, 1862-10-30

}
the Atlantic States, the rates Of steamboat and
railroad fare are from one to two cents per mile;
on the New York waters much Of the time, the
rate is less than one cent per mile and often even
less than onethird of cent. Nowhere, in either
the Atlantic States or Europe, we believe. does
the rate exceed two cents On Puget Sound
the rate is fifteen cents per mile formerly it
was twenty cents As the bulk Of the travel is
to and from NictOra, a distance Of one hundred
miles, the fare is consequently fifteen dollars each
way, or thirty dollars for the trip. Thus much
by Way Of comparison, and in order to give
readers abrnad correct idea Of the subject Of
our complaint.
Il is an axiom as true Of travelling as Of every.
thing else, that cheapneSs creates demand. This
has been demonstrated so often, in all the pre-
sent modes Of travel, that We have no fear Of
anybody prcsnming to dispute it,. Hence we
conclude that steamboat proprietor when they
exact such rates as are aud have heretofore been
charged on those waters, are fooli>hiy blind to
their own interests. In proof OF this, we have
the assurance Of scores Of residents Of this and
adjoining counties, that they would have made
repeated visits to Victoria, during the past two
years, f the rate Of passage had been moderate,
or at al consistent with the times. So exOrbitant
has been the charge, however, as absolutely to
deny them that privilege even when, as would
often be the case, by combining business with
pleasure, il would prove profitable to avail them
selves Of il. dl.i, b. 1,.f 81
4 On all river steamers we have. been accus-
toned to see farmers comprise usually the major
portion Of the passongeTs here they are pre-.
elniled by the extreme high fares, which scarcely
one in hundred can afford. Where fares are
reasonable, farmers travel as much a. any other
class Of people. They Gnd It % their interest to
do 20 on waters or roads leading to markets,
where, in exchange tor their produce, they OBJ
tain goods Tor home use.s Facilities and cheap.
moss Of travel thus beget tTaGie, aa just 10 pro-
portion rs this tFaIIlc imeFvlkes does the eaFFy.
Ing or steamboat interest increase and prosper,
What can be, more plain, therefore, thaa the
fact that sxorbitant fares Opernts to The PrSju-.
dics Of ateambOatproperyr Bat this is not the
only eSil resalting from unreasonable ehsrges !
werr j -, We should have little, cause, % con-,
plain. :. WheEu theeost or travelling amounts to-
apFohibtioh, Is Il does h this caaS, the effect &
70 tslard he dsseISpmshs ,of thsi cUuntry, and
thus iafiet positive injury whsFs .shenldsOn--
lsF 'benetiA nj 3las8iysh fxsu adT 4
& Itisunsstanais loF our peoBle that there has
thus ~ been 10 competition q stsii6boaiine on
Puget Sound. A single steamer of small sapae.
iIy has been for year vAinly endeav0fing To-
meet demand for Two slsamets 81 much greater
capacity THERE'S not doubt that two steamer,
% much larger tonnage than the one now plying
On observatory with corresponding passenger
accommodation, can Gnd profitable employHieDt
here ihrpdshout he yeir, Il thS rates Of passage
are such = % epe9afage travel instead Of pr3-
hibitit Thai The pruaunl steamer is totally M
able 70 DO The business required Of her, tho|
freight refused at Ibis md other towns, from
week % week, abunJsnlly teslHes There 81
much lner= work hrre shan ono stem, r. can %,
even Il lie ezisiiag Nigh rates hence ths own
srs ure indifferent to ths wishes and wants 81
ths public. We indulge DE hops that tbe mail
contract soon 10 belei lar tl,s Sound will bulthe
hisans d giving b another steamer Ii 50, he.
result eanpo, bn otherwise than beneficial to the
vhple country bordering on Puget Sound. Il.
vIlllsad, wr trust 10 reduction of rates 70 q
standard eOusIaehs win everything else. and %
atEassIi iour6ld sTea.sr than can bg attained un-
der The present charges Apgmepied trade viz
% the consequence q lhs incrsased iavels the
attractive hal1rsI q our countzy vim become
'mose widely khowh new bosintsi relations
will Be establiaed end populalion and general
prosperity wiIl lollaw ia The waEsof 70 d,ArabIb
4 change Angshsf year We hope and believe,
VIII remedy dis esi and Afford " facilities ior
,rpyrl On Pusst spand shieh have hitherto bseh
denied. M aar as isef
~ D sq.ii ni
tr.... =, . -. -. 4 l. 49,. q =, 80 u