Year: 1872

Mr.. EDIToR:-- 1t is my decided i'm
preston that all Of the great railroad
enterprises which have furnished the
subject of excited discussion during the
past year in California will fall very
far short Of the great object sought to be
accomplished, viz that of complete Sc
curity against he evils and exactions of
monopoly. The most that any of these
could secure would be the control of one
end OF some through road. Beyond the
point of junction rates and fares would
be regulated by the connecting company.
None of these enterprises would pro-
mote to any great extent the mining
interests OF Nevada or make much more
available any ofthe undeveloped resources
of this State. Such being the fact, the
self interest OF the people, and especially
the business men of California and Ne
vada, should prompt them to look about
and see if they cannot devise more
advantageous project.


1t will be remembered that at first
there were two rival routes for roads to
the Pacific. To each company were
given donations of public lands, extend
ing along each line to certain north
and south line, beyond which the road
first completed to that line was to have
the benefit Of very liberal grant along
its entire length. Circumstances favor
ed the Union Pacific iu the contest
which ensued. Had the Atlantic & Pacific
been the successful party, the first over
land railroad would have crossed the
Rocky mountains through pass which
would lie almost directly west from Den
yer, going, probably. south of Salt Lake
City and through Central and Southern
Nevada to Walkers Pass, and from there
by the best rate to San Francisco. Wheth-
er this, as single line, would have been
OF any more benefit tc the Pacific Coast
than the present road may be doubtful;
but have no doubt that the completion
of the Atlantic and Pacific somewhere
near the line originally projected would
be more effective as protection against
monopoly, and more easilyaccomplished,
than any other mooted project. The
Atlantic and Pacific road has been com.
pleted and in operation for some years,
as far as Denver, and there is road of
three feet guage from Denver, at least to
Georgetown, which is we'll up towards
the pass over which, as I have said, it
was at one time expected that the first
Pacific road would be built.


The link which is to be supplied, to
make through road. in connection with
the Denver branch OF the Atlantic and
Pacific, Is that between Georgetown or
Its vicinity, and some road in California
extending from San Francisco to the
Southern part of that State. As to the
practicability Of that portion of the pro-
posed road which lies between the sum-
nit of the pass in the Rocky mountains
and the eastern boundary line OF Utah,
know nothing except from information.
IL Is said that the surface rocks have
been but little disturbed in that region.
but that the country has been deeply
eroded by the streams tributary to the
ureen or Colorado river. These, how
ever, follow course parallel with that
which the road would follow, and are
mol likely to prove serious obstacle


from the eastern boundary of Utah to-
.ne coal and iron mines of Southern
otan' now coming prominently into
nouce, ~ is safe to assume there can be
round practicable route. That the three
leet guage road from Phoebe to Bullion
Nlie VIII be rapidly extended to that
!:egon OF coal and iron is pretty sure. 1t
quite probable also that the immedi.
ste demand for coal in the base metal
districts west Of Phoebe will warrant ths
extension Of this road for some distance
IN tnat direction. OF these districts the
most prominent at the present time are
bristol, Eureka and Freiberg. Short
branches from the main line would give
connection with these And many other
aistrlcts Among the silver and cold min,
ing districts situated near the nronosed
road are Belmont, Silver Peak and Col.
:u"Dus whore there are extensive depos.
Esl r. ot o0lax are now worked with profit.
rssnersida. ~ Cerro Gordo and Lone Pine.
tr;o.O isis are besides these many other dis
"icts, some quite important. al7s 80
,oa., from this showing, It is evident that the
.1cai business Of the road, aside from
snat which would be furnished by our
Hwn i mines, would be at the outset very
large. AZ competing line for THROUGH
business, it would have no equal. This
assuming, Of course, that il is TO he
oullt and operated by an independent
company. With such road. OF three
.eet gauge. to Denver, tho commercial in.
.elests OF San Francisco would have such