Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-05-30
TO THE END OF THE TRACK.
A Trip Over the Northern Pacific Railway
Correspondence of the TY0nscyiDt. :.

Correspondence of the Transcript.
To one who has passed quarter of
century of matured years in the close
built cities of the eastern portion of the
United States, it produces rather strange
sensation to be suddenly transported over
1000 miles of iron rails, into, and through,
wild, almost unlnhabited country (as
compared with his early associatiOns) to
sec wild animals roaming at will over the
free domain, to note the energy of men in
overcoming great obstacles i'll extending
lines of railway to points which only q
few years ago would have seemed quite
impossible; to meet new phases of human
life at every turn; mountain and plain
playing pitch and toss together; sunshine
and mountain peak cycling each other
askance; large water courses winding their
way through vast extent of country I'M
til very recently the land of the aboriginal
American. In short, most all things
claiming his attention are so new and
noble as to bring forth ordinations of
wonder ut this sudden transformation.
Having recently made trip from the
busy portion Of an eastern state into the
territories of Dakota and Montana, at the
suggestion of friends. and to while away
an idle hour, propose to jot down few
facts and fancies which may be of pass
ing interest to a portion OF your readers.
THE NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY.
I wish to pay passing tribute, and q
merited one, to the Northern Pacific Rail
road, its promoters, It's officers, and pre-
diction as to its future. 1t was bold
idea, and a grand one, to foresee the
wants of this American nation, as calling
for il tirst-class railway from St. Paul to
the Pacific coast, penetrating the wild ter
ritories of Dakota, Montana, Idaho and
Washington, having for it's terminus the
growing city Of Portland in Oregon:
The road has been pushed with great
vigor, every obstacle having been met and
overcome. While at this day yet untin-
ished, it has as fine Il bed and as fine
equipped coaches US any road in the
Union, and the uniform courtesy of its
officers would put to blush the uniformed
lackies of many of our eastern lines of
travel. This road was begun from Fargo
and Portland nearly the same time, and
the advance now is about three miles each
day, and while at Bozeman a few days
since, only gap of $50 miles broke the
continuation OF through line of little
less than 1000 miles from St. Paul to it's
terminal point. AS Livingston, Montana,
is the most accessible point to reach the
famous National Park, situated in Wyo-
ming Territory, the MP R. r. will build
a branch road from that place to the Park
as soon as possible. The distances about
sixty five miles, and the route takes in the
When the road is completed, and through
tickets are sold, coupon will be attached
to each one calling for a free ride to the
National Park. AT Livingston chain of
mountains, known as the Belt Mountains,
spur of the Rockies. are placing formid-
able objections to railroad building From
Livingston to BoZeman, a distance of 28
miles, is at present the toughest road man
ever rode over. But this is only tempo
rary, owing to the fact that a huge tunnel
| is in course of construction, and now the
trains are obliged to run around the
mountain instead of through it. The tun-
mel will be 1000 feet in length, and hopes
| are entertained of its being finished in
three or four months. An incline Of 211
feet to the mile has to be encountered un-
til this engineering feat IS done, when the
grade will be reduced one half. 1t is q
curious fact, that at this place, ten miles
from Livingston, the altitude is exactly
the same as at Sherman, the station claim
ing the greatest altitude of the Rocky
Mountains on the route of the Union Pa
citic r. r. For the n. P. r. R. predict
a most brilliant future. and that it will be
a most successful rival to the Union and
Central Pacific for travel from the Allan
tic to the Pacific seaboard, I haye no
doubt. In one respect it's generosity
seems to rival the older road, for at this
early date in its history it has begun the
experiment of dining cars. From st. Paul
| to Glendive, running through two divi-
sions and entering its third. They are
determined to feed their patrons in royal
manner from Minnesota to the Pacific
| Coast, and it's managers assert that they
will continue this travelling hotel business
if they do not lose more than $1,000 pei
month. This royal fare alone would more
than Offset the more beautiful scenery OF
the Rocky Mountain route.
! VALUE OF LANDS.
| It would be a natural inquiry, "What
about the value of the lands through
which this long line of railway passes
From St. Paul to Fargo, the section OF
country is so much better known to YOU
readers than to the writer, that it would
be superfluous to make any mention of it.
From Fargo to short distance beyond
Bismarck in the valley of the James river
a distance of $50 miles, the country is al
beautiful as ever met the human eye. Al
some points quite level, at others undu
lating, well watered and suitable for al
cereals, and growing abundant grass
That this portion of Dakota ia being set
tied 80 fast, and to the extent that in some
counties all the land is already taken up
seems to be abundant proof that below
Bismarck, south, is the finest portion Of
this much talked of Territory.
| RTsMARCK MANDAN AND THE r. r. FRIDGE