the
white men aud Chinese already en-
ployed, IL was asserted that the compa-
mics bad made contracts for the ship
ment Of 5000 or 10000 more Chinese,
that are already arriving by steamers
and sailing vessels and being sent on to
the front. With these additional forces
at work the total number of men en-
ployed on railroad in. Oregon, Montana
and Washington Territory must reach
15.0C0 persons, for all white men that
oEer and are able bodied find work at
good wages. When we look at the work
to be done, it is apparent that all this
force will be kept Mt work for years to
como. The Northern Pacific will require
all next season to complete its through
connection, and when the main route is
complete there will be branches of equal
length to construct. Railroads will be
constructed through this part of the
United States for the next two years,
requiring all the force that can offer.
From Tacoma the Northern Pacific will
60 down to Seattle, or beyond. The
branch system will include roads south
from the Columbia in Wasco and Grant
counties, The Blue Mountains will be
crossed to Baker City. The Cascade
branch Of the Northern Pacific must GO
across to the Sound. Yakima and Kick
itat counties will have to be developed.
Three branches are projected into the
Palouse country. The natural ridge
extending from Pennington, north
westerly, for ono hundred and fifty
miles, into the Big Bend of the Column
bia, Is tho natural route for railroad,
and the country IL travsrses will, in
time, abundantly supply transportation
for ono.
II 10 impossible at this time to show
Ill tho routes that railroads must event
ally traverse, but through this wild re-
Rion the steel rails must 10 laid over
many q route not yet in sight, and will
develop regions that are not now talked
Of rs homes for agriculture. The march
OF improvement will go on for all time,
but the prosecution Of enterprise in the
near future will give employment TO
Thousands, and insure good wages to all
able bodied mon who wish to earn them.
Is y fortunate for this great region that
men who control unlimited capital have
identified themselves with its DESTINY.
Il y IN many respects tho most attract
i've and inviting portion Of the national
domain. The natural wealth and unde-
vsloped resources that exist here, in the
shape Of forests, mines, coal, iron and
preoaous metals, give opportunity for
Duildfna ~ prosperous states. Climate
and coil arc unrivalled, and the mon
who spend these millions and tens Of
millions here viii reap great return.
while they enhance our prosperity.
Beddes the enterprises under control
OF the Willard combination, we hear Of
oshsr railroad schemes One recsntlv
broanhsd In Eastern Washington con-
templates the building Of ssventy-five
miles Of track to develop the lumber
trade Of tho Cpur d'Alene mountains
and transport wheat from the eastern
norders Of the, Palouse country. We