Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-02-15
MONTPELIER. VI
Western Railroads.

Ii is only about a dozen years since the
completion of an all rail route between the
eastern cities and San Francisco was the
occasion of much comment and rejoicing |
The running of trains over the Union and
Central Pacific roads. making possible a
continuous journey by rail from coast to
coast was indeed great step ahead from
the weary wagoning over the plains or the
misel les of the trip by the ishmus.
During the war the Pacific coast was
almost without share in its trials and tri |
umphs. 1t was an oullving possession |
that we we're thankful to have saved with
out trouble. And perhaps events of the
wlr helped as much toward making up
the determination that the two coasts
should be more intimately united rs did
the hope of making money. IL took the
four years subsequent to the war to com
plete the first through line.
That line completed there were struggle
to have one to the north of it and others to
the south. But these enterprises had diff
culties to overcome of various kinds, and
their slower progress made them after a
time pretty much forgotten by folks in
general. Then came the financial crash
of 1873 and the con >equent interruption OF
railroad building in its former proportions
Blu for three or four years these west
ho ham TNrNvoTH
with amazing swiitness.
Their progress has hardly been noted
however. Folks who have ever thought
of going to the Pacific coast have known
there was an old railroad by which they
could get there and why anybody should
want to build other lines either for business
or patriotic reasons has seemed great
problem. The Northern Pacific working
west from Minnesota and east from Wash.
ington Territory has looked like a cold
and windy undertaking and the southern
line through New Mexico and Arizona
was thought profitless burrowing in
burning sands with fine prospect that
the Apaches would be the principal en-
gineers if the road was ever built.
But for some time the western central
states and the territories have been fairly
settling by rail. The Union Pacific line
which has by nearly all been looked on rs
a mere means by which to get TO the
Pacific coast has been sending out side
branches along which settlements spring
up as if by magic. Instances of this are
the roads leaving the main line in South
srn Wyoming for Colorado; the Utah
Northern going north from Utah through
Idaho to Montana; and the Utah Southern
which goes from Ogden City toward the
southern portions OF Utah and Nevada.
The Northern Pacific has received II
gr at boom because of the exec lleace Of
the farming lands of eastern Dakota. The
growth of Dakota along the line of this
road and the branches that run from it to
the north and south, has been phenomenal.
The road itself is completed to some dis
lance beyond Bismarck where it crosses
the Missouri river and must be getting
nc ,r the Montana line.
The Southern Pacific and Atlantic and
PIcItic lines are enterprises of which little
has been heard in this region. although
the Atlantic and Pacific is under the presi,
denc. of Mr.. Mutt, forme rly a Mont elitr
boy. The latter road, yet in process Of
instruction, when completed will strike
from Southern G ,lifnrnia through Central
Ar iona to a junction with the Atchison,
Topeka an S,nte Fe road in Central New
Mexico.
The last named road, of which William
b. Strong. formerly of onlpelier. is
p c>iden, has been completed with II rush
from Eastern Kansas, through Central
Kansas, South Eastern Colorado, and
across New Mexico from the northeast tc
Deming in the southwest where it joins
with the Southern Pacific which from
Deming is competed through Southern
Arizona 10 Southern California and Sc
gives connections with San Francisco Tn,
Atchlson, Topeka and Sante Fe road ha
by leases control of the other southern
roads nrmed, rs well MS Of railroads pro
ecled southerly to Mexico city and a por
ON the gulf of California, The construction
oi branch roads is as characteristic of tht
management of this now completed south
nrn line to California ns OF its northern
rivals
rhe effect OF their through line anC
branch railroad building will he to pacl
settlers INTO our western lands and rusl
the development of the great west" will
increased rapidily,