The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-01-19

PLAcERvILLE, Jan. 10, 1861.
{ MEssRs. EDrToRs: These are certain local
questions Of improvement connected with the
future interest OF Placerville, that certainly de-
mund the attention Of all vino deem this home,
, or even thOse'whO accept il a harvest.fcId
for the accumulation Of wealth.
| It is true We are but small community :;
yet, If ! mistake not, there are in our midst,
/ ingredients for the successful contamination Of
any important enterprise that tends directly to
retain our present lucrative trade, and To adopt
proper measures for the extension and future
growth Of the same.
There can be n"question sustained as regards
the position of Placcrvillc, in being heated
upon What may be now considered the most
practicable route across the Sierra Nevada; the
past and present winter season have proved con-
clusivcl' that ii is in fact the only rOnte upon
which the Commerce Of California can depend.
fur the SAT. and speedy conveyance Of passcn-
gers, and The transportation Of freight TO and
from The country which is now being developed
on the Eastern side 0f the mountains. It is
almost impossible To calculate what the inlpOr-
lance Of that trade wilbbe it is certain il will
be great; and 50 far the people Of Utah Terri
tory have cvinccd every disposition to make
this their market Of purchase, aud it becomes
the paramount duty Of business men, To uid an
assist every movement that tends to retain or
increase that trade.
Placer county. for instance, has adopted tun-
der survey Of Mr.. JUDAH steps toward run
ming a line Of railroad through that county,
leading East, that must necessarily, If cOnsum-
mated, reduce that commerce which is the life
blood and vitality of our trade, 10 which alone
we must look for future success.
Some months agOa contract was made by the
I City If PIaccryilir, with VIM. j. Lewis, Chief
Engineer, for the survey ola railroad route from
this place to Folsom or vicinity, the result Of
which was entirely successful, demonstrating
the fact that all easy route could be adopted
from Folsom or Monte CrstO-tlIc cost Of either
Of which would not exceed II "a, g41 90, al
though one route was some fur miles longer
than the other to Folsom. This estimate was to-
cover every expense for road, carriages. depOts,
water.staiions and other particulars necessary
to place the same in complete running order.
As regards the cardinal results Of railr0ais-
"they not only attract travel and freight but
create them. In consequence Of the saving in
time and money BY railroad transportation
passengers and freight on the line Of the ron d,
aud Tor some distance on each side, are drawn
to- it, For the same reasons many persons
travel who w"Ild otherwise stay nj home, and
many branches Of manufacture and production
aie undertaken, which would not have been
profitable without the railroad, in CONSEQUENCE
Of the expense Of transportation to market"
The estimated amount Of freight at the time
II report to this place alone which has largely
increased since was lG,pU0 tons ner annum,
and 10 other points in the county >" 900 more,
making total Of $1,000 TONS per annum. The
average cost at all freight To this city is about
s."per inn; by railroad it would not exceed
- per tau, thereby creating saving for the
consumers, Of $i2 on each tun, or total Of
tl?9."ro per annum, after giving the merchant
tue same legitimate profit for his wares that he
now receives.
The passenger travel TO and from this place
is about "a 900 per nnnum. II costs each one
now travelling e. BY railroad they would be
enabled 10 perform the same journey for the
sum Of q, thereby creating a saving Of $l2o,-
011 tn this community, To he invested in home
improvements, aud certainly adding to the
wealth Of our own district.
IN vicw Of these facts, can it be possible that
the people Of Placcrvlle can stand idly by and
see all the success that the future promises,
without giving il the aid such an important en-
terprIse demands? Will they let other points
reap the rich harvest which should be theirs
Will they suffer the valuable improvements
which have already been made, to decay for
want Of use? Will they allow the trade OF
Eastern Utah, that now promises to be almost
unlimited, to be snatchcd from their grasp,
while they stand BY and say, " Let well.cnough
alone"
can only say f1r myself, that am not dis
posed to leave one wreath Of success that justly
and lcgitimately belongs to this town, in the
way Of trade, unacc0nplished. But success
requires the united energies and assistance of
every member 0f the community. IL united,
" mountains will appear as mole-hills," and
those difficulties which now seem almost in
surmountable, can, by the determined action
Of people, be reduced to q practical business
operation. EDAW.
O%e
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