Weekly Arizona citizen., 1880-07-03
IMPORTANT TRAFFIC.
Opening of Extensive Commercial Re- lations Between Tucson and Silver city--A Groat Future Tradc-Ths Peculiar Advantages Possessed by Our Merchants.

The fact of the commencement Uf shipments to Silver City and vicinily, by way of Benson, is of much more importance to our city than would appear at first sight. The facts in the matter are that freight can be taken across from Benson in from twelve to fourteen days, while from Las Vegas or Albuquerque, where freight coming from the east leaves the Atchison, To- peka and Santa Fe railroad, freight has frequently been six months on the way to Silver City, to say nothing of the possible stoppages on account O! Indian depredations. Every mile the Southern Pacific Railroad Company push their construction eastward adds to the advantages possessed by our merchants over those of the East Much of this state of affairs is due to causes which the completion of the Atchison road will in some measure remove, but in many classes of merch. andise the advantage now possessed at this end of the lIre will in no wise be affected by any future competition on the other side. The Pacific side is the natural supply depot for -four, bacon, produce of all kinds, tea, coffee, staple groceries, boots and shoes, and thous- snds of other commodities which can be produced cheaper than at the East. So that the present movement of some of our leading merchants-and nots- bly, L. Zsckendorf & Co.-to open eI- tensive commercial relations with the people of Silver City, and all through that section of country, is fraught with much importance to Tucson, for our city's welfare is inseparsbly associated with that of her merchants.
 The difficulty hitherto experienced in obtaining or controlling any con- siderable portion of this trade has been principally the exorbi!ant freight charges across the Territory. These charges were necessarily owing to the fact that the freight trains were com pelled to return empty, making the distance virtually twice longer than it really is. Now, however, Zeckendorf & Go. have made arrangements by which all the copper products of the Longfellow and several other mines will be handled by them at this point, and the transportation of the metal will furnish freight for the returning teams, and greatly reduce the rates. The copper, it has been found, can be brought to this point by teams, hence by rail to tide-water at San Francisco, add thence by sailing vessel to its destination, infinitely cheaper than It can be taken overland; and it is only question of a short time when all the prospective immense copper products of that rich country will find their way to market through Tucson.
 Already large amount of this cop per has been shipped this way, and Zeckendorf < Co. have established a house at Benson for the better hand ling of the same and the goods which will load the teams on their way out. We leSrn that the frcighters now have teams constantly at the terminus at Benson, and that exceedingly modcr- ate rates are now charged for loads. We call the attention of our merchants to the matter, and recommend that it be fully investigated. The advantages both to them and 10 Tucson cannot be easily estimated, and the present is the proper sime to make an effort to secure this trade.