The San Francisco call., 1896-04-03
down FROM HUMBOLDT.
John McCallan on Portland's
Attempt to Get Eureka's
Trade.
Terminal Rates on Freights Demanded
Above All Things-Donahue
Road and Lumber.

John McCallan, prominent financial
and business man of Eureka, Humboldt
County, is at the Grand. In speaking
about this part of California Mr.. Mccall
Ian, who is young, active and enterpris-
ing man, says Humboldt has suffered
probably more than any other county in
the State from the popularity of it's loca-
ton. Its position with regard to the more
thickly settled portions of California is
one of almost complete isolation, practi-
cally the only means of ingress or egress
being by steamer from San Francisco.
1.-THE terrors of a voyage to Humboldt
have usually been painted in very lurid
colors," said he, land, indeed, if the truth
must be told it is very often nasty trip,
which will try the heart of the bravest
and the stomach of the toughest. / have
seen men who considered themselves
quite brave turn pale with fright when told
that the steamer was heading for Hum
boldt Bar. In reality there is not the
slightest danger in crossing the bar in the
carefully navigated steamers plying be-
tween San Francisco and Eureka. Since
the Government has been improving the
harbor vessels of deep draught can enter
port any time, when in former years they
would be detained at sea awaiting tides;
so that the improvements tn our harbor
have been grand success.
sHere let me state that Hon. T. J. Gearv
of Santa Rosa is entitled to the credit of
making Humboldt Harbor what it is, and
had they sent him back to Congress he
would have secured another appropriation
that would have dredged the bay in ac-
cordance with its needs.
Northern California has never been
doomed and is undeveloped. The boomer
and climate-vender and manufacturer of
roseate pictures have not so far exploited
this northern coast settlement as they
have those of the south. yet the products
are among the best and richest in the
State. Even the most esthet;c lover of
flowers and climate must eat occasionally,
and if he knows what is good for him he
will not fail to use some of Humboldt's
choice butter.
Portland is reaching ont for business
along the northern coast. and has extended
its trade as far south as Eureka. Portland
merchants, l am reliably informed, have
been shipping large amounts of flour.
grain and similar merchandise to our
people. A leading merchant told me he
saved 25 cents per barrel on flour. Oar
people, as q matter of course, are more
friendly to San Francisco, the Portland
people being strangers to us.
"While in my opinion there is no imme-
diate danger OF San Francisco losing this
large trade, yet the main point at issue
with us is to provoke competition be.
tween the transportation companies so as
to secure terminal rates from Humboldt
Bay to inland and Eastern markets. The
lumber merchants cannot afford to ship
their products to the East because of the
high rates of transportation. We must
have terminal rates either by way of Port
land or San Francisco. The direction
from which these rates comes will of
course secure our trade.
"a transccntinental railway with
Western terminus at Eureka would bring
about the same result we are now working
for. / have every reason to believe that
the Donahue line, from this City to Ukiah,
will be extended north at an early date
1t would open up rich country and the
country would soon be populated with
thousands of homes.
1.-The mail service by steamship is good,
but by land it is bad. THE CALL by the