Year: 1870

Opportunity was afforded us on
Friday, to ride up to the State Agri-
cultural Fair grounds, within two
miles of Salem. The run was made,
oil stoppages included in less than four
hours from East Portland. The road
up to within o mile Of lake Labish
has been open to passenger and freight
cars about two weeks, and in good
running condition. The grades are
easy, the heaviest being less that eighty
feet to the mile. Near Clackamas
bridge and again above Rock Island
station are the sharpest curvatures.


There are miles together of almost di-
rectly strnight track, and in several
places very beautiful scenery is present
ed. The bridge over the Clnckamas is
strongly built, but it does not compare
with the finished and very superior
bridges over the Molalla and Pudding
rivers. These are of the Howe patent
truss style, and are firm and strong as
wood and iron can make them, as are
also the whole length Of trustle work
and piling on the road. Over Lake
Labish the heavy engine Albany ran
as smoothly as over the track upon
solid ground it is entirely safe. We
passed over the road in company with
n gentleman who had over twenty
years experisnce in the construction
of railroads in the Eastern and West
ern States, and he assured US that he
never saw but one or two better new
roads, and that he knew of several of
the established roads in the Western
country which were not now equal TO
this, new and comparatively imperfect
as it is to what il will be in q few
months. after fair use, and when the
improvements contemplated are made.


With tho iron now on the way from
San Francisco and soon 10 arrive, the
track can be laid TO Salem and for
miles beyond all the way to the San
tam, and by that time other iron will
be received so as to have the track laid
to Albany. The depot site at Salem
is finly selected. 1t is across Mill
creek, half mile from the heart OF
the city. on gravel plain which never
mires in the heaviest of the wet wealth
er. Commodious buildings-ofiices,
passenger saloons, and freight ware
houses be erected, and upon the
side safe from the engine, SO that
teams will not scare at the iron horse
the grounds will be prepared for car
riages and wagons, for passengers and
freight to be conveyed to and from the
depot.


Gangs OF white men are at work
upon the road all along between
Rock Island station and the Fair
Grounds, getting out gravel for bal
lasting the road, repairing and put.
ting in firstrate order the track. setting
in additional ties, and by every posi-
BILE means rendering it safe and
smooth. Beyond Salem. in excavat.
ing and doing the most laborious
work, Cinnamon are employed ut ono
or two places, under contractors who
prefer to work that kind of laborers.
The piling and trestle work is already
completed or nearly 80, and the bridge
across the Santiam will be completed in
ample time for use.


The daily travel over the length oi
road already finished is much larger
than had been anticipated. Our peo
pie prove by this that they only re-
quire the facilities OF easy and fast
Communication between the interior
and this metropolis to induce them te
frequent travel. The passenger carr
each on the morning and afternoon
trains are fairly patronized, and wher
the line shall be open to Salem the
daily travail win be quite if not fully
doubled. Freight will begin to b.
transported over the road likewise il
considerable quantities, and Oregon
will enter practically and advantage
ously ur on her regular and establish
ed railroading traffic.