Debating the Northern Railroad's Route to Puget Sound

Puget Sound is the only proper western terminus for a Northern transcontinental road. This has been recognized by Congress, by the railroad company, and by the American people for many years. The most powerful argument urged to obtain the original land grant was that the route of the road was the shortest that could be run between the Atlantic and the Pacific. This favorable feature was in a measure defeated by bringing the main line to the valley of the Columbia river and thence to Puget Sound, thus adding two hundred and twenty-five miles to the length of the road. The construction of the branch across the Cascade Mountains will still, however, give the direct railroad communication originally contemplated. But if the land grant for the branch is restored to the public domain, many years will probably elapse before the road will be constructed. Should this be the case, and the Western terminus of the main line be established at Portland, the original design will be absolutely frustrated, and we will receive a check to our advancement, and a blow will be struck at our prosperity from which we will not recover in the present century. If the Northern Pacific Railroad Company refuses to prosecute the work under these conditions, the land grant should be transferred to the Territory, or some other company which will initiate the work.