Page:U.S. Department of the Interior Annual Report 1871.djvu/26

24 Dakota. The one extending from the point where the forty-seventh parallel of latitude crosses the Red River, and thence in a general westerly direction to the mouth of Heart River, Dakota, has been adopted as the line of location, and has been put under contract., The work on it is being vigorously prosecuted the contractors binding themselves to have the line completed to the Missouri by the 1st of July next. A preliminary line has also been run from the mouth of Heart River, in nearly westerly direction, to the Yellowstone, and from this latter point to Bozeman's Pass and from thence several lines have been run, testing the various passes of the Rocky Mountains, through to the Columbia River. On the Pacific coast lines have been run testing all the passes through the Cascade Range between the Columbia River and the boundary line. The line from Portland to Puget's Sound has been located, following the valley of the Columbia River from Portland to Kalama crossing the river at that point thence following the valley of the Cowlitz River to the mouth of the Skookumchuck River, Washington Territory from thence several lines have been surveyed, extending on both the eastern and western sides of the sound. Upon the lines, as located, the work of construction has been commenced, and twenty-five miles will be completed and in operation by the 1st of January next, as required by the company's charter.

You accepted on 3d of January the completed portion of the Cailfornia & Oregon Railroad, 77.6 miles, commencing at Roseville, Placer County, California, where said road connects with the Central Pacific Railroad, and thence running northerly through the city of Marysville to a point at or near the town of Chico, Butte County, California.

The initial point of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad is near the ton of Springfield, Missouri, "upon the west line of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 12, township 29, range 22 west" was stated in the last annual report of this Department, work on this road was commenced on the 4th of July, 1868, and fifty miles were completed, equipped and opened for business on the 13th day of June 1870. You have accepted said fifty miles and also an additional section of twenty-five miles reported on since that date.

One hundred and twenty miles of the road and telegraph line constructed by the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Company in Nebraska has been accepted by you, and the commissioners for said road were, on the 30th ultimo, instructed to examine another section of twenty miles. The initial point of this road is at Plattesmouth, Nebraska.

The Missouri, Kansas and Texas Pacific Railway Company, (formerly Union Pacific Railroad Company southern branch,)having been authorized to extend their line through the Indian Territory, the vice-president thereof reported, under date of the 13th instant, that the extension of the road had been completed, and was then in operation from the southern boundary-line of Kansas to the Arkansas River, about