Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-30

county A,UUO, IHdklDS lOtdl Oh SouU,uUV.
These two corporations became stock
holders, paying for the stock with their
bonds. The county had a majority and
for time had control of affairs. naming
the officers of the corporation. Unfortu-
nately this money was only enough to build
the road to Shingle Springs. AT this
time another competitor appeared in
the field, in the shape of the
National Government, which at that par
tlcular time saw the necessity for trans
continental railway, and in order to secure
it gave large loans of bonds and grants of
public lands. Some said the construction
OF a road across the Sierras was impractical
bic. However, in Sacramento were found
men of capital who were willing to risk
and did risk their private fortunes in this
enterprise. The men who had constructed
these magnificent grades and turnpikes
over the Sierras laughed at the idea of
building a railroad over the Sierras
at all, and were satisfied that such
thing could not be accomplished
over the Dutch Flat route. If it
were within the possibilities to cross the
Sierras at all, it must be via Placerville.
Ell Dorado men were mistaken. The rail-
road engineers surveyed the Dutch Flat
route, the road builders followed and soon
the iron horse that climbed the western
slope from the Sacramento valley was
scampering across the plain of Nevada be-
yond the Sierras. When the Central
Pacific had reach point high enough in
the mountains to command the Comstock
freight. our little road was almost stopped
and the graded turnpikes of our mountains,
that it had cost millions of dollars to con-
struct, were rendered almost worthless
Ell Dorado county, this section, went to
sleep twenty years ago. and to-day she
awakens from a Rip Van Wrinkle sleep.
Here in this grand excursion train is the
evidence of our awakening. What we
must now consider is, what bearing will
the bringing of this road into Placerville
have on its future prosperity. The
topography, the scenery of this section our
visitors have it laid before them to-day in
all its panoramic splendor. You can gaze
upon our vineyards, our orchards, our
immense forests, the Sierras beyond capped
with the SHOWS of many winters, can
breathe an atmosphere of perfect purity and
enjoy climate unsurpassed.
We have water and soil. Our county is
threaded with pure, crystalline living
streams, and if necessary, by storing pro-
cess, our water supply can be increased ten
fold.
We have 1 ,250. 900 acres of land within
as the State of Delaware, and larger than
that of Rhode Island. A large percentage
of this area is capable of raising fruits and
vineyards equal to any other section in
California.
We must, however, not forget one thing
fruit cannot be raised in this nor no other
country without labor. A country where
nature is the only producer, and where the
native lives upon that which grows natur-
ally, it has been truthfully said Of that class
of beings, they are neither fit for earth nor
heaven"
1t is a well known fact that those coun-
tries that have produced the highest civil
iZation are those where man must work or
die. What we must first do is to bring our
land and water together. We have seen
enough from efforts in the past to estab-
ish the fact that this county with its su-
perior advantages is capable of supporting
large population. We must have
q market for our products. The products
of our soil are dependent for their value
upon the demand. We can now place them
on the cars at our own doors and follow
them to Sacramento. There they radiate
to the north, east and south. Following
them they go to the banks of the Missouri
and Mississippi, where thew branch off to
the lakes on the north, the gulf on the
south and the Atlantic seaboard on the
east. The railroad gives us the entire con-
tinent for market. Plant more fruit and
your larger production will bring cheaper
transportation. Time is working out better
results in freight rates than all legislation
conceived can ever do. Immigrants are
coming to our coast by thousands, and the
goods they require from the East now are
more than three t-anscontinental roads
= n,,u A. !.
calculation. We will have any number of
transcontinental roads, and the day will
come when the cost of transportation of
fruit to the Atlantic coast will not be one
tenth Of what it is TO day
He made a strong appeal to the native
sons and daughters of Ell Dorado to till the
soil. They have a land of which thev
should be proud. Cultivate your native
hills and GALES with your hands assisted
by the experience OF your parents snd
with all the judgment your intellect can
bring to bear. Build up happy homes and
in those homes will be found all the pearls
of happiness obtainabe in this life.
We have with US to- day the Governor of
the State of California and to him, on be-
half of the people of this city. we bid
hearty welcome. To the Mayor of Sac
ramento and the President of her Board of
Trade the same cordial greeting is ex-
tended, as it is to all the people of the
Capital City who have this day honored US
with their presence.
Sacramento has had a history, one that
should teach all men to be ever ready TO
defend his home from the elements. He
gave a brief sketch of the fires and floods of
1852, and said many Of her citizens were
discouraged, and some proposed to pull up
and leave and go to Sutterville. Others
and they were in the majority, said, 4" No !;
we came to stay and stay we will" They
rebuilt of brick and surrounded themselves
with an earthen wall. Again, in 1861. 2.
the town was flooded Again was there cry
to give up, bot brave hearts, for which that
city has ever been Noted, raised their streets
and again raised the earthen walls, and to-
day she is safe from the elements, the Sec
ond city in California, and no telling what
she will be in the future.
Ell Dorado always stood by Sacramento
In the palmy days of this county, when
her representation in the halls OF legisla-
ton was power, her vote was ever given
to the Capital. We know we have the SYM
pathles of Sacramento, the best wishes of
her pubic-spirited citizens and her press,
and who could ask for better expression
of her loyalty than we have in this i'm
mense excursion today. We wish you all
hearty and cordial welcome. [Cheers
SPEECH OF Mr.. sTEFFENs.
Mr.. Carpenter then introduced as the
next speaker Joseph Steffens, President of
the Sacramento Board of Trade
Mr.. Steffens stepped forward in the
midst of great applause and spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Chairman, and Friends Of Pdcerpdle. In
behalf of the citizens of Sacramento and the
delegation in general, it is my pleasure to accept
your hospitable welcome and join with you in
the rejoicings of this bright and happy day
After many years of hopeful waiting the Cap
ital City is at last joined to your historical gem
of the mountains by those endurable steel
bands that are the index of prompt and rapid
communication, that crowning feature of mod
ern human accomplishment
1t is not possible for you to be more pleased
or interested in this good and lasting hnion
than are we, who have known you so long and
so well. [Applause
1t is not necessary at this our first through
train meeting to review the general reciprocity
benefits that are hereafter to be yours and ours
in consequence of this desirable consummation
suffice it to say, that at last we are as one
more-and we meet as two communities sharing
in one common JOY and destiny.
On our train to-day are young men and wo-
men that were born in your midst and now for
the first time return to old homes and associ-
ations of their childhood Therefore we re-
ceive your welcome as friend greets friend, and
relative meets relative; this is the special pleas
ure of intelligent association and the very Jewel
OF human life.
Then let us rejoice as one soul that we live at
this favored day and in this most favored
country. Rich as any other land in religious