Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-06
THE OREGON RAILROAD.
The Great Importance to California of It's
Early Completion
Oakland Tribune, January SOth. !

The great work of building the Califor-
MIA and Oregon Railroad is little appre-
ciated by the people of California and
wholly unknown to the people of the East.
It's great importance tothis State is as little
appreciated as is the immensely of the
work to be performed, and the great cost of
construction. A trip over the route from
Reddlng to the present terminus, some
miles above Delta is not only one of the
most magnificent in respect to scenery on
this coast, but is convincing of the fact that
the projectors and builders are entitled to
the greatest credit in thus opening up
line of commercial communication be-
tween the States of California and Oregon.
through a mountainous wilderness coun-
try, trusting TO the future for compensation
for the large amount of capital sunk and
labor expended. At Redding the road en-
tiers the narrow canyon, cut through the
solid granite of the everlasting mountains
by the Rio Sacramento, winding along the
sides of perpendicular, precipitous noun
tain sides, where n goat could hardly find
footing. Four times the road crosses the
river between Redding and Delta, by we'll
constructed bridges, with granite abut-
ments, built in the most substantial and
costly manner-one of the bridges being of
iron. Besides these, there are numerous
bridges across the streams flowing into the
Sacramento river, all built in the same
costly and substantial manner Besides all
this, between Redding and Delta, dis
lance of some thirty miles, the mountains
are plercec by seven tunnels of different
lengths, the cost of which must have been
immense. But all these difficulties en-
countered and overcome by the great rail
road builders, constitute bat mere baga-
telle when compared with what stares
them in the face as they push northward-
tor at Delta the real great work of the route
commences. Did this road run through
populous country there might be some in
ducements to these men to spend their
money in graphing with the gigantic
mountains and canyons of the rugged
Sierras; but when We take into consideration
the fact that the road runs for hundred
and fifty miles through bowling wilder
ness, We can appreciate the enterprise of
these incompatible railroad builders.
Costly as this work has been, that is not
the only difficulty the builders have to en-
counter. During the present winter they
have had to overcome floods anu slides all
along the route. One single piece of road
washed away by the storms of December
last cost over $50 900 to rebuild And this
is only one instance. If any one supposes
that railroad building through the Sierra
Nevada mountains is child's play visit to
| the scene will dispossess the mind of any
such notions.
The advantages California will receive
from the completion of this great highway
| OF travel and commerce are untold. Had
this road been built ten years ago, or even
five years ago-and it could and would
have been built but for the lack of interest
| taken in the great work by the people OF
| this State; and, worse than that, the war
made b. the people of the State on all rail
! roads, threatening confiscation and even
destruction-we say, had this road been
built and constructed, as it should have
been done years ago, California would not
to-day be complaining of the loss of the
Oregon and Washington Territory trade
| The people of this State can thank them
| selves for this loss and CONSEQUENT stagna-
ton of California.
| But this is not all. The cranks are still
| at their foul work attempting even now to
stop the construction of this road. The
point OF assault now is an attempt to have
the land grant to this road forfeited. As
an inducement for the construction of this
most difficult road through a wilderness
country, Congress granted the company
| building the road the usual quantity of
lands as part compensation for the great
| undertaking. Admitting that the road was
| not completed within the time specified in
the Act granting the land, this does not
| change the business or the principle of the
Act. To forfeit the grant upon a mere
technicality, now that the work is being
| pushed with energy and at an immense
| cost, with certainty of completion within
the next year and half would be simply
an outrage-and no honest man would
seek to take advantage of such a techni-
| cality. Even the land grant is such a poor
! inducement for the construction through
such a country that there is not business
man in this State, or combination of business
| men who would, or could, have been in
| duced to tackle the enterprise, save the
| great railroad builders of the coast. If
Congress should listen to the proposition
and forfeit the grant, it might even now
stop the work, and the further completion
of the road be abandoned We believe
Congress will take a more sensible and lust
view of this important matter to the people
of this State, and extend the time for COM
plying with the Act two years, that the
great thoroughfare between California and
our northern neighbors may be completed.