, 1855-04-28
/ Stage Line 10 California.
j. w. WILEY, Sec'y.

We take pleasure in'transferring to our
columns on all occasions articles which CON
tain favorable references TO the projected
stage line from Missouri to California,
knowing, as We well do that the travel here
tocore and at pres1nt, to and from this
coast, is most ontra seously aeeced by the
ocean steamers plying Oh both sides of the
Istlmus--rcndering it next to impossible
for ordinary immigration to find its way
westward otherwise than by the slow, per
ilous, laLorious and harrassing journey
across the plains to which most Of the III
habitants Of this territory have been sub
jcc'ed. This proposed wagon road and
stage line is designed to act as a kind of
compromise between the high (incorpora-
ted) protective tariff policy of the ocean
steamers, and the "free trade" policy of
slowly ''roughing" i, across the plains
bringing it, as the subjoned statistics will
demonstrate, within revenue standard,
with which all will be enabled to avail
themselves of and comply.
The subject Of this stage route is ava
kening very general discussion and inter-
est, not only in California and the western
states, Tut the east also; and whether it
be from fear of suddenly having their huge
profits curtailcd by the projectors suddenly
pushing forward this work to completion,
or not, we are not advised, but we observe
by the last San Francisco papers that the
fare to the Atlantic States, on the Near
aqua steamer, Uncle Sam, has been redu-
ccd on her last trip.
The following from the New York Ex-
press, reduces the subject to facts and fig
urcs so precisely, that there are none so
dull but they can thoroughly understand
the subject:
STAGE LINE TO CALIFoRNIA-The great
question they are agitating in California
now, is the projected Mail Stage Route to
Missouri, 1t is great enterprise, and,
f Ijudging from tho earnestness with which
the job is urged, We are prepared to see it
soon. The cost of putting OH line Of
stage coaches daily from Independence to
San Francisco, is estimated at about $2,-
100000 Thus:
Cost Of 100 stations. $4,000
$50 cOarhes ut $500 one to start daily Is 900
5000 horses at $50, 100000
Harness. rs 900
800 as drivers, hostcrs, smiths, &C., sl52OOOO
si,52OOOO
The amount Of revenue that would ac-
crue from years employment Of the stage
line thus organized, is put down thus:-
lOa pas cngers per day, (5O each way) $780, 0CO
Treasure, $50 600 600, at per cent. l,20OOOO
Insurance on the treasure, 3I per cent, 100000
Express matter, eoopOO
$500 900
This is assumed to be the probable
amount Of revenue exclusive OF the mail
transportat ton, for which it is expected the
government would be willing to pay annu-
ally at least $1,000, 900, and perhaps 81
000, 600.
The Sacramento Times and Transcript
calculates the cost of putting on line aud
running five coaches daily each way, at $3-
600, 900, and the clear profits at $500, 1000.
But these estimates ore oil conjectural.
In order to test the practicabilty aud
profit of the project, two trains week, OF
five coaches each, it is thought, would be
all sufficient the first year, and afterwards
put on coaches and stock as the demand OF
travel required. Five coaches, with ten
passengers each, would give City men be-
sides the drivers. Armed with reyolycrs.
they could defend themselves against any
: Indian attack,
Men experienced in life on tho Plains,
tell us that no difficulty would be encoun-
tered in hiring western men, with their IA
miles to settle ut the different stations, par
; ticularly il the United States will establish
military posts at convenient distances, and
the telegraph line to run over the same
route. They also express the opinion that
little difficulty would be experienced from
the Indians.