The union Democrat., 1869-05-01
The Railroad Question.

| The Railroad Question.
Mr.. EDIroR.-There are interests in our
county that from the low plane they have
held in this region of gold seem to have been
left out in first figures, and to some extent
ranked as inconsiderable, till time and the
necessities of the day have revealed them
sources of profitable industry, and that they
would afford employment to thousands of our
hardy sous Of toll, when market opens for
their flow.
The ice interest is one of more Importance
than would be supposed at first view. This
county has facilities to furnish all the region
ice more expeditously, and at a cheaper rate
than it can be done from any other section
on this coast. The vast harvest fields in
the valleys bordering on the San Joaquin
River opens fine field for dealers in this
article, where its cooling virtues will meet
with appreciation from the inhabitants of
those sultry plains.
No country excells this in producing fine
quality of lime; building rock and marble
reefs reveal their stores in all quarters, and
gravel and cobbles for roads is inexhaustable
in supply. Fuel is becoming an article of
considerable value in the valleys below and
the demand for it quite urgent at this time.
Our mountains contain vast stores of it and
in view of the foregoing fact necessarily
must become leading interest, and with a
railroad we could supply all the need for a
century hence. Cooperage is destined to
take important rank being superinduced by
the growing demands for casks and barrels,
for wines, brandies and other uses, and we
haye an unlimited amount of excellent staye
untold quantities, charcoal, timber for bridg-
es, spars and ribs for ships, fence-posts,
boards, shingles, soapstone, plumbago, brick
and other articles. The mulberry thrives
ceivng attention which in few years will
take rank with other calings. We have su-
perior honey in abundance. In respect to mill
privileges no land is more highly favored
than this, thousand saw-mills and other
mills have boundless forest of pines to feed
upon, and thousands of acres of grain to
grind for home consumption and commerce.
All of these things call loudly for railroad
and market.
1t is certainly evident to the citizens to Tu-
olumne that railroad is our greatest want,
no matter what it may cost, or the difficult
ties attending so vast ON undertaking. One
should be built despite all the discourage
ments that may stand in the way, it will
WELD benefits in thousand ways besides
those mentioned heretofore. We ought to
consider tho past and the present and from
the sum of ALL adopt plan that will cast the
future into more favorable light, and to re-
vive the existing depression to az encourag-
ing tone and natural flow of life. 1t will
prove useful in the way of needed pleasures,
intercaanges of visits, and other social rela-
tions SO necessary to the health and happi-
ness of man, wearing away the rough edge
of toll, invigorating the mind and creating
friendship and other social amenities. The
residents of this county would enjoy the
agreeable. pleasure of going to San Francisco
and back in one day. Fish caught in the
San Joaquin river at two O'Clock could be
spread on our table for supper at six. Disa
greeable and expensive stage travelling would
be shelved with the obsoletes of the past
We now pay eight dollars fare to Stockton
and work our passage by discomforts besides
With railroad we could go to the sea coast
and return for the same amount. The Tour
ist, the Wonder-seeker and the Naturalist
would describe their paths this way to visi
the sublimities of Yosemite and the grow
ing interests of Owens Valley would find q
profitable discharge over this route.
A Railroad will revive our dropping ener
gies and infuse spirit of enterprise into al
our trades and callings. Every hand viii
find something to do and complaints in {
measure end. 1t is time to improve wha
nature has given US freely, in a wav conduc
i've to our best welfare and to lay the found
alton for our children's virtues and prosper
ity, here is work for every man in Tuo!
umne county, and the scheme invites all tha
is high and ennobling in our natures to ad
vance cause for the general good Superior
to the claims of conquest, the expansion O
empire or the clarion notes of fame.
} ZEB.
j Slumgullion Bar, April 2Stb, 1869.