Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1859-12-17
RaIlrmab H6Im

securing the CONSTRUCTION OF RAtIrooo from
Folsom to this place. We are confident that
this has not been through any want Of enter.
prise or energy on tie part Of our citizens, bot
rather that the matter has not yet been brought
to their immediate attention, as feasible un-
dertaking. Heretofore in all matters which
have concerned the prosperity Of our City, we
are proud to say that our citizens have taken
hold Of and prosecuted the same with an una
nimity, energy and determination which have
always insured success and We doubt not, II
our people would give that attention to the
question Of Railroad which It's importance
deserves, We would soon be enjoying the ad-
vantsses Of communication by railway with
the navlgAble waters Of this State.
In building the road there ere no consider
able-eertalnly no superable--physical diff
AeultIes 70 be overcome. The expense, al.
though greater than in the valleys, is not be-
yO0d the means Of our citizens, II in earnest
and united, with such aid rs can be easily OBJ
tained from capitalists abroad. Let our pub
lie spirited men be once convinced Of these
facts and we shall look upon the early COM
pletiOn Of the road rs . certainty.
We are only twenty.eight miles from Fol-
som by the circuitOus route now Travelled by
the stages. By the more direct route, which
would be followed by the Railroad, the dis.
lance would not probably be more than TWEEN.
ty.fivc miles There are no streams Of any
importance to be crossed, nor would there be
any expensive bridges to be built The gra.
ding and excavation would be more expensive
than in the valleys; and in this would consist
the only greater cost Of the work. II Is i'm.
possible to estimate the probable cost Of gra-
ding without survey first being made, but
VIC are led to believe that popular opinion
greatly over.eStiDatcs the expense. In the
opinion Of lnen with whom We have converscd
and upon whose judgment We rely, the road
might be completed In running order between
this place and Folsom at cost not exceeding
thirty thousand dollars per mile, which for
twenty-five miles would be 376O.OO0.
The advantages which would arise to the
county Of FL Dorado and to the city Of Placer
vile from the completion Of such road, are
too obvious to require particular mention here.
Our population would begin to increase from
the moment it became certain that the road
would be built apd within two years after it's
completion our population would be doubled
Experience shows that wherever . Railroad
terminates, there springs up Q ROurishing
tOwn-and all along its line the country be-
comes thickly peOpled. Take for instance
Folsom, town created by the Railroad. And,
again, SO confident are Railroad men Of the
power Of terminal station TO bring business
to ITSELF that new city has been laid out at
the present Northern terminus of the Sacra-
mento Valley road, to be called Lincoln, and
although It's site is now mere wilderness, yet
within one year or lcss from this time, It will
have become fourishing and pOpulOus vii
lagc. II, then, . Railroad is alone sufficient
to create town, what will it not do for one
whose natural advantages have already made
It wealthy and prOsperOusi
II has heretofore been urged as an objection
that road to Placerville would have to rely
for its business upon the travel Of Fl Dorado
county alOne-that there was nothing beyond
US This objection no longer exists. Aday's
journey to the eastward . new State iS rapidly
being reclaimed from the wilderness. Carson
Valley and the country adjacent has long been
known to DO fertile and productive for sgri.
culture-and lately its mineral wealth has
been found to be almost IL not quite equal to
that Of California. A territory equal in ex-
tent to that which Is tributary to Sacramento,
Is now being peopled on the Eastern side Of
the Sierra Nevada. The trade Of this new
country is rich and important, and is becom.
ing more 80 every day. Stockton, Sacamen.
to and MaFySviIle have long been competing
for tho trade Of that cOuntry-and angry sr-
ticIes have appeared 10 the newspapers Of the
different sections In regard to the comparative
excellence Of the rival routes over the noun
tainG We are fully satisfied Of the superior
ity Of the PIaceTvilIe rOMte over any other, and
the experience Of every day increases the evil
dence in our favor We have done something
towards improving our natural advantages,
and the money has been we'll spent. As the
result, we have now almost the entire trade
and travel Of that new and growing country
passing into and through our city. With
comparatively small exertion this state Of
things can be made to continue-and within
very short time the business Of the Placervillc
and Folsom road would equal that now done
on the road from Folsom to Sacramento.
Almost every one Of our citizens is ready
to assert his belief that at some time not far
in the future, Railroad will be constructed
to this place. live are to have road nOW is
the best time 70 secure il construction. The
profit to us would Be greater BY having It now
than any other time IL the future. Letus &C.
cure the advantage Of being the first to open
line Of railway into the heart Of the mining re.
gion. Let uS secure the trade Of Utah, 90 that
no subsequent rivalry can take Il from us.-
Let Us maintain our prominence 81 the initial
point Of the Great Central Overland Road
which is sure, at some future time, TO be built.
The advantages We now have may alp from
our hands unless We keep pace IN improve.
ment with other sections Of the State. The
people Of Auburn and Nevada are talking o..
TiOuSly Of continuing the Sacramento road TO
thoee DlacAa and although evorvthin0 which