PROGRESS OF THE PACIFIC RAILWAY

Southland Times, Issue 978, 1 July 1868, Page 3

PROGRESS OF THE PACIFIC RAILWAY

(From the " Panama Star and Herald," May 24.) The number of stage stations and depots on the route is eighty-seven, and at nearly all aro good eating accommodations. All a^ong the route are military stations, j From Cheyenne to Fort Laramie, 90 miles ; to Fort Letterman, 170 miles ; to Fort Reno, 274 miles; to Fort Phil Kearney, 338 miles ; to Fort Smith, 429 miles; to Helena, 609 miles; to Fort Benton, on the Missouri, 749 miles. On the Motana route it is from Salt Lake to Bear River, a junction point with the road to Boise mines, 84 miles; to Malad City, 116 miles ; to Taylor's Bridge, 238 miles ; to Virginia, Motana, 422 miles ; to Helena, 546 miles. On this road are 48 stage stations. From the Junction at Bear River to City of Rocks, 181 miles ; to Mountain Meadows, 219. miles; to Canyon Spring, 350 miles ; to Boise City, 393 miles. On this route are 24 stations. This information is perfectly reliable, and will prove valuable to persons who design travelling to the new Dorados, east and north. Alluding to the Pacific Railroad, the " Alta " says :— The work is being pushed ahead with an energy and determination which promises an early completion, much earlier, in fact, than our people on the shores of the Pacific appear to think. From conversations with parties who have recently passed over the route, and our own observation of the progress of the work, we are satisfied that the season of 1868 will see the gap between the Union Pacific from the east and the Central Pacific from the west so nearly closed that the Overland trip will be an undertaking of small magnitude compared with what it is even at this present writing, and a mere bagatelle beside what it was even a year ago. It is confidently predicted that the Central Pacific will reach a point only 150 miles this side of Salt Lake by the close of the present season, and by the same time the Union Pacific will have reached a point only 180 miles east of Salt Lake, leaving a gap of but 330 miles to be closed in 1869. The new works of the Central Pacific all along their line are on a scale of extent which indicates unlimited faith in the magnitude and permanency of the business which the Company will have to transact. At Sacramento the foundations for the immense "Round House," factories and work-shops of the Company on the north side of the slough and be between it and the American River, have already been laid, and the work is progressing steadily. These works will be of great extent and give employment to a small army of operatives. Twenty-two miles above Sacramento, near Rocklyn, where the building stone is being quarried in such quantities, the heavier ascending; grades commence, and "doubling teams," i.e., puttiDg on more iron horses to the heavy trains, becomes necessary. Here the company have nearly completed a round house, which will have stalls for 29 locomotives. Here will be kept, as in a livery stable, relays of locomotives, to be hitched on to the ascending trains as re quired — a great saving in fuel and wear and tear being effected by not having them run lower down the valley, where their services are not required. " All aboard for Chicago, St Louis and New York !" we can almost hear the conductor cry already, and long before this day, 1870, the call will have become as familiar to our ears here in San Francisco as it now is on banks of the Missouri. We have all so long hoped and prayed for the accomplishment of this great work, and so long looked upon it aB something only to be realised in the far off future, that we can hardly realize that we are so near ta-the fulfilment ; that, in fact, the bulk of the work is done. What an event it will be in the history of our State and country when the locomotives from the shores of the Pacific and the Great Lakes shall meet in the great interior basin of the Continent and exchange their shrill greetings in exultation over the accomplishment of the mighty task !