The Hawaiian gazette., 1872-06-19
The Central Pacific Railroad.

The Central Pacific Railroad.
Mr.. EDITOR Il was struck with the brief and
comprehensive summary of the benefits to Cali
fornia of the overland railroad, in an address by
Mr. Edward Curtis, found in the San Francisco
Ners Letter of May llth. The interest felt in
that route by the inhabitants of this Island King
dom will, think, make this extract acceptable
to your readers-which is as follows:
Mr.. Edward Curtis sums up very strongly the
blessings our Pacific Railroad has brought US, as
follows, in one OF his brilliant and eloquent ad-
dresses
What has the Central Pacific done, that some
of the so-called leaders Of either party should
sail it now and strive to make of it the pivotal
fact in California State politics The mists of
SANDER rising from the swamps of prejudice,
would make the people believe that the Great
Overland Road Is public enemy, instead of an
invaluable public beuelactor. Yet the facts are
that the property controlled by the Central Pa
cfc Railroad Company, is to day paying nearly
one tenth Of the entire taxes of the State-thut
it has raised the value of real estate along aud
near its lines more than S3OOOOOOO-and that
it has brought into market millions of acres of
agricultural, timber and mineral lands, that were
worthless before its iron lines penetrated them.
The completion Of this railway struck down at
one blow the prices of abOut everything we i'm
ported from the East. on an average of 80 per
cent, by creating competition between the Pa
mama Steamers and the Railroad which compe-
tition reduced freight charges very materially
and therefore the prices Of all goods, materials
and implements, we are obliged to get from the
Atlantic side.
\ few merchants and spectators who had large
stocks on hand at the time this road was finished.
may have suffered, because of this sudden reduc-
tion in values. but the farmers, mechanics and in
short all consumers, have been benefited in ev-
cry way by the Overland road Before there was
a Trans-Continental Railway, it took twenty
three days to make the journey to New York
now it is easily done in seven. and at a cost to
each passenger of least 81 90 less than formerly
Taking 10000 passengers which is the lowest
average number who. up TO the year 1869. an
nually Travelled by steamers to and from CaOr-
MIA, and counting the sixteen days time now saved
by the railroad at two dollars per day, counting
also the 500 saved in expenses. and we have a
net annual gain of S4.960.O00 to the travelling
public, by reason Of the Pacific Railroad
Nor is this all twenty-five thousand persons
have been induced to come here during the past
year, 10 see our Yosemite, and other wonders,
who never would have come had they been COM
PEELED to endure the hardships loss of time. and
Inconvenience Of an ocean voyage to get here.
1t is low estimate to say that these extra visit
ors leave with us an average of $3.50 each, for
his or her personal expenses while in California.
making S6250000. added to the wealth of our
State in one year from this source alone. So
that the savino in pyDanses IN (7olifDrnians hn
travel Eastward and return, together with the
money made from the extra influx Of tourists and
other visitors. amounts TO more than 81 100000
per annum net gam 10 this State, because of the
building of the Central Pacific road. At least
100000 more are saved to us in reduced
ireights. The great number of silver and gold
mines located in this State and Nevada, and
owned by residents OF California, that are now
being successfully worked but which would have
remained untouched and useless, were it not that
this railway runs near them, must add to our an-
uual resources as much as S6OOO.OOO more. Put
ting the facts together and we have in round
numbers, twenty million dollars saved to the peo
pie of California, the fruits of one years bust
ness with the Central Pacific Railroad.
Twenty million dollars-a sum larger than the
value Of our entire lChedi crop for any year since
California a State. An amount SeUeR times
as great as the total Of oil the taxes collect
ed by the state IN the year lStU. he mighty
fact of twenty million dollars now being annually
saved, or made to the people of this common
wealth. ought not to render unpopular the cor
poration that has been the direct cause of all this
material wealth.
The fact that notwithstanding the drouth-
that notwithstanding our gold product has fallen
off twO-thirdS. that there Is still more money in
our banks and in the hands of the people, and TO
be had at lower rates OF interest than at ALMOST
at any time before. is the best evidence of the
savings wrought BY the Pacific Railroad. So
much currency and coin is brought and left by
our Eastern yistors-and trip to the Atlantic
States now costs so much less than formerly,
that the money retained in this State on account
of these things, amount TO a very large figure
large enough to bridge over two dry unproductive
years large enough to bridge over what would
at other times have been with Us reJV hard times
For ali OF these blessings which are showered
upon Us by every locomotive that crosses the
Sierras the State has had to pay really not one
dollar The Sl05 600 paid out Of the Treasury
for interest on railroad bonds guaranteed by the
State, is more than counterbalanced by the taxes
the railroad pays back into the Treasury every
year"
The railway is great civilizer and contributor
to the prosperity Of the land through which 1t
runs. Mr.. Curtis might have added, the stimu-
which this one has given to the trans Pacific
trade and travel not only with Japan and China
but with the great. enterprising, and intelligent
Colonies Of New Zealand and Australia. The
35ih parallel Railway is needed TO supplement the