Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-07-08
Construct the Railroad.

The rapidity with which the Pacific
Railroad is being constructed at its East
EN- end. and the advantages which East
ern merchants are deriving therefrom, is
exciting the interest of the people of Cali
fornia, and creating clamor for the more
vigorous prosecution" Of the work on
the western end. The Cal has the follow
ing upon the subject:
Some days ago some remarks were made
touching the change of the supply trade
for Nevada Territory, from San Francisco
to Salt Lake City, or some point further
East. That is, change of the transporta-
ton of goods around Cape Horn to this
port, to be reshipped for Reese River, Hum
boldt, ETC., to the overland route. This is
no idle speculation. The change has al
ready commenced. Several new firms have
commenced business in Salt Lake City, as
trading and forwarding houses for the min
ing and other consumers to the west of that
place. Wagon-loads of goods have made
the overland trip. Their goods are already
at Reese River. Certain kinds of goods
will not stand the racket and the cost Of
this overland trip, but others will. And
the difference in time required between
moving goods around Cape Horn and over
land, is so great as to operate quite favor
ably for the overland trip and much against
the voyage around Cape Horn, by the amount
also saved in interest upon the capital
How many Of our merchants and traders
have sufficiently considered this subject
How many have even thought upon it : 1t
is high time they did so, and it is high time
to take action upon it. While factious op-
position is being made here to the ccnstruc-
ton of the railroad eastward from the
Pacific, and its progress thus seriously de-
layed. our Eastern capitalists are rushing
the Eastern portion towards the market we
have hitherto monopolized. They can grade
the road over the plains two or three hun
dred miles annually, while with the utmost
energy we can only build the road slowly
over the Sierras-tne greatest obstacle to the
construction Of the entire line. While
we, with all the force possible to be en-
ployed, could construct rods, they can build
miles. Every mile of their road finished,
aids the overland trade at the expense Of the
business of this city and State. What
should be done to retain the trade hitherto
so profitable Evidently it is to drive
ahead the railroad now slowly being ex-
tended eastward. By no other possible
means can the loss Of this business, or of
considerable portion Of II, be avoided. The
accusations so glibly made against those i'm
mediately entrusted BY Government with the
construction of the road, are not to be taken
as true until the proofs be produced, which
has not been done. 1t is to their interest to
build the road as quickly as possible. They
have shown their good will towards this city
BY the transfer made Of the right to construct
the road from this city eastward to the line
already commenced, under the United States
guaranty and bonus, worth three millions Of
dollars. Why should not our people, our
authorities, rather-for our people voted free
" the aid asked for-reciprocate the good
feeling, especially as their interests are
deeply involved in the consummation of the
work? Wait a year or two longer, and the
overland trade will get such start as will
make the number Of ships reaching this port
around Cape Horn less and less, and the
profits and business Of our merchants and
traders less accordingly. Think Of this, and
act like business men, ifnot as statesmen.