Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-03-25
Onr San Francisco Letter
IN FRANCISCO, March II, 1881.

Although our business men here
and the great opponents of San
Francisco commerce had been daily
anticipating the event, when the
news at last flashed over the wires
from Los Angeles to this city that
the last gap in the great Southern
railway route had been duly filled
ND by steel iails, there was mani
fest uneasiness among the officials of
+be various railroad and steamer
TRANSPORTATION lines concentrating at
this point. The leading question,
oftencrimplicd than openlyexpressed
has since been, What is to become
of the Queen City of the Pacific
coast?' Up to within a short time
since, parties desiring to go to the
Eastern States from almost any point
in Southern California or Northern
Mexico, were wont to come here for
the purchase of their through tickets
and final leave-taking of the coast.
But radical changes must needs come
in rapidly developing country like
ours. Now, since the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe II. r.. on the
one hand, and the Southern Pacific
r. II. on the other, have formally
met together, and amid great ecldt
kissed each other, nay, and are indis-
solubly welded for the remainder of
their natural railroad lines, the en-
tire passenger and freight traffic of
Southern California is destined, from
this time onward, to go by the new
ly opened route. 1t requires no
painful stretch of imagination for
old San Franciscans TO realize that
the beautiful city of their adoption
like ripe apple has attained its full
maturity. But even as Portland
capitalists think they have money
and influence enough to buy up and
Theoretically seal the Puget Sound
country, SO are there octo-million-
aires here who boast that San Fran
cisco is still to remain, without let or
hindrance, the great commercial en-
trepot of the Pacific coast from
Panama to Alaska. But time, the
sole arbitrator of all human events,
must decide this question. 1t is no.
wise unnatural that San Francisco
should be affected by the green-oyed
monster, since she is beset on either
side by such growing rivals rs Los
Angeles, Portland, and perchance,
some namsless city of the Sound.
1t was only last Tuesday that l heard
speaker declare, at II reception din
ner table that, San Francisco must
and shall remain the great CONNER
cial center of the Pacific coast!'
But he was considerably flashed by
the ardent at the time, for while
gratefully gesticulating with his
right hand, he was holding high in
his left glass OF California brandy.
Now this may be all very we'll for a
season, but the day is fast coming
when it will take something more
than their native drinks to enable
business men here to screw up their
courage to the sticking point. Since
it is only a few hours travel by
steamer or rail from this city to Los
Angeles, it is surmised by many, and
with pretty good reason, that dur
ing the Winter months, much OF the
passenger traffic will be DETECTED
from the Central and Union Pacific
route to the Southern Pacific road,
as it is we'll known that the whole of
that route is far below the snow line.
Besides, many other causes tend to
make it an attractive highway to
tourists and those making business
or visiting trips between San Fran
cisco and the Atlantic cities.
But it is time my letter was taking
a little more of the sociable turn.
This city is fast becoming the peer
of the Web-foot metropolis as
rendezvous for Olympians. Indeed,
TO catch glimpse of Puget Sound
ers sublime countenance, almost any
day of the week, is no uncommon en-
perience. And then as we heartily
shake hands, what visions of oysters
and clans, big logs, tleas and saw
dust, come fitting from their hiding
places in the far-oft memories Of the
past.
fThia ic or rotbor Io, boon CANT