Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-09
sAN gRANClSCo AND T0g C0M.
PLETED SoRTnE9N PACIFIC.
[ArRonaut, AuQust 4th. I

[ArRonsut, August 4th.l
In few weeks from now, what il
known a. the Willard Railroad will have
been completed, making a continuous
route by rail from Boston to Puget
Sound. This is the drst break made in
Ssn Ffancisco's practical monspoly Of
the transcontinental traffic. For thirty
Ave years the harbor and port Of San
Francisco have enjoyed this commerce
without any rival or competitor. Not
ouiy has II enjoyed the trade Of Cali,
fornia, bot of the whole Pacific coast.
During the period when our business
vas done by steamer, passengers from
eli parts Of California a. we'll A from
Oregon, Nevada, Washington Territory,
and Arizona, came to San Francisco to
take the steamer, and were brought by
the steamer to San Francisco, and from
here distributed over the coast. All
merchandise, foreign and domestic, in
tended for the use of the State and Ter
Sitories named, came here for distHibu-
tiou. All products destined for any port
of ths world we're gathered upon our
wharves for transportation. The first
disturbance to this condition of things
occurred when the golden spike was
struck at Ogden. uniting the Central
and Union Pacific roads. San Fran
CISCO felt that blow and reeled under II |
for term Of years. Our city was no |
longer the piy0t center 70
which every traveller must |
mako pilgrimage. The busy steamer |
day passed. away and became but ira |
dition. The What Cheer House and its |
kiadred hotels we're no longer thfonged |
With arriving and departing passengers. |
The citizen from the northern and cen- |
tral portions of the 6tate took the oars |
or left them ~ some central point, and, |
though Discrimination In faros and |
freights favored the long haul, - lost q |
largo part OF our trads. When the |
Southern road was built 70 Lsos Angeles.
thsooast traff1c vas struck severe blow,
and the southern counties gained what
we lost. The railroad 70 0uaymas has
not % yet influenced in any peroeptible
deQree our ocean trade. while the South
esn Pacific road has opened up 10 our
msrchants in San Francisco An extend
q area of trsffis. During all this time
ths growing and populous aorthland
has been tributary 70 N. The Asiatio
trade, the trade Of the Pacific Islands,
Of Alaska. British America, Warrington
Territory and Oregon were compelled
- seek our port. In few weeks from
ncv we shall lose the greater part Of
this northern trade, while our Oriental
and islaua tnfac-that part Of it which
u transconsinsntal-is subject TO be d.
vided with strong, energetic and en-
lerprising rival. What are eur San
Francisco merchants, what are our CAL
tfornia business mon, what are our
property owners going 10 do about Il?
Twenty per cent. Of our best trade will b
taken from rs; Afsy per cont. Of our
Asian trade 10 likely 70 b taken. We
ars informed by merchants that twenty
pr can't. 10 modest statement Of the
relative trade Of the northern ooantry
% the whole trafac within their juyis-
diesion. Already 10 hear yumors oe
u purchase Of land and the proposed
eonslruction of buildings 70 aoeommo-
6ale the business offices Of this northern
railroad. Willard and his associates are
sspesssntsd a. active and snterpsi1ing
e1ntness men, with large capital.
Tney have a transcontineutal railroad,
81 brains. When that road 10 CON-
plsled, Ii will DO the businsse Of the
eoelA, and viii do q cheaper than the
Us3aa Pacific and Central PauiAo can
TO do Il. We oAn - no rsAson
W . Ban Francisco merchant should
@esee 20 sell any Goods beyond the OAl.
ssniA line north. The Portland and
t1Res Sound merchants Will menopolize
oat trade. They viii trade dtreotly
VIII New York and Liverpool. and will.
= all respeces, have the sAne facilities
aeoeded them ~ the Han FrAnoioco
neeehant. Ths sstablishing Of o6leoe
y 6an ErAncisco Would indicate ehe
1mAn~ AsS~.. - . - Vs1na - A.
eAeiI ahare Of the OCEAN oommerco Tor |
thAlr Hne, and we know Of no good roa-
eou vhy In the Immediate future ocean
seam lines should not b. eatabliehed
directly between Asiatic portn and the |
voa1ern terminus oe The northeeu road.
II ~ are stating the true conditions of |
~ oase, them thero h no buaineGo man
Aoalifornia, and No owner Of property
vo11A the State, Who is mot directly In
euog1od In The inquiry whether there u
~ Femsdy for the loss Of trade. With
eeloan line frum the Columbia river |
cd Puget found 10 San Francisco, with
ntlroad uniting the valleys of the |
uaogamento and Willamette, and with |
eootinentL railroads, what advantage |
VII the San Francisco merchant enjoy |
osoe the merchant Of the no1thf In |
~ Of this condition Of thineA - can /
rely upon our boosted Superiority |
= ehmate. Commercs q rugged and |
lvASt worker, caring but little for /
!9At suns and soft breexes. it dedeo /
"A and snow, and thrivea beoe Whers |
l1oars Il ssernsst. Il will mot do 10 |
MAan superiority in coil or prediction,
= Z b an opsn question whether the
sseieurai empire, the CANARY OF ne-
IN d. uok Ia "a xha >ethOa ~.