The record-union., 1894-05-25
California Unriyalled in the Va
riety of Its Products
The Trip To and Through California
as an Eye-opener-views of Gem
tIeman of Long Public Experience
and Intimate knowledge of Affairs.
From the TROY N. Daily Times

inquiry taLnlllarlZod themselves Will AV'
extent and resources, have any real con-
ception of its true meaning. A "GreaE
West' it is. Great in area; great IN the
amazing developments it has witnessed,
even within the recollection OF the pres
ent generation; greater still by far IN the
possibilities of the future. It's SOIL,
adapted to so wide variety of products,
both of necessity and luxury, for the use
of man; it's climate, for the most part
bracing and health-giving, with mildness
and salubrity in certain sections; and It's
vast mineral riches, including not only
the precious metals, but coal, iron and
others more valuable by reason of the
abundance of the supply and the uses to
which they can be put-these make up
combination giving assurance of wealth
and prosperity.
WORK OF THE RAILROADS.
1t is not the purpose of this article to
review at length ali the facts going to
make up the present and prospective
greatness of the West. The design is
rather to touch upon some salient points
as they have presented themselves in a
journey of 900 miles or more, especially
as regards the State of California. And
in the consideration Of these points
necessarily one is impressed at the very
first with the important part in Western
development borne by railroads.
A REPRESENTATIVE wEsTERNER.
Hon. Martin Maginnis may properly
be described as typical and representa-
tive Westerner. He was tor twelve years
Delegate in Congress from the Territory
of Montana. Later, when IL became
State. he was elected United States Sen
ator, though owing to contest over the
Office he failed to take his seat. For
thirty years he has been a resident of
Montana. He is prominent In all public
affairs connected the Pacific region and
its development and in regard TO the
business interests and population OF the
Pacific Coast. These interests first as
sumed importance on the discovery OF
gold in lS4S, when San Francisco, by its
location, naturally became the principal
port and city Of the coast. The inst
transcontinentaI railroad, the Union Pa
cific and Central Pacific, completed in
1868. added to the importance of San
Francisco and confirmed It's supremacy.
Now its trade is divided, as much Of it
is diverted TO Portland, Or, Seattle, Ia
coma and land cities to the north, and to
Los Angeles and to a less extent to san
Diego on the south. The Central tnow
Southern Pacific, which largely aided
San Francisco at the beginning, now
commands all the railroad approaches to
that city. The northern or land cities re-
ferred 10 are benefited by the competI-
ton OF the Northern Pacific, the Union
Pacific and the Great Northern from Du-
luth to st. Paui-all great railway sys-
TENS, bringing their traffic TO these
towns. Los Angeles, the metropolis OF
Southern California, has the benent OF
both the Southern Pacific and the Atchi-
son, Topeka and Santa te systems, and
these agencies are to a considerable eX-
do Ssar, oig.
FIVE GREAT TRANSCoNTIN ENTAIL SYS-
TENS.
In other words, there are five great
continental systems, of which the north
ern cities have the benefit of three, the
southern cities the benefit OF two-one of
the latter going to San Francisco, which
city has therefore the advantage of only
one. 1t might possibly overcome this
rivalry in measure by the construction
of line TO Helena, Mont, about 900
miles thus intersecting the three north
ern systems, with the chance Of further
advantage from the proposed extension
of the Burlington system to Helena But
San Francisco has not the capital for this
undertaking. These lines altogether en-
brace, with their lateral branches, from
20 600 to ., 600 miles of railway. Reach
ing out from the Mississippi westward
toward the Pacific we have this prodig-
ious aggregate OF mileage:
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.......... 9.346
Union racine 0,OoO
Great Northern 5000
southern racine. 5000
Northern 5000
BurlIngton..-........ 5000
36,346
Say 10000 miles of this are confined to
the Mississippi Valley, but all OF these
systems are tributary to the five trans
continental lines.
NOT ENOUGH BUSINESS.
What is there to sustain all these vast
railway interests, which represent capi
tai TO the extent of many hundreds Of
millions of dollars? Mr.. Maginnis ex-
presses the deliberate opinion that under
existing conditions there is not and can
not be for long time to come the business
development requisite to supply profit
able employment for all these lines. San
Diego has the best and it may be said the
only natural harbor except that OF San
Francisco on this coast. 1t would un-
doubtedly have attained great importance
if the natural plan OF the late Thomas
Scott for q direct trunk line from Calves
ton on the Gulf to San Diego had been
carried out; but the Southern Pacific de-
feated this scheme by laying its line
northward from Yuma, $50 miles east of
San Diego, directly to San Francisco, thus
thanking san Diego.
GREAT DEVELOPMENT NEEDED.
So much by way of an exposition of
the situation largely based upon informa-
ton furnished by Mr.. Maginnis, gen.
tleman whose long experience in bust
ness and public life, intimate knowledge
of this Western region and high eharac-
acter. i've the stamp of authority to his
statements. 1t may give the Eastern
reader some light as TO the condition OF
things in the Pacific region, as regards
the present stage in the development Of
its material interests, the facilities OF
transportation and the need of increased
population aud larger agricultural and
manufacturing activity TO assure profit
bic business III that locality.
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.
As to the Southern Pacific Company,
the great railroad corporation to which
aIiusion has been made above a letter
from headquarters will be OF interest as
affording q concise official presentation
of its magnitude and general character.
We therefore append tue following per-
sonal letter from Il. Il. Huntington, as
sistant 10 the President OF The company.
and one OF the most trusted and well-in-
formed gentlemen in the service:
southern Pacific Company-Offce Of
the President-San Francisco, Cal, March
Z. 1S94-My Dear Sir: l take pleasure in
offering you some general notes III regard
to the lines of the Southern Pacific Conn
pany ana the territory in which they are
located. The map submitted herewith
presents clear view OF all the company's
rail and water lines.
sThe territory occupied by the South
ern Pacific'S railroads extends from the
mouth OF the Columbia River. III Oregon
10 the delta of the Mississippi; the main
line between Portland and New Orleans
Daralleling almost the entire Pacific Coast
line of the United States, and traversing
nearly three-fourths of the southern
boundary of the Nation. The territory
f,ihllrarv 10 this and the colnpanyfs other