The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-09-30

looking japanese persopages with
dignity move among the hilarious
crowds"
Probably few of the readers of
this paper are aware that there are
now three transcontinental rail-
roads, which start from western
termini north of Portland, Oregon
OF these the Canadian Pacific is
the most northern. There is then
the Northern Pacific, the western
terminus of which is Tacoma, with
a branch from Portland, intersect-
ing the main line at Spokane. Now
a third line has been completed,
starting at Seattle on Puget Sound,
and crossing the mountains be-
tween the above-named roads, and
near the boundary line between
Canada and the United States. 1t
has been built by James ]. Hill, a
Canadian by birth, but a natural
lied American residing at st. Paul,
Minnesota. He has quietly been
at work for three years past con-
structing section after section, with
out state or government aid or
grants, having had the cooperation
of New York and Boston capital
lists and before the public gener-
ally knew of it, the announcement
was made that through freight and
passengers would be taken from
Seattle to ST. Paul, and at lower
rates than heretofore prevailed.
The citizens of st. Paul are proud
of the boldness and push of one OF
their own citizens, who can accom-
plish such feat in so short a pc
Rod. Mr.. Hill is a plain, hard
working man, who was educated as
civil engineer.
The care with which railroads
are now constructed across what
formerly was considered almost
impossible mountains, indicates
that within a very few years the
number of transcontinental roads
will be double what it now is, and
that fares and freights will of
necessity be reduced to half the
present rates. Mr.. Hill has done
more than any other man to strike
a death blow to high fares, and he
deserves success for his boldness.
Besides the fares, a heavy charge
is made for sleeping car privileges
two dollars a night for sleeping
and two dollars a day for sitting in
one of these Pullman cars is too
much, and they should be reduced
to one dollar each. Good meals are
furnished at seventy-fve cents each,
which, under the circumstances, is
a reasonable charge.
Compared with ten or fifteen
years ago, travelling by rail across
the continent is much more COM
Portable and much less expensive.
Where it then cost $3.50, the same
distance can be accomplished for
$50 to $75. And each years sharp
rivalry is still further reducing the
cost, with better service.
There are risks in travelling rap
idly by rail. For instance, in
crossing the state of Wisconsin,
where forest fires were prevailing,
the train I was in was going at a
speed of thirty miles an hour
when it came to stream where the
bridge had been destroyed by fire.
Fortunately a slow freight train
had been stopped by the fire just
ahead of the passenger train, or the
entire train might have been
plunged into the river. Having
been compelled to return by an
other route, so as to get around the
fire, the engineer managed to run
into passing train, the result Of
which was that both engines were
demolished, compelling a deten-
ton to procure others, and this
happened with telegraph ready ut
hand to announce where each train
was. Only two men were injured
on the locomotives, the passengers
escaping with a heavy shock and
scare, and only fourteen hours late
in arrival. ii. Nj. w.
Cb;o,oo Can't 1H 1902