84 
Distance from New York to San Francisco, 
44 “ “ 44 “ Puget Sound, 
44 <{ Boston 44 San Francisco, 
“ 44 “ 44 Puget Sound, 
3,417 miles. 
2,862 44 
3,484 44 
2,942 44 
The Central and Union Railroads, connecting the Bay of San 
Francisco with the valley of the Missouri, have been in active 
working order for several years past. Sherman, the highest el¬ 
evation, soars 8000 feet in the heavens ; much snow falls and ac¬ 
cumulates in the gulches and valleys on the line of the roads, 
which necessitates the construction of snow-sheds over fifty 
miles of the road. Our recent journey over those roads afford¬ 
ed us an opportunity for observing the resources on the route, 
from which wc conclude that the stockholders have little pros¬ 
pect for much local trade or travel. The distance between Co- 
rinne, on Salt Lake, and Kalama, in Washington Territory, 
approaches 800 miles. The country along this route is level, 
rich in soil and pasturage, and capable of producing grain, hay 
• and vegetables in quantities, and feeding large herds of stock. 
Steps have been taken to lay out and construct a road over this 
valley, “ a consummation devoutly wished for.” This road will 
contribute materially to the benefit of the southern counties of 
our territory in general, and will be of great value to our peo¬ 
ple along the valley of Puget Sound. By this route our fisher¬ 
men will transport the rich products of the deep in exchange for 
the clean, sweet salt from Utah, in vast quantities and at short 
notice. Several roads seeking connections with our inland sea 
are now in process of construction, chief among which is the 
44 Northern Pacific.” This vast road, connecting Puget Sound 
with Lake Superior and “ the rest of mankind,” has been richly 
subsidized by Congress, and is now in process of earnest con¬ 
struction ; some 300 miles of the eastern and about 100 miles of 
the western termini arc now finished. The advantages offered 
by tliisToad to travel and transportation are evident, embracing 
the low grade of the mountain pass, the thermal winds from the 
Indies, genial bracing temperature, and a shorter route. This 
road traverses a level plateau of rich agricultural lands, 
which are rapidly filling up with hardy yeomanry, rearing homes 
oh this romantic belt. Governor Stevens, who surveyed this 
route, records his appreciation of those regions. He says: 
4 4 Along the coast the prevailing sea-breezes from the southwest 
in winter* and the northwest in summer, so modify the climate 
