The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-02-07

Thursday, Feb'ry z. 1878.
AS A NUMBERING PROJECT

The subject Of railroad communities
ton with the great basin of the Colum-
bia, which possesses an area Of grain
land nearly double that of the Sacra-
mento Valley in California, ia one upon
which every Seattle man likes to con-
verse. That it would, when completed,
convert our city from mere central
distributing point for sparsely settled
numbering region to the second grain
exporting seaport Of the coast, does not
admit Of IN argument. As the Sno-
Qualmie Pass is the lowest ACROSS the
Cascade Range. the expense Of grading
across that pass would not only b
greatly diminished, but the wear and
tear Of trsck.iron and rolling stock
would also be infinitely less than by
any other route. All these consider
atoms must be thoroughly and accurate
ly weighed before any capitalists can
be induced to embark with their means
in the furtherance of such an enterprise.
The attitude Of Congress upon the
question Of subsidies is such that no
hope of any land grant from the Gov
eminent, u aid this undertaking, can
be reasonably expected. The expert
snce Of German and English capitalists
in the Vallejo and Oregon roads is of
such . nature that it would be waste
Of time to seek for help in the money
markets Of Frankfort or London. And
We are aware that there 10 not now local
money enough to carry tho road TO the
summit. even il ell our rich men could
be induced to give "a strong pull and
. pull altogether" But this does not
lead ~ to despair Of the ultimate sue
cess of the enterprise There is another
loophols Of escape for the long and
weary isolation from which the int.
rior counties Of this Territory have
been suffering.
In San Francisco there exists q self.
defensive organization known as the
Lumbermsn's Protective Associa-
tion." Its members ore men OF wealth.
whose mills are running night and day,
all the way from Santa Cruz to the
British Columbia line. and whose argo-
sizes, laden with the fallen forest giants,
whiten the waves Of every cen. They
levy tribute alike from the golden
shores of Australia. the coral reefs Of
Polynesia and the rice fields of the
Celestial Flowery Empire. Among
their ranks are more than half score
of millionaires, at the head of whom
stand Pope & Talbot. whose wealth
cannot bs far from ten millions while
score of such we'll known energetic
capitalists as Tichenor, Simpson, Meigs,
Hanson. Mastick and jackson. tall in
behind them. This association could
afford to build the railroad to Walla
Walls. and would not feel the loss Of
the temporary outlay Of their money.
The grain belt Of the Columbia val
Icy, 20 rich in everything else. is com.
psrstively destitute of timber, and
almost any stuff is worth sixteen dol.
lars per thousand feet at the few mills
that are dotted about through the Blue
Mountains. Az the supply is rapidly
growing less, the probabilities are that
the lumber cut in that region will
never decrease in price. And 50 rapidly
10 immigration pouring into that region
that it is no visionary estimate to place
the value of lumber in wAlls Walls At
$35 per thousand within the next two
years. unless the railroad is built. BY
establishing mills along the eastern
slope Of the mountains the San Fran
cisco Association could control the lum-
Der trade Of the whole Columbia basin
the very day that the last rail was laid
into Dayton.
Now, look 1t the grain. Last year
the Oregon Steam Navigation Company
brought from Walls walla. $500 tons
Of grain against 10000 tons Of the year
previous. Within the year 1877 the
population Of the four counties Of Walla
Walls, Whitman. Columbia and Ste.
vens. has been augmented not less than
ten thousand souls. Il II safe to figure
that the export Of grain from The coun.
ties Of Columbia and wslls walla viii
b not less than forty thousand tons in
1880. This brought to tide-watsr At
i've dollars per ton would give total
Of 500. 900 per year. Add to THE the
carriage Of lumber eastward to the grain
fields. and the passenger traffic both
ways. aud it will not hll far abort of
$500. 900 more. making total Of $780,
600. exclusive of any merchandise car.
ried either way.
The road il now built and equipped
thirteen miles on direct line. with
side line of seven miles more. To carry
the line direct to Walla Walla and
equip It properly with rolling stock,
will require two aud half millions
moro. The San Francisco Lumber As
sociation could easily put in that