Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-10
EAsT-sIpE TRIBUTARIES.


On the east of the Sacramento river,
from Marysville, on the California and
Oregon line, the California Northern Rail
road runs to Oroville, the heart of citrus
fruit section now developing into new and
great Importance and which is attracting
much attention on the part Of investors.
The Thermalito Colony people, near Oro-
vile, propose 10 construct line OF railway
from Oroyille to Biggs, on the line of the
California and Oregon road From Red
ding, on the California and Oregon road,
it is proposed by the people Immediately
affected, to construct a railroad to Fall
river. If built it will open up fine agri-
cultural, mineral, lumber and stock section.
On the line of the Central Pacific from
Colfax, the Nevada County Narrow Gauge
Railroad runs to the prosperous cities of
Grass Valley and Nevada. City, relating
Sacramento directly to the trade of fine
section of lower range mountain lands, of
horticultural and mineral wealth
THE COMMERCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THESE
RAILROADS
As they relate to Sacramento As great
national trade center and leading shipping
point, would be pleasing theme to give in
detail if space permitted. 1t will be seen
at glance how admirably the city is
situated to command, rs it Is doing, an
immense trade. We have in this sketch
made no reference to the several lines of
road connecting with the Central Pacific
beyond the Sierra range, and which all
contribute trade to Sacramento; nor have
we dwelt upon the southern connections,
nor yet the important topic-which col
umns would not serve to exhaust-of the
great railroad artery connecting the Co
lumbia with the Gulf of Mexico, and
uniting the greatest river of the North
with the Father of Waters at its mouth
in the extreme South. This artery, now
complete, throbs with commerce of i'm
mense volume and immeasureable import
ance, and Sacramento is upon its very
center. 1t will develop the great central
valleys Of California, and make them TEEN
with millions of prosperous people; and in
the very heart of this region, midway be-
on either hand, is the city of Sacramento,
commanding by rail, east, west, north and
south, trade second only to that of the
metropolis, and blessed not only with rail
facilities and connections unsurpassed
upon the coast, but enjoying also the chief
seat of Importance upon the principal
navigable river of the State.
Succeeding the earlier days, and the
primitive condition of the market for sup
piles in the interior Of the State and the
foothill and mountain districts, as settle
ments and habitations became fixed, Sac
ramento was the market town for the ter
ritory reaching northward nearly TO the
Columbia, southwark to the barrier noun
tains of Inyo and Alpine, east to the des-
erts of Nevada, and westerly to San Pablo
bay. For the great valley Of the Sacra-
mento, the hundreds of mining towns in
the Sierras, the busy villages on the agri-
cultural plains, the farmers in the foot
hills, the miners in the gulches, the lum-
bermen on the mountain SUBMITS, here
was their chief and most accessible mar
ket; here they poured out their pleuteous
wealth.
THE COMING OF RAILROADS.
But as Sacramento's prosperity at this
time was due to the advantages it held by
being the terminus of water transportation
and the absence of other means of ship
ment of goods, this advantage, through
public necessity, passed away, with the
completion ef the Central Pacific and
other railroads. The people were then left
free to chose their market place, and Sac
ramento for the first time was placed in
the lists fog legitimate commercial encoun-
ter. But the spirit which had borne her
through fire and flood was equal to the oc-
casion. The transition period vas brief
but bitter, and the business of the city
came out OF the test ordeal confident, self
reliant and determined, and since con-
quered victory upon the basic principles
of commerce and trade.
How this has been done is matter of
history which might be recited with par
donable pride. The business men of Sac
ramento, and the more thoughtful of her
citizens not engaged in trade, began to con-
slider her position the moment it was found
that she mast meet With sharp competition
and contend for trade. They recalled the
TACT that It is the contributing trade which
supports tewa that this must be secured,
and that what Sacramento already had
must be retained, if she Sas to advance to
prosperous future. This trade could
only be had by convincing large number
OF the people E.earest to Sacramento that
this market was the best Cor them. This
could not be a aloomplished unless indeed it
was the best.
THE ARGUMENT OF GAIN
Is convincing ene, and il it could be
shown that there was gain 20 the buyer,
the buyer would venture Convinced them
selves that the city possessed great trade
advantages, they began by representation,
by voice and pen. BY personal solicitation,
and by the force of undeniable price-lists,
to advocate the claims of the market. The
older houses, already having much trade
which vas not likely to leave them. bent
their energies to the task of aiding the
new houses, and of enlarging the general
business circles of the city. Advertising
persistently was one of the most potent