Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1873-08-23
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING. AUG. %. 1873.
THE SEATTLE AND WALLA WALLA
RAILROAD,

directors, passed through tnlS pace
last Tuesday en- route for Walla Walla,
to consult with the citizens of that val
ley, who We're to meet these gentlemen
in grand mass meeting, in Walla Walla
city, to-day. 1t appears that the citi-
zens of both sections are alive to the
importance of the undertaking. and
aware of the many difficulties in the
way, but are determined to push the
enterprise forward with all possible dis
patch. The battle is half won when
the situation is thoroughly understood,
and the campaign mapped out so as to
make-.the best use of all the available
forces: and the Directors have made a
proper beginning by placing the esti-
mates within prudent bounds. The
enterprise is not destined to benefit the
termini solely. nor will be owned or
controlled by land rings or spectators
having no interest in common with the
people. The whole Walla Walla basin,
and every community on the Sound
will reap of the advantages that direct
and speedy communication will open
between the two sections. The Terri
tory, taken as a whole, contains all the
varied resources to develop wealtv,
thriving, prosperous State. What we
lack of the elements of future great
ness, are possessed by our neighbors
east of the mountains in wonderful
degree, and what they need this region
can abundantly supply. The agricul-
tural resources of the one is counter
balanced by the mineral wealth and
commercial advantages of the other.
The slow, dangerous and expensive
means of transportation afforded by
the Columbia river, never can supply
the demand or unite the country in
that harmony of interest which consti-
tutes the true basis of prosperity.
It is o well-known fact that the pro-
ducts of the Walla Walla valley, in con-
sequence Of its inaccessability, COM
mand but about one-third the prices to
be obtained here, with an inexhaustable
home and foreign market, and it's ca
pacity for the production of the staples
of agriculture, has but begun to be
developed. The figures given in previ-
Gus articles leave no doubt of the i'm
mense traffic and the large margin of
profit to be derived by the company
soon as the road is in operation. All
doubt has appeared to center in the abil-
ity of the company to command the
means for construction. With the
amount already subscribed and avail
able, there is no doubt but that the
first section of fifteen miles can be built
and equipped, and this is through a
fine agricultural and coal region that
will afford sufficient local traffic to sus.
tain it. Sixty miles more taps the val.
leys of Eastern Washington, and makes
the road at once available for the great
object intended, and for its subsequent
progress, We need have no concern-it
will build itself. Upon the presen,
property pledges and stock sales, it is
proposed to construct the first section
when it can be mortgaged for large
proportion of the money to complete
the next. By this means, it is believed
that the road can be constructed with
out any assistance in the way of land
grants or subsidies of money.
The distance to be traversed and the
cost per mile for the construction of o
narrow gauge railroad, has been greatly
exaggerated by interested parties. BY
the best information derived from re-
sponsihe engineers who have examined
the route, We are assured that the road
will not cost to exceed $4,000 per
mile. The whole length will be 220
miles, instead of 800, which was taken
as the basis of estimate by opponents of
the measure Instead therefore, of
paying interest on IS ,OOO, 900, it will be
upon but about one-half that amount
that will actually be required, and the
enhanced rate that could be obtained
on the grain crop of the present year,
which is estimated at half million of
bushels, allowing $40 per ton for trans
portation, would pay the interest on
the bonds of the company, and the
farmer find an inexhaustable market for
all his grain at the prices now ruling.
The freight on supplies to the valley,
would show an equal margin of profit
to go into the earnings of the road, and
would justify a reduction of prices to
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