, 1867-05-31

favor Of the North Pacific route, admitting rates
Of transportation to be equal on both lines But
these rates would not be the same, even il the
distance of the two were equal, for the reason
that the country would be self-supporting on
nearly every mile of the northern route, while
on the central, for hundreds of miles between
Salt Lake and Nevada, aot a tie for the track nor
a stick, nor pound Of coal for fuel can be had.
All these things must be brought from abroad.
Now, owing to adventitious circumstances-
the discovery of the precious metals in CaliforD
MIA, Nevada, and ColOrado-and the settlement
of Mormons in Utah, the bulk Of local business
seems to be on the side of the central route.
But Montana will soon outstrip California in the
yield of gold besides the route, passes through
a country susceptible Of settlement all the way
from Lake Superior to Puget Sound, ahd there
is no doubt but that Eve years hence there will
be as much local business through Minnesota,
Dacotah, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Or
egou. as through Nebraska, Colorado, Utah,
Nevada, and California. Accident gives the CEN
trail route the present prs-eminence nature ins
sures the northern the final victory.
1t is not generally known, the large amount of
business that was done in Montana last season.
From May, 1866, to Oct. lst. 1866, @. G. Huntley
carried on his line ofstages, between Fort Benton
and Helena, $500 passengers, and during the
same period 5000 tons of freight passed from
Benton to Helena 4375 freight wagons passed
over the same route As steamboats, with pas
sengers and freight arrived at Fort Benton from
ST. Louis, and other points in the east, and this,
be it remembered is the first season that this
trade has been carried on to any extent, and
also that this is out one point in the Territory.
1t is really the commencement OF q great TRADE
that will require vast capital, and employ the
energy and industry of large number OF
persons.
There are no less than four lofty ranges of
mountains to cross on the central route. The
Rocky Mountains, ct Bridger's Pass, being the
most passable crossing the Wasatch, the Hum
boldt, and the Sierra Nevadas are barely passa.
able in summer By the way of Pen d'Oreille
Lake, on the northern route, freight can be taken
from the Columbia to the Missouri nearly all
winter. Another advantage possessed by the
northern route, is that at present the distance
is less than 600 miles between the head of steam
boat navigation on the Missouri and Snake rivers,
and when the boats completed, which are
now building on the Pen d0reille Lake and
Clark's Fork of the Columbia, the land travel
will be reduced to about 800 miles.
Did time and space permit, | might give fur
ther proof of the superiority ofthe northern route.
In my comparative reasoning, have made these
distinctions with NO invidous feeling. The soon
er San Francisco is connected by rail with New
York, the better for Washington and Montana,
in common, with all the mountain regions.
1t is gratifying to see our friends to the south>
ward prosecuting their enterprise with SO much
vigor. But am perfectly satisfied in my own
mind that the time will come, when the traffiting
wealth of Europe and Asia will be poured across
the mountains and valleys of Washington and
Montana Territories.
Our prospects, it is true, look rather dull here
at present, the whole energy of the Pacific
Coast being concentrated in building the central
road, and tor a short time we may expect dull
times. The attention of capitalists cannot be
diverted from this enterprise much longer, and
when once fully examined, there will be nillions
of capital ready to invest in it
| Let US open up the Mullan road, and the Lake
route, and all other routes to the Missouri river
and invite travellers and emigrants to come this
way and see the advantages of this northern
country, and then we will have no trouble in
getting money to build a railroad. PHILIP RITZ