a

CROFUTT’S NEW OVERLAND TOURIST

seven years previous to 1876 has netted the Gov-
ernment $21,000,000,
on the whole amount of bonds.

Again, if it cost_the Government, before the
completion of the Pacific railroad, according to
Mr. Stewart, “over $8,000,000 per annum, and
this cost was constantly increasing”’ how fast
was this increase? Couldit be less than six per
cent. perannum? Should the figures be made on
the basis of six per cent., the Government must
have saved, previous to 1876, in the seven years
that the line was completed—before the com-
panies were compelled to complete it—over THIRTY
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. This, too, after the Goy-
ernment deducts every dollar of interest on their
own bonds issued to the companiesto aid the con-
struction of the road.

The above are some few of the advantages of
the Pacific railroad to the Government, and, con-
sequently, to the country at large. :

he States and Territories on the line of the
Union and Central Pacific railroads, or immedi-
ately tributary to it, contained a population, mm
1860, of only 554,301, with 232 miles of telegraph
line and 32 miles of railway. This same cope of
country contained a population, according to the
census of 1870, of 1,011,971, and was encompassed
by over 13,000 miles of telegraph lines and-4,191
miles of railroads, completed, and many more in
progress, in which was invested the enormous
capital of $363,750,000. Add to the above the im-
mense amount of capital invested—in quartz
mills, smelting furnaces, development of mines,
and other resources of the country, within the
same ten years—then sould we bring all the fig-
ures down to the present times, tne grand total
would be comparatively an astonishing romance.

Where, but a few years ago, the buffalo and
other game roamed in countless thousands, and
the savages skulked in the canyons, and secret
hiding-places, where they could pounce out wn-
awares upon the emigrant; the hardy pioneers
who have made the wilderness ¢7 not ‘to blossom
like the rose,” a safe pathway for the present
generation, by laying down their lives in the
cause of advancing civilization, mow are to be
seen hundreds of thousands of hardy emigrants,
with their horses, cattle, sheep, and domestic ani-
mals; and the savages are among the things that
have “moved on.”

-Grumblers—The great hue and cry that
are made at times by the people and press of the
country, in regard to ‘‘giving away the lands,”
“squandering the public domain,” etc., which
censure the Government for giving, and the rail-
road company for receiving grants of land in aid
of this road, are very surprising in view of the fore-

oing facts. We would like to know what the

ands on the line of these railroads would be
worth without the road?

Did the Government ever sellany? Could the
Government ever sell them? Nrysr. It could
not realize as much from a million of acres ag it
would cost their surveyors and land-agents for ci-
ay while surveying and locking after them.

en the Pacificroad con.menced, there was not
a land office in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana,
Utah, or Nevada, and only one or two in each of
the other States or Territories. On the other
hand, by the building of the road, many millions
of dollars have already found their way into the
Government treasury, and at just double the usual
price per acre.. These grumblers would placethe
Government in the position of the boy who wanted
to eathis apple, sel it, and then get credit for
giving itaway. O! how generous.

No. 6 Annex. The High School at

besides paying the interest; Omaha—an illustration of which we present

on another page, stands on the site ofthe old
State House of Nebraska, and is known as ‘‘Capi-
tol Hill.” Itwas completed in 1876, and cost
$280,000. It is 176 feet long and 80 feet wide.
The main spire rises 185 feet from the ground.

The building is constructed in the most sub-
stantial manner, which, for convenience, beauty
in design, and finish throughout, has but few, if
any, superiors in the western country.

This High School has a contemporary, of the

same name,in the city of Omaha, if a monthly
newspaper—* arepository of refined literature and
journal of education’’—could be called such.
_ “ The High School’’ is, as the quotation above
indicates, devoted to pure literature and educa-
tional purposes, eschewing sensational journal-
ism. Its essays, poems, fashion notes, college,
university and high school reports, miscellaneous
correspondence, and editorial reviews on all the
live questions of the day, make it very desirable
as a family journal, and specially interesting to
young ladies andgentlemen. Nothing unrefined
is ever allowed to appear in its columns. It is
printed on fine book paper; price, $1 ayear.

No. @ Annex. First Steam Train—
The illustration given on page 82.was drawn and
engraved from the original painting in the posses-
sion of the Connecticut Historical Society, and
represents an Excursion Train on the Mohawk
and Hudson R. R. frum Albany to Schenectady,
N. Y., 1n 1831, the rresr steam train in America.
The engine was the “The John Bull,” imported
from England, as well as the engineer, John
Hampton, “‘expressly for this road at large ex-
pense.” Her cylinder was 5% inches, 16 inch
stroke, wheels 4% feet. The boilers had thirty
copper tubes, five feet long, four inchesin diame-
ter. Connecting rods are worked on double cranks
on front axle. Weight of engine complete, 4 tons.
The tender represents the method of carrying the
fuel—-_wood—in barrels, with a few sticks handy
for immediate use. The cars were regular stage
bodies set on car wheels. On this grand excur-
sion trial trip were sixteen persons, who were
then thought venturesome, many of whom have
since filled important positions in the councils of
the country. Mr. Sidney Dillon, President of the
Union Pacific K. R., it seems, was one of the ad-
venturous few. Here is food for thought and com-
parison with the improvements of the present day.

No. 8 Annex. The Madrone Tree—
This peculiar tree can be seen in many parts
of California, particularly on excursions, des-
cribed in Nos.4and5. Itsheds its darkin the
fall of the year, much the same as other trees
their leaves. The tree after shedding its bark,
has a bright salmon color, then turns gradually
darker, until, at the shedding time the following
year, the bark is quite dark.

The Manzanita, which means in Spanish “lit-
tle apple,’ a small shrub, also sheds its bark. It
is found along the foot-hill ranges of California.
The root is very tough, fine grained and polishes
very beautifully. Many fine boxes, and handles
for canes, umbrellas and parasols are made from
the root of the Manzanita.

No. 9 Annex.—* The Hand-book of Wyoming
and Guide to the Black Hills and Big Horn Re-
ions,’ by Robt. E. Strahorn, Esq., Cheyenne,
yoming, 1877. Thisis a most invaluable work,
describing a new and intensely interesting re-
gion at this time. Mr. Strahorn has traversed
the country he describes, and in the 270 pages
will be found—an unusual thing these days—a vast