The Sierra citizen. [volume] (Downieville, Calif.) 1854-185?, 1854-12-30
Written for the Sierra Citizen.]
Steamship Monopoly.

Steamship Monopoly.
Permit me to wish you Merry Christ
mas. The courtesy which / have fire.
quently noticed in your excellent paper,
You extend to strangers, is the only apollo
gy can offer for entering your sanctum
by letter. I am aware of the vexations to
which an Editors life is exposed, by the
constant influx to his study Of commune
cations upon almost every variety Of sub
jects, each Of which asks for perusal, and
what is more, but not less perplexing, the
continual ingress Of gentlemen loafers,"
who call to while away an hour or two
with the editor.
was.highly gratifed with reading your
remarks in recent number of the Citizen,
upon the subject Of Steamboat and Steam
ship monopolies. Your comments res
pecting the Merchants of Marysville were
lust. The enterprise, energy and moral
courage Of the Merchants Of Marysville
should and will be appreciated, by all who
become acquainted with the difficulties
under which they commenced their opera
lions, the energy with which they prosecu-
ted them, and the moral courage they have
displayed in boarding the lion, the mon
eyed Steamboat Monopoly, in his den. 1t
requires courage to do right. 1t requires
courage to attempt to bring hugo mo-
nopoly, supported by an immense capital,
within the bounds of decency, reason and
common sense. Such corporations, soul
less themselves, can exercise no charity
towards those who have souls. Greedy,
extortionate, craving and avaricious mon
sters, they clutch the last quarter in every
mans pocket. With such a monster the
merchants of Marysville had to grapple,
and they came off victorious. With such
a monster, but greater, Californisns will
be compelled to contend, in selfdefence.
The challenge is already given to Califor-
MIA, by the great Steamship monopoly run
ming between the cities of New York and
San Francisco. They say virtually to
Californians, 1--WE know you are DESTROYS of
having your friends, your brethren, your
wives and your children come to you, from
the Atlantic States, and we know that it
is for the interests of California that they
should come, but the Pawnees, the Sioux,
the Crows and Cheyennes will prevent
their coming to you, across the Plains
next season, and if you wish to have your
sunny California settled, you cen just pay
us $3.50 apiece for settlers, or you can't
have them, that's ALL"
1t does not require the wisdom of
statesman to foresee that such monopoly
will, if suffered to continue, seriously pre-
JUDGE the best interests of California. The
population Of this State is now probably
about 100000. Suppose that each Of our
citizens came to the State by water. and
paid for cabin passage, at the rate of prices
charged by the present monopoly. OF
course all would prefer a first class passage,
if in their power to get it, to being looked
upon, and treated as but little better than
dogs, for taking a lower. The cost of
transporting our citizens here would
amount to sl05, 100000. sl T.
One hundred and Eve millions Of dollars
is quite little amount, even for Califor-.
MIA to pay, California is rich, but such
course of things will tend to impoverish
her. BUTT is not direct pecuniary bene-
fits, at which we should look in contempla-
ting this matter. in California, both
as State and people are interested in
the subject. The State needs more inhab-
itants, in order that its vast resources may
be developed. We wish our brothers, our
wives, our sisters and friends to come to
this land Of natural wealth, that their pc
cuniary interests may be advanced; that
the name of home may be attached to, and
felt in Oalifornia, and that by the influence
Of homes the moral atmosphere of Califor-
MIA may become as pure as is now the:
cloudles sky which encrcles her. I dare
not now picture the enchanting lovelines
of California home, If all those dear ones
were here to make it. But we and the
State must have them here, and we and
the State ought 70 prevent the imposition
to which they are subject, in coming to
our country on the Steamships Of the pre-
sent monopoly. Hcan be done; it should
be done! California can do it; we can
do il! Whist can be done with capital,
California can do! s
You will probably recollect the forma-