Bismarck tribune., 1884-02-15

lHE variety OF ITelgnG WHICH, tue Noi-
thern Pacific railway has been called on
to transport since it's completion, is a
study in itself. Starting from it's eastern
terminus at ST. Paul, it traverses some
what wooded country until the Mississippi
is crossed, when it taps the immense wheat
region. which extends to the Missouri.
The golden products of these rich lands
have built up an enormous traffic which
will increase many fold with each recur-
ring season until the land is all occupied.
West of the Missouri the great coal fields
and cattle ranges of western Dakota and
eastern Montana pour their products
into the traffic of the road, and the mag
nitude of these already large shipments
will be doubled and trebled in the near
future. The great gold and silver mines
of the Black Hills, Montana, Idaho and
other territories find an outlet for their
glittering wealth over tho great national
highway, and the boundless grain pro-
ducing district of Oregon and Washing
ton territory will seek for an outlet to
market through the same channel. In
the near future the silks and teas Of
China and Japan will be whirled by our
doors, borne onward by the impetuous
power of steam over the glittering rails
of steel, while the natives of every habit
able cline will peep curiously at us from
the windows of the palatial coaches as
they draw up to our depot During the
coming season we can almost claim that
the traffic and travel of the world will
pass our doors. The day is not far dis
tant when the whistles of approaching
trains will succeed each other i'll quick
succession, and the smoke from the hot
breath of the painting locomotives will
ever hangin the hir.
No road that ever was built could look
forward into brighter future than can
the great highway which spans the wide
expanse of country lying between st.
Paul and Portland, and no richer country
ever laid beneath the echoes of the rumb-
ling trains.
When we look back to the first incep-
ton of the road and follow it in it's
march toward completion, we seem to be
living in an age of wonders and miracles.
We see it when it was throttled by
disaster, lying helpless and abandoned,
it's every power chained down by fetters
which it strove in vain to break. Then
the reaction set in, and by wise and pru-
dent management the glittering rails
crept forward toward the bounding bill
lows of the Pacific at speed which
opened with wonder the eyes of the
astonished world. Across great plains,
over yawning canons, up steep mountain
sides, and right through the rock-bound
bowels of the eternal hills it pushed it's
iron arms with a determination that
knew no such word as fail. The great
minds which directed the world-astound-
ing enterprise never faltered. From be-
yond the mountains came frequent reports
from the generals in charge that the
armies of progress under their direction
were pushing forward with an energy
which no obstacles could daunt, and day
by day these two great armies pushed
forward toward the point where the ends
of the rails of the two divisions would
meet and kiss, and no one faltered for an
instant on the march. Engineering skill
triumphed over every obstacle thrown in
it's path, and amid the plaudits of the
whole world the bond of union between
the occident and the orient was compile:
ted amid the grand old mountains, which
seemed to smile grim approval as the
ringing echoes of the hammer on the last
spike died away in sharp reverberations
amid their rocky depths. The achieve
ment has never been surpassed in the
annals of railway building in the whole
land. .r,r.. .-
The Governors Alleged Plans.
MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 8-The Tfibunes Wash
ington special says that Governor Ordway is
still in Washington. but will return to Dakota in