The daily mountaineer. (Dalles, Or.) 1861-1866, 1865-11-16
THE REASON WHY.

An Idaho correspondent of one of our CO.
temporaries writes that large number Of
parties in that Territory-a majority of them
obtain the machinery for their quartz and
and other mills from Chicago, freighting them
overland. The quality of the machinery pro-
cured in Chicago Illinois, is not so good as
that procured in San Francisco, but the cost
of freight from the former city is so much
cheaper than from the latter, that it becomes
a matter of great saving for the Idaho miners
to make their purchases on the shores Of Lake
Michigan instead OF on the shores of the Paci-
fc. The distance from Chicago to Idaho is
fully fifteen hundred miles; while from San
Francisco it is less than seven hundred. Yet
freight can be transported over the former
long and tedious route much cheaper than 1t
can be over the latter short one.
1t is indeed true that much of the machi-
merry in use in the Boise mines has been
brought from t1e Atlantic side, and, also,
many other articles of use in the mines. The
reason may be briefly stated: San Francisco
has been endeavoring to build up the traffic
By the Chico route (which is shown by expe-
rence to be impracticable), and has neglected
to avail herself of the splendid natural advan-
tages of the route by the Columbia River
There are several things connected this com.
petition from the West that need explanation
Ireights are cheap from the Iowa and Missouri
frontiers, because the stock Used in transpor.
tation is almost doubled in value as soon as
it reaches the Idaho mines. This is account
ed for by the fact that draft horses, cattle anG
mules are very scarce in this country, and sc
are cows and beef cattle. 1t is u fine graz
ing country, and California stock-grcwer'
will double the value of their animals BY
bringing considerable portion of them here
The price of those which remain in Caifor
mia would be enhanced by this distribution
We merely make suggestions, and do not en-
ter into particulars, which are obvious to in
terested parties.
As to the Columbia River trade we pro
pose to describe the disadvantageous name
in which it is conducted, and to point out tn
disastrous effect on the commercial interest
of San Francisco.
Nearly every article of use in the Idah
mines is bought in San Francisco by minin
traders, or is sent by San Franciscans to thi
country for sale. San Francisco consign
ments mostly go to Portland, because that
point where ocean steamer navigation, fo
the present, ends. In order to reach Port
land, goods are frequently compelled to pm
lighterage from the mouth of the Willamett
River, distance of fourteen miles and whe
sold, after paying for handling and warehon
ing at that point, they again come down oi
of the Willamette and 60 up the Columb
coming to the Dalles, sometimes to be SCI
beyond by rail and steamer, and sometime
to be teamed overland from here to Boise AT
Owyhee.
On account of the difficulty Of assemble
the Will annette, the ocean steamers advance
their charges on freight to $40 ton, VIII,
the same freight can be brought for less,
, the same ocean steamer, to the Cascades,
point sixty miles this side of that place. Fro
Portland, freight pays SIS a ton to Il
: Dales. and then is sent on to Umatilla,
landing on the river above, a. $l5 more.
. is carried past here because the road fro
hence to Boise is beset with hostile Indian
Y and it has been The policy of certain perso
to keep this road from being opened. The
r operating on the imbecile, who for sever
years commanded the military OF this sc
4 ton, prevented any measures from bel
taken to have The direct road to Boise opene
r. Thus,.to advance the interests Of individ
If ais, the Call will see that goods sold at S
10 Francisco are carried around the coun,
until the charges have been made as or,