Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-07-13
The Railroad Bill.
MokELuMNE Hull, July 18th. 1856,

teristic of that paper, which said my nomina-
ton was one unfit to be made and gave
as the reason that was one of those who
voted in favor of the Railroad Bill, and worse
was one of the six who voted against sus-
tanning the Governors veto of that measure
With your permission will give the reasons
which at that time actuated me in voting as
did. Representing constituency south of
Sacramento, and believing the southern coun-
ties of the State were entitled to some assist
ance in developing their resources, as well as
those lying north of the Capital, 1 advocated
the passage of the Bill granting State aid to
the Western Pacific Railroad. The State
had already granted two and half millions
to the Central Pacific Road, which runs thro'
our northern counties, bill which was heart
lily endorsed by the Union. At the time of
Its passage one granting similar aid to the
Western Pacific also passed the Legislature,
which was vetoed by Governor Low. The
Union then favored the appropriation and
scored the Governor Justify for vetoing it :;
whence its opposition now: Simply because
it would interfere with the trade and pros
perity of Sacramento, and increase the i'm.
portance of Stockton and the valley of the
San Joaquin. The proposed route of the
Western Pacific was from San Francisco
through San Jose. ria San Joaquin. to some
point on the Central Pacific, above Sacra-
mento City. We proposed to connect the
Stockton and Copperopolis Railroad with
the Western Pacific. and thps have contin-
uous line from the great copper belt of Gala
veras to the bay of San Francisco. This
would have insured railroad communication
from tide water to Copperopolis. and thus
make the Big Tree road valuable as much of
the freight and travel for Alpine would 60
that way. 1t is well known to every intelli-
gent man in this progressive age. that rail-
roads are necessary in order to insure the
rapid growth of a country, the development
OF Its resources and cheap and speedy
transportation of goods. ores and passengers.
1t enhances the value of lands for miles on
either side of the route, and thus enriches our
| farmers, and adds to the amount of our tax
able property. 1t would enable our copper
miners to transport their ores at greatly re.
duced cost. and just now, when copper is so
depressed in the market, would be of i'm
mense advantage TO C0pperopolis and Campo
Seco. In the former place they are not
working one half the usual number of men.
while in the latter the mines are not worked.
as companies cannot afford to transport ore,
owing to the high price of freight. Railroad
communication at present would give EN-.
ployment to four OF five hundred hands who,
with their families, would add at least
thousand souls 20 our population. The build
ing of the track and depots would give en-
ployment to hundreds of laboreps and me-
chanics. while the additional railroad proper
ty would materially diminish our taxes. At
the time the Bill was before the Legislature,
Mayor Holden, of Stockton, who has done
more for the southern portion of the State
than any other one man, was in Sacramento
urging its passage; his arguments and my
own convictions convinced me that the road
would be advantageous to San Joaquin and
Calaveras, and believing so 1 advocated its
passage on the floor of the House. believed
at the time that the Bill was all that it pur-
ported to be, and certainly was not influence
ed by the Lobby or any one who had any ma
terial interest in its passage. 1t was under
stood that the Governor would sign 1t if it
>
went through, the papers in the interests Of
monopolies and capitalists set ap such
howl against it that he weakened and vetoed
it. Was this any reason why I should sus-
tain that veto After having become convinc-
ed that it would be beneficial to the section
which in part represented, / saw no reason
because the Central Pacific road, the Steam
Navigation Company. and the bankers Of
San Francisco. through their organs, the Alta
Bulletin and Union, with the smaller fry,
which always yelp when the big dogs bark,
opposed it, to succumb to wealth and influ-
ence. even if the Governor could not with
stand the pressure. If fifty Governors should
veto measures which considered right and
constitutional. would still be faithful to-
the trust reposed in me by my constituents,
and vote against them all. Let US see how
this matter stands now with all the aid re-
ceived from Government, the Western Pacific
could not be completed. and it has fallen into
the hands of the Central Pacific; work ON
the route has been stopped, as Sacramento
does not wish to see it prosecuted right
here we may see the reason why the Union
opposed State aid to the road. The Steam
Navigation Company has control of all the
steamers On the Sacramento.and San JOAQUIN
and can charge as much as it chooses for
freight and passengers. As matter of course
It would be opposed to railroad communica-
tion between the interior and San Francisco,
and its organs raised the cry of taxation. If
had been in the interest of any Of the great
corporations would have voted against the
measure. The Bill may have been a swindle;
if so was not aware Of the fact; some of the
best men Of TINS section of the State we're ad-
yocating its passage. The Union has moth
! ing to say against those who voted the same
amount on the $l06 as was proposed to be
lent to the railroad, for the erection of our
magnificent fsilure. the State Capitol. Oh
no, that was all right. for that will benefit
Sacramento; but If a man living in Calaveras
or San Joaquin votes for a measure which
will inure TO the benefit of his county, he is
unfit to be trusted. While on this subject,
pardon me ifi'mention few measures which
are considered beneficial to the country that 1
either introduced or voted for. The Bill
changing the time for holding a Congression-
al election from 1866 to 1867, saving the
State at least 800. 900 every two years, was
introduced by me; also memorial to Con-
gress, asking that body to give U. S. bonds
in lieu of the mineral lands granted to the
Central Pacific Railroad, and thus restore
the lands to the miners; since then see that
the Company will soon be in possession of
all the mineral lands extending forty miles
on either side of the track from Sacramento
to the summit. Would it not be better for
the miners to have those lands held for them
than to have them owned by powerful cor
poration thought so then and think SO
now. Iopposed scheme which the Union
allowed to silently pass, BY which speculat-
ors in soldiers warrants, who had bought
them up from 80 to 50 cents on the dollar,
took s550,000 Out of the State Treasury,
when volunteers about to be discharged
should have had the money. 1 voted for ev-
/ every narfy nea sure the Com 1