The record-union., 1895-09-10

gregated but s, 1862.
Sacramento also led San Francisco by
close on 500 tons. the latter's shipments
amounting to 5,722 tons.
| If these figures do not show Sacramento
to be railroad center of the State they
certainly have no significance at all. The
shipments from here were in detail as
follows:
Borax 40 tons, brandy 9, canned goods
49. dried fruit III, green declduous fruit
1885, grain 1lS, groceries 7. hides 3s.
horses SO. leather 95. lumber 142, machin-
cry 13. miscellaneous. 75 ores 1921, pota-
toes 92l, quicksilver Z, saddlery and hsr-
ness 4. canned salmon II, sheep 80, vege-
tables 53l. wine 555. wool (grease) 1o9,
wool (pulled) "a. wooden goods 8.
The transportation by river also cuts
very important part In the commerce of
portation Company employs eight steam
ers and a large number of bsrges in
handling the traffic Of the upper river
and in the trade between Sacrame ento and
San Francisco. The grain traffic from up
river points constitutes the principal part
OF the company's business. Some idea
may be gained of the magnitude of this
feature from the fact that in 1894 the COM
pany handled lis, 293 tons of wheat. The
Southern Pacific Company also maintains
fleet of boats plying the waters of the
Sacramento and Feather Rivers, making
daily trips between Sacramento and San
Francisco, beside q regular service with
| Marysville and intermediate points. The
company also has several fruit and vege-
table boats plying between Sacramento
and points on the lower river. The COM
pany does very large business in the
shipment of merchandise from San Fran
cisco for Sacramento and interior points,
freight from the latter being forwarded
from here by rail.
| During 1894 there were shipped from
Sacramento to the Eastern markets 5, 1874
cars of fruit and 7l2 cars of vegetables.
and when to this quantity is added tho
immense amount of fruit and vegetables
taken by local and San Francisco cam
/ neries and otherwise used at home, some
idea may be formed Of the vast yield OF
the district tributary to Sacramento.
This showing. at a time when almost
every other city in the State is complain
ing of business depression. speaks vol
umes for the solid mercantile strength of
our city and the Incompatible facilities
for transportation which are of such vital
importance to the upbuilding of mer-
camille metropolis.
1t will thus be seen that Sacramento
trade over leading lines OF transportation
and by the river, which traverses the en-
tire length of the Sacramento Valley,
reaches out north. east. west and south,
and that its commerce is over an area,
within California, exceeding that of the
States OF New England, while it has con-
nections with territory extending from
Mexico on the south to Washington on
the north, and from the Pacific shores on
the west to the Rocky Mountains on the
east AS an output of supply develops
an import also, it will be seen that Sacra-
mento is the natural market for an en-
pire of productive territory, and that it is
certain to develop into one of the most
important markets for products upon the
coast as the country becomes settled and
more and more of land is brought under
cultivation.
| 1t is for these reasons that Sacramento
is the chief fruit and produce shipping
point upon the coast. 1t is the most con-
venient and the most central point at
which to gather in these products for
| shipment eastward, and in the matter of
| vegetable produce for supplying the States
of Nevada. Idaho and Wyoming, and the
Territory Of Utah.
The completion of the California and
Oregon Railroad, forming a trunk line of
transportation from Puget Sound to the
Gulf OF Mexico. with Sacramento as its
chief central station, was an important
event in our commercial history, and one
of the highest Importance. and justifies
second reference to it. The line is located
through the rich and pOpulous district
EN- mbraced within the counties of Tehama,
Butte, Sutter, Yuba and the agricultural
portion of Placer County. The extension
of the line into Oregon completed the
connection of the California system Of
railroads with that of Oregon and Wash
ington.. By this line the fertile and
productive regions Of the Willamette,
Columbia and Puget Sound are placed in
communication with this city. The line
becomes successful competitor with the
ocean for carrying the trade of the region
traversed by it, and is the channel of
large commerce. While this commerce
was carried by the way of the mouth of
the Columbia and the Golden Gate, Sac
ramento could hope to enjoy but linn
tied share. With the completion of the
connecting line of railroads Sacramento
is able to offer superior inducements to
the trade of Oregon and Washington.
For all trade developed by that line and
carried by it, Sacramento will sustain a
primary relation. The route of carriage
from this point will be cheaper and
shorter. Orders for renewals of stock
can be filled in less time. The freight
from San Francisco to this city can be
saved. In short, the inland commerce
with that section developed by the rail-
road has it's chief seat here by the force of
all the reasons which grow out of supe-
rior facilities OF communication. The
relations of Sacramento and San Fran
cisco, SO far as applicable TO inland COM
merce, are now reversed, and Sacramento
becomes the base Of supplies for the Sec
ton under consideration.
THE REASONS WHY