646 



THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



:_. >>.y z i ^ 



OUTLINE MAP OE WASHINGTON AND OREGON 



in Portland or Seattle and in Saint Louis 

 or Chicago. One of the most significant 

 indications of the progress of a region 

 is the extension of railroads into it, 

 for the far-sighted builders of railroads 

 usually make careful estimates of the 

 business to be expected. There is more 

 activity in this respect in the Northwest 

 than in any other part of the country, both 



in extension of old systems and the build- 

 ing of new roads. One of the most nota- 

 ble events in this direction was the com- 

 pletion in 1908 of the new line down the 

 north bank of Columbia River, which 

 affords a continuous down-grade route 

 jointly for the Northern Pacific and 

 Great Northern roads. It cost $10,000,- 

 000, but is a most important artery. The 



