The Northern Pacific Railroad Promises a New Era of Travel
A traffic superintendent outlines ambitious plans for Pullman sleepers, dining cars, and transcontinental freight routes connecting Seattle to the East.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
As the date approaches for the completion of the Northern Pacific line, interest is manifested in the probable policy of the company in connection with its through traffic. Mr. Moir, Superintendent of Traffic, says: 'We expect to run through passenger trains between this Coast and St. Paul by September 1st, and will probably be fully equipped for freight traffic within three or four weeks after that date. Passengers will be enabled to take through Pullman palace sleepers at Portland and go through to the great lakes without change. Dining cars will also be added to the trains at proper places, together with reclining chair cars between important points.' Regarding the 'tourist business,' Moir stated: 'I do not hesitate to say that I believe the Northern Pacific, in conjunction with the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, will shortly be the greatest tourist line in the country. Aside from the many pleasant resorts already advertised, such as the Yellowstone and Pyramid Parks, the Mammoth Hot Springs, the Pend d'Oreille region, Columbia river, Puget Sound, Alaska and the newly explored glaciers of Mount Tacoma, there are hundreds of beautiful spots all along the line.' Moir also confirmed that Seattle, Astoria, and New Tacoma would be 'common points' with Portland, ensuring competitive freight rates for the region.
“I do not hesitate to say that I believe the Northern Pacific, in conjunction with the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company, will shortly be the greatest tourist line in the country.”
This 1885 interview captures the moment the Pacific Northwest was tethered to the national economy by iron rails. The promise of luxury travel and low freight rates mirrored the boosterism that would define Seattle's growth for the next century, though the 'tourist business' Moir described now focuses on tech-driven regional connectivity.
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