85 
that the iso-thermal lines run parallel to the coast, making the cli¬ 
mate of Puget Sound nearly as mild, and in summer more agree¬ 
able than in San Francisco, while it corresponds closely with that 
of the western coast of Europe in the same latitude, and especially 
that of the British islands. The effect of this amelioration from 
the prevalence of the southwest sea breeze is felt in winter, as 
has been here shown as far east as Fort Union, on the Missouri, 
and has a constantly apparent effect on all the country east to 
Fort Benton.” In an earnest desire to demonstrate the advan¬ 
tages of our northwestern country, we cite other authority, show¬ 
ing the shortness of this route, its grade, temperature and pref¬ 
erence over an} 7 other ; we quote from Mr. Mitchell: “Again a 
glance at the internal transit to the valley of the Mississippi by 
railroad on the northern route will show a like result in favor of 
our position. The reconnoisance already made on this route 
shows that the waters of Puget Sound are at least 500 miles 
nearer the great lakes and the distributing rivers of the great 
Mississippi, Missouri and their navigable tributaries. This is 
the only rival route known to the Pacific Coast. And here 
again the question of altitude, which is the great obstacle in the 
path of celerity and profit in conducting railroad enterprises, is 
vastly in our favor. The Central Pacific reaches a summit level 
above the sea of 7842 feet; that of the Union Pacific, in the 
Rocky Mountains, is 8250 feet. Our highest altitude on the line 
of the contemplated Northern Pacific is 6000 feet in the Rocky 
Mountains, with a much more favorable ascent and descent; 
besides, the whole line is comparatively free from obstruction 
by snow, and may be laid in the midst of good and highly pro¬ 
ductive, well timbered and watered agricultural lands through 
the entire route.” 
We conclude this important subject with a quotation from 
Mr. Garfield: “The route of the Northern Pacific Railroad, 
from Lake Superior in the Mississippi valley, to Puget Sound 
on the Pacific, is the shortest one possible between the river and 
ocean. The line of any Pacific road must cross meredians of 
longitude and not parallels of latitude. The further north, 
therefore, such line is located, the more distance is saved by the 
Convergence of these meredians. As St. Louis and St. Paul 
are nearly upon the same meredian, and likewise San Francisco 
and Puget Sound, and the northern route runs as near as prac¬ 
ticable to the northern boundary Of the United States, it follows 
