, 1873-07-24

consumed upon ruget Sound ana IN
British Columbia is now brought from
the section east of the Cascades, ship
ped down the Columbia river, crossing
two railroad portages, is landed at Ia
lama, taken by rail to Tenino, driven
from thence to Olympia, and shipped
by steamer from there to the various
places of consumption. When it reaches
Seattle it has had a transportation of
about 500 miles by various expensive
means, to reach destination which will
be accomplished by 100 miles over this
projected railroad, at one-ffth of the
present cost. This railroad will have
abundant freights both ways to the very
great advantage Of both ends of the
route. 1t would open large market
for our lumber and coal in an extensive
prairie country and give them good
market for their surplus agricultural
products.
Can we command the means 10 ac-
complish this project? is question fire.
quently asked by timid persons. Why
not Half dozen men who had pro-
badly not $4,000 of capital among
them. organized the Oregon Steam Navi-
cation Co., few years ago, accumulat-
ed large private fortunes and sold out
their company property to the Northern
Pacific Railroad for $4,000, 0,000,as is un-
derstood by the public. That amount
would build narrow gauge road from
Seattle to Umatilla which could be run
at less expense than the steamboat line,
and command all the trade from which
that line has heretofore derived its reve-
unes. WHAT'S to prevent united popula
ton of $500, with an actual capital of
not less than $4,000, 900, accomplishing
less than half dozen men of no dlstin-
guished business capacity, without any
capital. King county will certainly
pledge 100000 of money and availa-
BILE securities to this work. Walla Wal
la county is able to do as mnch more;
and the intermediate county can GER
tainly guarantee half million. No
railroad project was ever started IN the
country with an equal amount of avail
able assets. A local, paid-up snbscrip
ton of ten per cent, has in all cases
been deemed sufficient guarantee upon
which to loan ninety per cent. to com.
plete any railroad scheme. A railroad
graded and the superstructure laid,
which is about half the cost, can always
command. on easy terms, capital suffi-
cient to iron the road and furnish the
rolling stock.
AS to onr ocean commerce, Seattle
can furnish now freight of lumber, coal
and merchandise, at remunerative pric
es, to keep constantly employed semi
weekly line of propellers between this
city and San Francisco. Tacoma has
no commerce of any description, save
few tons of hops and the products of
single saw mill, now owned by the R.R.
Company. or the land ring, we do not
know which, and has no back country
tributary to it with any productive or
commercial resources.
The road from Kalama to Tacoma
which is the only portion of the North
ern Pacific Railroad which will ever be
built in Washington Territory by the
present Company--can do no more to
enhance the commerce or developc the
resources of the country than would
road from Neeah Bay to the Skokomish
reservation, at the head of Hoods Can
al; and the idea of making Tacoma a
commercial centre for any trade, foreign
or domestic, is utterly preposterous II
is wild cat speculation, from beg1
ming to end.