Excerpt from Overland Route Through British North America, or the Shortest and Speediest Road to the East: With a Coloured Map

Although the Railway in progress from New York, or more correctly speaking, from the Missouri to the Pacific, 1s in many places accompanied by great engineering difficulties, and passes over a vast tract of country unfit for settlement, yet, in spite of these drawbacks, it is advancing with the most astonishing rapidity; owing to the liberal assistance afforded by the Federal Government to the two companies (the Union Pacific, and the Central Pacific), who have the concession, and to the profound public conviction of the immense results to be obtained. On the Eastern side, from Omaha, on the Missouri, to Cheyenne, at the foot of the Black Hills, 517 iniles, of which only 40 were completed on the 9th of May, 1866, had been laid down in December last. These 517 miles pass over the rich plain and valley of the Platte river, where rising villages, and towns containing some of them hotels and all the proofs of active business and prosperity, already show the progress of the line and, amongst other considerable works, include a bridge feet long over the N orth Platte, and a noble Howe Truss brid go, 1, 500 feet long at Loup F ork Two thousand graders, accommodated in cars, 80 feet long, fitted up with berths, or as dining halls, kitchens, store -1ooms, etc, which follow the terminus, and are pushed on as it advances; and 1 wood-choppers and tie-getters in the woods formed the advanced ghard at this end, besides all those employed in laying down the line. The rolling stock employed consisted of 793 freight cars, 20 passenger and mail cars, and 53 locomotives1 and on an average over one mile and one third of track was laid per wmking day - a speed unparalleled in railroad building. After the season had closed, the rock cuttings and gradings were continued during the winter to the summit of the Black Hills (31l miles further on, and 8, 262 feet above the sea), and thence over the Lalamie Plains to Bridge' s Pass (7, 434 feet), ln the Rocky Mountains, the difficulties over which extend about 150 miles. At this point the works were resumed ea1ly this spring, and are at this moment proceeding 11 ith still greater rapidity than ever whilst further west, the portion in the Desert, from Echo Pass to Salt Lake, has been lately contracted for by the well-known Mormon Elder, Brigham Young.

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