WESTERN INCIDENTS. . 125

extending its influence over this whole continent, and ultimately ex-
tending the blessings of Christianity and good government over the
whole world. Surely we are in the hands of an Infinite and Beneficent
Power, who is making this free Government a great instrument for
carrying on His gracious purposes with regard to the amelioration of
the human race ; and is not all this a blessing for which the whole
country should be thankful.

To revert to the already happy effect of this road in shortening dis-
tances in time between remote places, the writer received a letter yes-
terday, the 23d instant, postmarked Washington, December 18th, or
five days from the capital of the country; and this at the forks of the
Platte, three hundred miles out on the Plains, and at the close of the
wintry month of December. Surely this shows progress towards the
Pacific.

All along the road, where the Company has established its stations
settlements are springing up rapidly ; and here, at this point whence
I write, North Platte Station, where three weeks ago, there was nothing,
are already some twenty buildings, including a brick engine round-
house, calculated for forty engines, founded on a stone foundation, at
present nearly completed for ten engines; a water tank of beautiful
proportions, as they all are along the road, kept from freezing by being
warmed by a stove, also a fixture in every tank house ; a frame depot
of the usual beautiful design ; a large frame hotel, nearly finished, to
cost about $18,000; a long, spacious, movable building, belonging to
General Casement, and his brother, Daniel Casement, the great track-
layers of the continent, calculated for a store, eating-house, and for
storage purposes ; together with sundry other buildings.

To this point the Company think of removing their offices from
Omaha, and establishing it as a more convenient base for furthering
their operations west.

The great idea which this Company has in its aims and objects, is
to get this great highway through to California ; and it is this all-ab-
sorbing purpose which gives unity in all their operations, and has
been the main spring of their hitherto unrivalled success. Already
the route has been definitely fixed to Great Salt Lake, and the prox-
imity to an air line from Chicago, considering the difficulties of the
route through the Black Hills, Rocky Mountains proper, and the
Wasatch Range, is a source of heartfelt gratulation.

The Government Commissioners, Generals Simpson, Curtis, and Dr.
White, are now here, examining the last completed section of thirty-

‘
6 is