Year: 1860




7. D. JUDAH, Esq;--In reply to your let
ter of the Sd inst, asking for information
in regard to the prospect of business of a
railroad from the navigable waters of the
Sacramento to the mining districts of
Washoe, we have to state that, from our
observation and knowledge of the resour-
es of that section of the country, we should
deem it a safe calculation to say that no
railroad was ever contemplated in Califor-
mia with such fiattering prospects of large
and lucrative business, aid which prom ised
such universal benefit to the people of the
State


To go into details would occupy more
space than the limits of this hasty commu-
nication will warrant; but we think it safe
to estimate that such road will increase
the amount of business now being done
over the present route to the mining dist
ricts named very largely.


From careful inquiry and observation, we
find that, with the present limited facilities
of travel, there are not less than seventy
five persons passing over the road, to and
from, daily; and during that portion of the
season when the state of the roads permit
of the transportation of freight, we should
say at least fifty tons daily-increased facil-
tiles woul1 of course increase both the
travel and the quantity of freight going
forward


There are now probably forty to fifty mi
ming claims being worked, from which not
less than two hundred tons of ore are being
taken out daily. that would warrant sh ip-
ment at low rate of freight. There are
four first class mines, viz, the Ophir, Mexi-
can, Central and Gould Il Curry, that alone
are capable of turning out that quantity OF
ore, OF sufficient value to warrant transport
tation by railroad to this place for ship
ment.


| 1t is only necessary to furnish facilities
for cheap transportation, to insure the ope-
ming and working of hundreds Of rich claims
capable of tuning out all almost incredible
quantity of ore, every ton of which would
nee; with ready sale On its delivery at either
| terminus of the read. 1t is safe ealcula-
tion to estimate that FIVE hundred tons oi
ore daily would be sent over such road
at a rate Of freight not exceeding say S25
per ton. In fact, the only limit to the guam
tity would perhaps be the inability of the
road to do the business offered,


There are at the present timc a number
of agencies of eastern and foreign capital
armed with authority and means to purch-
ase, at remunerative prices to the producer,
ores of any grade, from 500 per ton and
upward but owing to the limited quantity
arriving, have not been able to purchase a
| fraction of the orders in hand. 1t is diff
cult to say what would be the limit to the
amount of capital seeking investment in
his channel. 1t is safe to say that five
thousand tons of ore could be sold for cash
at this moment, if it could be had.


In regard to the benefit to the State and
cities of California, that would arise from
the enterprise proposed by you, it is almost
impossible to calculate its extent. That it
would make it the richest and most prospe-
| rous State in the Union there is not doubt.
This new resource of wealth is unbounded,
and the only obstacle to its realization is
that which your project will most certainly
remove.


railroad such as you propose to bald
would, in our humble opinion, developc at
once the resources of the mineral wealth of
that section of country, of which but little
is yet known, and but the 1.-THE has been
told.


Very respectfully,


Your obedient servants.


OGDEN WILSON.