The Shasta courier., 1860-04-14
The San Francisco Bulkhead.

We are indebted to Assemblyman White for
copy of the Parsons Bulkhead Bill as amended
in the Senate previous to passing that body. We
have read it with care, and are pleased to state
that isimuch less obnoxious than in its original
shape Nevertheless we yet consider it inhn-
itey the wors! piece of favoriteism, the most OBJ
noxious specimen of special legislation ever at
tempted in any State in this Union. To US it
seems monster of such hideous mien that, to
be hated, needs but to be SEEN"
True, it will certainly secure the building of
a Bulkhead-a work which, from the testimony
taken as a whole, we believe necessary TO the
preservation of the harbor of San Francisco
But then the same work can be procured on
terms trebly as favorable to the State or city as
those nominated in the Parsons Bill. Legisla-
tors should act for the benefit of the State or
city in this matter, precisely they were act
ing for themselves. Ifany of them had house
to build, he would most assuredy let the con-
tract for building it to the lowest competent
responsible bidder. He would accept that most
favorable to his own interests. Most certainly
he would not, for the sake of beneftting friend
give him the contract for building his house for
the sum of $4,000, when another builder had
agreed to do the same work for SIS 900.
Now, the members who favor the Parsons Bill
are doing precisely what we contend they would
not do, if they were acting for themselves indi-
sidually. Responsible parties, we are informed
stand ready to build this bulkhead in from
t'centy.four to thirty months, for the revenues
thereof for term ofyears, net less than ten nor
more than t~enty. Why, then, give Levi Par
sons, and lot of Frenchmen, subjects of Louis
Napoleon, the exclusive right to build the work
sir years to do it in and the revenues thereof for
term of fifty years? What have these men
done for the State that they should be made the
recipients OF such munifcent franchise? Who
are Levi Parsons Il Co., that they should be
made the pets of a Democratic Legislature p
Surely they must have at some time accomplish
ed something wonderful for either the party OF
State-something of inestmable value; other.
wise Democratic Legislature would not have
trampled upon one of the fundamental principle:
ofthe party" Opposition to Monopolies"
invested them with the most magnificent fran.
chise ever bestowed by an American Legisla.
tare.
We have read the very able and ingeniou;
speeches delivered by the friends of this BILL
But we confess that these naked facts-tha
Levi Parsons & Co. given the right to build
the Bulkhead, sir years to do it in, and the rev
enues thereof for fifty years, while other ant
perhaps better men stand ready and eager to dc
the same work in ttco years for the revenue:
thereof for the period of from ten to t,eenty year,
we repeat, we confess that these naked start
ling facts drown their noisy defamation, anC
render hideous their ingenious sophisms.
We do not believe that any friend of the Par
sons Bill can give good reason why this Bulk
head should not be let, in sections, to those per
sons who will agree to build it for the rerenae
thereof for the least number ofyears.
OF course we attribute no dishouorable mo
tives to those legislators who favor this bill. w,
doubt not they are acting honestly. So far a
Senator Logan is concerned, we take the libert,
of hurting back with scorn the reflection ndi
rectly cast by the San Francisco press, upol
the motives actuating him. We know not th
views of a majority of his constituents touchin,
this matter. They have never in any manne
eought to direct his vote on this question. Hav
ing full confidence in his rectitude, they are viii
ling that he shall follow the dictates of his iudg
ment. In writing upon this question, we smp
express our own views. without the least inten
tion of calling in question the motives of an
one. We think the work should be given to tn
lowest responsible bidders, which this bill doe
not do. We think it wrong to grant to indi
viduals any franchise for so long term a
half century. That is too long period 70
legislators to presume to look into Fifty year
hence the city of San Francisco unless in th
mean time swallowed up by an earthquake, vii
be ten times its present size-the revenue fror
this franchise ten times as great as now-th
authors of this bill dead and turned to dust i
their graves-leaving a new generation groanin
beneath the oppression of monster created a
the instance and for the benefit of a lot of Frenc
capitalists, who then themselves will be dea
and furned IN dust in THAR erravaS