The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-10-03
COUNTY AND CITY OFFICIAL PRESS
Thursday, October 8. 1873.


A single sentence IN the colrespona-
encs published yesterday morning, from
Columbia county, has started in our
thoughts . train Of reflection which
every msn interested in the future pros
perity of our Territory will sympsthise
With: wheat in Dsyto IS cents; in
San Francisco, 81 o5 per bashei.' the
transportation just 200 per cent. upon
the home value of the wheat. In the
basin of the upper Columbia there are
not less than 10000. 900 acres of the
bsst wheat growing land Of like ,enti-
grade extent upon the continent, caps-
bic of producing 25O. o00. 900 bushels Of
wheat annually, in country we'll Wa
tered and remarkable for salubrity OF
climate, with no other present outlook
for commerce than the Columbia river,
the freight upon which absorb nearly
two-thirds of the present product. One
tenth of the land Of that section reduc-
cd to cultivation would produce 25.-
00O. 0O0 bushels of wheat per snnum-
equal to the annual product of either Of
the great wheat producing States Of
the old Northwest, and With equal ia
cilities for msr keting would give to the
upper Columbia o great advantage in
climate and productiveness over any Of
the old States. A railroad connecting
with Puget Sound would secure that
advantage. Whest can be shipped
from the port Of Seattle to Liverpool.
or any other European port st less rates
than from st. Paul. Milwaukee, Chica-
90. OF any other point 500 miles from
the Atlantic Sea- board, and to China
or Japan for less than from San Fran
cisco. having 700 miles advantage in
distance. The distance from Seattle to
Walla Walla, by the surveyed line for
. railroad. Is about ego miles, and the
estimated cost Of narrow gauge road.
including tunnels and bridges. is g.
100000.
WILL 1T PAY?
Twenty miles Of this road. now COM
pletod, il delivering 600 tons Of coal
day at our wharves. Less than ten
miles of extension would tap the largest
deposit Of coal in one body which has
even been developed, and within the
next twenty miles, 10 IN iron mountain
equal in quantity and extent to the IA
NOUS Ozark iron mountain Of Missouri
aud the line for nearly the whole dis
tancs from the Sound to that point. is
through forest unsurpassed for the
wealth Of ils timber for lumber and
ship. building. and upon rich soil for
agricultural purposes. Seventy miles
from the Sound, across the Cascade
mountains, the road would enter upon
aprsirie country Of great fertility, and
for the next $50 miles it would run
continuously through splendid wheat
growing region. The land bordering
upon the road tor ten miles on either
side. for $50 miles, would make ,920..
600 acres. capable Of producing $1,000.
600 bushels Of wheat annually, and this
would not include one. fourth of the
country which would be tributary ia
this road, and yet with one-tenth oil
this strip under cultivation. $500. 00C
bushels Of wheat could b produced.
There are SS} bushels to the ton, OF
three tons to each 100 bushels, making
$4,000 tons in 4, 800. 900 bushels, which
woald give $50 tons Of transportation
daily for 800 days in each year. A,
y per ton this would pay ti.440 POI
day, or t4S2. 900 per year. The return
freight to supply that extensive prairia
country with lumber and coal, would
certainly not be lsss; making IN AZ
gregats Of 1854. 900 on the WHEAT and
rstnra freights Of coal and lumber. Tn.
freight On coal from the mines 10 thu
port will aggregate not les than $780,.
600 annually. Il b,isg nearly that now
tony nething Of the iron for which thar,
will BE IN innsdiats demand, the &
cilitass Tor manufacturing where Il,
coal. iron aad limestone ore in clos,
proxinity, being unsurpassed.
The nerchsndis aud psssengs,
freight may ssfsly be estimated q ssf
ssisas T. eovsr ell running expense
and repairs. leaving nsarly IS Per cent
net peodt on the invsstment, st u
RATS - have Indicated. which ere hu
oesats bushsl on wheat. and osnt
more uoaA transport Il from this pos
to Ban Franeiseo; or Tor foreign ship
msnt. the difference betwscn THE Dor
and San Francisco would not exceed
csots . bashel in favor Of the latase
Bat fer shipment to San FsEcisco, Ii
di6arsoce in favor Of this route ore
Tie Columbia river route BY the way Q
Portland. would be over so cents
bashel; -. 900 On 4.s0o. 900 bushsl
Of wheat. and IN equal saving upon fua
and lumbar, TO ssy nothing Of the mar
cAasaiss which BOW pays 81 . 10
flca San francisuo againat - : Ton b.
this routa.