Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-11-25
A COMMERCIAL PRoPHEsY.

we are III possession OF information TO
the effect that A. d. Starr & Co., proprie.
tors of the Starr Touring mills at South
Vallejo, have succeeded in organizing a
company, with ample capital, which will
proceed immediately to erect Touring mills
OF unusual capacity at point on Car.
quinez straits, near Benicia- The exact
location has already been selected. The
proposition is to put up mills second in all
respects to none in the world, and in size
excepting only the mills at Minneapolis.
These works will. therefore, be the largest
west of the Rocky Mountains, and the
capacity for production will be something
enormous. While the establishment of so
great manufacturing industry is in itself
a gratifying indication, there are in it sug-
gestions that 60 beyond it. These point
with what may be deemed commercial GER
tainty to the region Immediately about the
Straits of Carquinez as the center OF great
population at no very distant day, subsist-
ing almost wholly upon wholesome manu-
featuring industries located there. TIE
motive that leads the capitalists of the Starr
Company to locate at that point will oper.
ate with like effect in other cases. The
situation itself is geographically favorable
for its becoming the chief entrepot for the
products of northern and central Califor.
MIA, regions which we have always held
that, possessing the advantages of soil and
climate, will make them the most popu-
lous and productive of ell the agricultural
districts of the State. The true relation of
ship to rail is more clearly defined by the
situation at Carquinez Straits than at any
other point, probably, upon the coast, as
We have heretofore shown. To the advan-
tages OF a safe harbor for ships of greatest
draught, is added close proximity to themost
productive regions of the State, the great
grain growing valleys, and with which the
port is connected by systems of railways that
are well nigh perfect as to their courses in
the valleys and their transcontinental con-
nections. One of the vital factors in all
manufacturing schemes is the cost of re-
ceipt of material and discharge of product.
This cost of handling, undoubtedly as
much as anything else, influenced the &C.
ton of the company at first named. The
tonnage handling question is almost out of
consideration at Benicia and South Vallejo
and like points, for the cost involved is re-
duced to minimum not possible at San
Francisco. The product of the farm arriv.
ing by rail from out the Sacramento and
the San Joaquin valleys is capable of de-
livery, without intermediate handling,
directly at the Touring mill, machine-shop
or other factory standing at the very edge
of deep Underwater and after conversion
may be discharged directly upon ship or
car for its distant market, and both these
transfers be made. without an appreciable
tax upon the article for handling. As Illus
trative of Numerically opposite situa-
tion, case is stated of given amount of
iCSchba1 lIoul SOuLu-
ern point by rail to San Francisco, destined
for an interior point north of the latter place
The cost of transfer from the dock of the
first transportation line to the dock of the
second at San Francisco exceeded the en-
tire freight charged between the points of
departure and destination. Unquestion.
ably drayage is cost tax upon manufact-
uring industries in that city that gives to
outside competitors an undeniable and
powerful advantage. This and other fac.
tors enter into the syllogism, the demon
stration OF which will be found in the
steady growth and final development into
great marts of the shipping points in the
Straits OF Carquinez. The inevitable in
commerce is always indicated in its ap-
proach by signs that cannot be mistaken,
and no human device can avert it. The
for Carquinez Straits plainly
points TO the conclusion we have outlined.