The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-11-30

to Colorado, and stopepd on my,wss
nj the home OF Buffalo Bill, at North
Platte. Neb., on the Union Pacific. ~
0ga.alla, 81 miles west Of North Platte,
the Sioux Indians were roaming over
the prairics and making more or less
trouble for the early settlers who ven.
tured SO far out OF the beaten paths OF
civilization. The Nebraska corn crop
this year covers 5000. 900 acres, and the
yield Ia 2oo,ooo,ooo bushels.
Previous 20 the construction Of the
Northern Pacific, the Great Northern,
Northwestern. st. Paul, Burlington,
and other railways that traverse that
wonderful region known as the "wheat
belt" there was nothing to be seen but
prairie grass and an occasional band OF
untamed savages.
Devsiopment Of Pscine Coast.
In 1sio there came across the cont.
nent reports OF the discovery OF gold
In California. but the only means OF
reaching Its Golden Gate was by sea
around Cape Horn, or the long and per-
iious journey, with OK teams. across the
| plains, including what was then styled
In our Biographies the American des.
crt, and through the hazardous noun.
tain passes Of the western part of the
continent. The completion Of the Pa
cinc railroads changed all this, and
opened new fields for all kinds Of enter.
prises. In an unexWored territory
stretching over more than 1000 miles
to the west, northwest and southwest
OF the Mississippi river, the products OF
which region were practically valueiess
until the means OF Transporting them
were provided by the railroads. The
wheat crop Of California this year Il,
100000 bushels. The largest crop
ever produced In California was In 1880,
when owing to exceptionally favorable
weather conditions that state produced
63,oOo,ooo bushels. The gold output OF
California for the year 1899 Is estimated
at $iG.0Oo,000. The vineyards and or.
ange groves OF California would be OF
practically little value were Il not for
the fact that the railroads. by their
trains OF refrigerator and ventilated
cars, make II possible TO transport the
products OF her fertile valleys TO all sec
tions OF the country.
II seems but yesterday that the rail-
roads were completed into Portland
Ore, Tacoma and Seattle, Wash, and II
is marvellous that for the year ended
June 30, 1890, there was exported from
the Columbia River valley 10000, ,OOt
bushels OF wheat and from the Puget
sound region 100000 bushels. Ore
gon and Washington form the north
west corner Of the territory of the
United States south of the line OF Brit
ish Columbia and are directly on the
route 10 our extreme northwest posses.
sion, Alaska. The wheat crop of the
states OF Oregon and Washington for
the year 1899 Is Is. 600. 600 bushels. There
was exported during the year ended
June 30, 1899, from the Columbia river
direct 10 foreign ports I.iO0, 900 barrels
OF -four, and from Puget sound point,
100000 barrels.
Colorado. which, with its inexhaust.
ible min,s Of gold. silver, lead, iron and
coal, forms almost an empire In itself
will produce this year OF 1899 OF gold
S2l,000,OC0; Of silver, $ii,200,C00; oI
lead. S,,4O0,000. In addition TO n mag
niiicent crop OF wheat, fruit and ycgc
tables. Thanks TO her railroad facili
ties. Montana Is to-day the richest min
crnl region OF It's size In the world. Tn,
latest published statistics-those o.
is97-give the mineral output Of Mon
tana rs s5i,O00,0OO.
| without railroads, Kansas, Nebras
ka, Minnesota, North and South Dako
Ia. Montana, Colorado, California, Ore
gon and Washington would still be til,
home Of savnges.
Service of American Railroads.
| II Is beyond question that American
railroads to-day furnish the best serv
Ice In the world, at the lowest rates o.
fare. nj the same time paying their EN-
ployes very much higher wages thar
are paid for similar service In any Other
country on the globe. In the United
States the flrst-class passenger fare,
last year averaged eos cents per mile
although on some large railways tn,
average was several mills less than two
cents per mile; In England the first
class fare In four cents per mile; third
class fare, for vastly inferior service, |,
two cents per mile, but only on certain
parliamentary trains. In Prussia III,
fare Is three cents per mile; In Aus
tria, 3.05 cents per mile, ana In France
800 cents per mile.
Our passenger cars excel those o
foreign countries In all tha I goes o max,
up the comfort and convenience of |
journey. Our sleeping and pnrlor en-
system Is vastly superior to theirs; on
baggage system Is infinitely better tha,
theirs and arranged upon much NOR,
liberal basis. American railroads car
ry $50 pounds OF baggage free. Will,
the German railroads carry only s.
pounds free. The lighting Of our trnini
is superb. while the lighting OF traini
on most foreign lines Is wretched.
Some striking Examples.
. Mr.. Daniels then cites two example,
OF the unsurpassed passenger train ia
cilitics OF American railways.
A single locomotive recently haulct
a passenger train OF 10 cars, nine o
which were sleeping aud pnrlor cars
from New York to Albany, n distanc,
OF iI3 miles, In three hours and IS min
uies, which Is a miles per hour, and
Is the regular schedule time Of th'
train. The train weighed i,s32,OO(
pounds and was I,2ia fect,-or nearly {
quarter Of milc--long.
The Empire State express has fol
years been making the run from New
York to Buffalo. 4io miles. In eight
hours and IS minutes, an average speed
OF 81 i-3 miles nn hour, including foui
stops-two OF them for changing en-
gines-nnd 2s slow-downs, on account