The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-10-02
Southern California.

English capitalists, emboldened by the great
success of the continental railway just completed,
are subscribing largely towards the southern
railroad, which is to connect San Diego with the
Atlantic. The eastern terminus will be at
Norfolk, Virginia, from which point the road
will pass through the richest portion of Virginia
and Tennessee, joining the projected Memphis
and FL Paso road. 1t is calculated that in less
than three years through connections from Nor
folk to San Diego will be completed. Towards
the construction Of the eastern branch from Mem
phis to Norfolk, seven millions have been pledged
by an English house, and work will he begun at
once ON it. Meanwhile, the road west from the
Mississippi is being quietly constructed mainly
with English capital, and the prospect is now
fair for the early completion of this southern road,
which will run through the rich and fertile val
ley of the Colorado to it's junction with the ella
River, from whence it will run to San Diego,
which is located on the sea board in the extreme
southwestern corner of California. Having n
good harbor for vessels drawing not over twenty
feet of water, and with a bay fifteen miles in
length, it must soon become a place of consider
able importance. 1t is now a port of entry and
promises to attract considerable
-AithouSh TIC pOpuIdtiOn IL Dun diego Is us
yet inconsiderable, there is n large immigration
tending to that section of the State, which must
within a few years make considerable trade, that
will naturally center in it. 1t is located 2262
miles east of Honolulu, and directly in the track
of the trade winds, which prevail more steadily
below the latitude of the Both degree than above
it. Sailing vessels will probably average better
time ON this route than on the San Francisco or
Portland ronte.
Everything appears favorable to the opening of
n considerable and permanent trade between
Honolulu and San Diego. All the sugar, molas-
es, coffee, rice, &c, now consumed in the south
ern portion of California, is taken thither by
steam and sailing vessels from San Francisco, the
freight on which between those two ports is as
much as from Honolulu to San Francisco. Thus
our produce shipped direct to San Diego, can be
laid down there at about the same cost as it now
is in San Francisco. These islands are the natural
source of supply for such tropical productions as
are consumed in Lower California, and must
sooner or later furnish its population with them.
A number of families have already migrated
from these islands to San Diego, Los Angeles and
that vicinity, and others doubtless will follow,
the climate being somewha similar to that of
these islands, and the inducements for settling
more attractive. AS soon as the southern rail-
road is completed. connecting that portion of the
State with San Francisco and with the immense
fertile regions of the interior, its growth will be
very rapid. To secure the trade Of this region
should be an object with our merchants, and it
has been suggested that a line of briggs or schoon-
ers might be laid on the route. 1t is question
able, however, whether any return freight could
be procured Mt present. Such packets would
have to do as the Puget Sound lumber vessels
now do-return in ballast.