The weekly union record., 1866-02-24
The Merchants and Markets.

The merchants OF San Francisco begin to
stir in reference 30 securing the trade of Idaho
and Montana. They have been feeding AID
clothing all the people of the Pacific States,
making immense profits, and building up a
great commercial metropolis; and as the con-
sumers are attracted toward the Rocky Noun
tains, the merchant begins to see the necessity
of means to portaion-keeping his trade.
If half of our former population goes to Idaho
and Montana. our merchants must open com
munication with those Territories, for the trans
portation of supplies, or the trade of San
Francisco is crippled. If the San Franciscan
can furnish goods at Virginia City, Montana,
which if 450 miles northeast Of Sal, Lake
City, cheaper than the ST. Louis merchants. lie
will not only maintain bis old trade but receive
new-tbe custom Of Utah and Montana
The merchants of San Francisco, last week
held several meetings for the purpose of dis
cussing the rival routes to Montana, and deter
mining which is best. Committees were ap.
pointed to examine foar routes, VIZ: The
Colorado, Humboldt, Red Bluff and Portland.
The committee appointed to review the Col
orado river route, reported it feasible and
practicabe that the Colorado is navigabe
to a point namfd Callville, 375 miles from
Great Salt Lake City, to which point response
bic parties will set down goods at 800 per ton
that goods can be iTeighted from CaIIye to
Salt Lake City ct from to cents per pound;
that Virginia City. Moutana. is distant from
Salt Lake City 450 miles ard that goods can
be ireighted over this route for or cents.
The report not only recommends the feasibility
OF the route, but the formation of an Associa-
tion, with a capital Of S25000O, to establish
merchandise depot al Calville.
The committee on the Humboldt route
made favorable showing for the rou-e via
Pacific Railroad Truckee river and emigrant
road by the Humboldt to Fort Hall that by
this route Boire City. Idaho, is $50 miles from
Sacramento and Virginia City, Montana, 500.
The Sacramento TeamSters' Association, en-
bracing one Thousand two hundred teams, will
commence this spring to carry freight over this
route, S33, 900 having already been subscribed
to furnish merchandise for the venture. Ii is
expected that this expedition will start early
so as 10 reach Montana so days 10 advance of
the st. Louis trains.
The same Committee report on the Portland
and Red Bluff routes, which are only formally
touched. The distance from Montana via
Portland is pat down at 1870 miles. and the
transportation of freight per ton S210 The
Red Bluff route is treated as ndifferently as the
Portland, making The distance to Helena 100
miles, and freight S345 per ton The follow
ing gentlemen were appointed a Committee TO
confer with the Sacramento people in regard
TO the Central route, viz: A. 2. Stanford, G.
G. Hooker and David Hawley. Also. Messrs.
5. ID. Johns. JohE Callahan d. NJ. Hall were
appointed a Committee 10 confer with the
people of Red Bluff in regard 10 their route.
All these enterprises are praisewortby. and no
doubt the coming season will not ouly settle
which is the best route TO Idaho and Montana,
but also establish the fact that Utah aud Mon
tana can be supplied with merchandise from
the Pacific at lower rates than from the At
lantic. The feasibility of the Colorado route
seems to be fully established. and that the San
Francisco merchant will be enabled to meet
the St. Louis merchant in the markets of
Great Salt Lake City. 1t is matter of vital
Importance to the commerce of San Francisco
to secure the market of Utah and Montana
1t matters not by what route. only so that
goods can be sent down cheaper from San
Francisco than St. Louis. San Francisco
merchants reap their profits whether they 60
by the Colorado river, the Paeile railroad.
Red Bluff. Chico or Oroville.
There Is one very important TACT Whlcn tne
San Francisco merchants seem to forget.
There is a movement among Eastern capitalists
to build railroad from Lake Superior TO the
navigab!e waters of the Columbia river. The
prize these enierprizing capitalists are grasp
ing for is the Montana gold and trade. Boston
as well as all the Northwestern cities, are
interested in this great movement-striving 10
do what our San Francisco merchants would
do. cut of St. Louis Our ox-team trains may
do for while. but if We would secure perman
entity the commerce of the rich inland terri
tories, we must commence and push through
the Californis and Oregon Railroad. Marys-
al