The weekly Butte record., 1866-04-07

RoAD 10 lDAHo.-Speaking of the bill to aid in
the construction of the Wagon to Idaho, the Marys-
vile Appeal says: at is an important road for
| the traders of San Francisco As well as the
merchants and farmers of Yuba, Butte, Sutter,
Colnsa, Plumas and Lassen couuties A good
wagon road over this route which is the nearest by
several hundred miles to Idaho, woald add materi-
ally to the business Of Marysville.r And we may
add for that matter to the entire business of the
State, as it viii open up route from the Pacific TO
the northern interior territories for the want of
which the people there are compelled to exhaust
two seasons in procuring their machinery and sup
plles from the Atlantic States, by the way of the
Missouri river, and by wagon roads and pack trains
over the intervening mountainous county. 1t has
been urged As a reason why State aid sholld be
withheld from this route that the railroad will soon
be completed across the mountains to Nevada, and
that these territories would then receive their sup
plies by means of wagon communication from the
eastern side of the mountains. This seems plausi-
bic in theory, but it is incorrect 1t is shorter,
better and more economical route from 0rovie TO
prominent points in Idaho and Montana, than it is
from Nevada to the same points Railroad
munication from Sacramento to Oroville will be
ma de before the Central Pacific will have reached
its Mecca of Dutch Flat. Bat when it shall have
progressed into the State of Nevada it will require
rairoad from Virginia City to Montana, to COM
pete with the wagon route from Oroville to Monta-
ma, for the country through which the road would
pass, is desert, incapable of maintaining popula-
ton. if it shall be found possible to construct
l.lx-o d. -,.L T0o;I
ties from San Francisco to Virginia City and 0ro-
vile alike, suppose the wagon road routes from
the two latter point to possess equal advantages,
the question then arises whether it is better for
California to have this wagon road and the business
that would result from it than to surrender it to
Nevada, because the carrying interest of the great
Central Pacific Railroad demands it. The great
Dutch Flat wagon road, and routes from Nevada to
Montana, have been closed during the present win
tes while the route from Orove has remained
open. Men have tried to go through from Nevada
and from Fort Churchill, and have been obliged to
turn back and go through on the route from Oro
vile. Facts are facts. United States officers have
been compelled to do this very thing thus icstra-
ting establishing and confirming the oftrepeated
asseF:;na OF the lamented Gen. Lander, that the
route from Orovile was the only practicable one
through the snow range that forms the eastern
boundary OF the State to the world beyond. The
interests OF the entire State demand that this wag
on route should be opened. If San Francisco
would secure the trade of Idaho and Montana, this
is the practical way to do it. If the mercantile in
terest OF the State doubts it, let them send depu
tation of men familiar with other routes to inspect
this one. They will find stages ready transport
them, but not deadheads 1t is no fair weather,
subsidized line. 1t is practical business over a
practical route. Routes that require purchased re-
ports from deadheads and champagned passengers
lead elsewhere, and have been played out during
the past winter. 1t is the route, over which it is
practicable for San Francisco to secure the rich
trade her merchants SO much covet. Let them
turn their attention this way, and they will not
only secure the trade they desire, but the business
thereby developed will build a railroad, the cars of
which will chase the annual steamers down the
Missouri river, and send the whistle of its engines
reyerberating over the waters of Lake Superior.
before the Great Central Pacific road, with its
principalites of land grants its millions of Fed
eral bonds, and hundreds of thousands of State
subsidy, is done peckng away at the tunnel through
the divide that bars their entrance TO Dutch Flat