Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-07-19
ut substantial good will in some way come Of
he agitation NV going on over il.
OTHER REMEDIES NEEDED.

ut substantial good will in some way come Of
The agitation NV going on over il.
OTHER REMEDIES NEEDED.
There are, however, some other things needed
here even more than a second railway across
the continent In the first place. the state
wants a much larger population OF intelligent
lahorers, permanently interested in her welfare
as real property owners. The condition OF
things existing here now Is much like that which
prevailed in the southern states before the
rebellion, except that latOr is hired instead OF
owned. The tendency therefore is entirely
toward large farms or ranches, owned by a few
rich individuals or Incorporated companies
Hired labor is constantly in demand, at good
wages, but no encouragement is held out 70
small Landowners who would till their grCund
with their own labor, thus ensuring more careful
cultivation and larger crops, and adding 20 the
general wealth and business of the common
wealth. Without this element in her population
no agricultural state can ever become truly
great and permanently prosperous. Next, she
needs a system of local railroads 10 connect the
rich valleys and foet- hills in every part OF the
state with the commercial center. Through
this means only can the present great cost
of communication and transportation be
reduced and material resources OF every
character be properly developed. She must
have, also, circulating medium OF
smaller denomination than any now IN COM
mon use here, TO the end that her labor ing
population may be able TO purchase the minor
neeess2ries OF everyday lite without being sub
jected to a swindling shave OF from Ten TO
thirty-three per cent. in every all Transaction
Two or three pennies are not much in them
selves, but when the operation comes TO ba
repeated severel times day il Is pretty serious
business for the family that has to live on she
daily wages of its head Finally, she needs
freer and sharper competition in nearly all
branches business A 81 = ay
interest, however small. il in the hands OF small
rings or combinations of middle-men. It will be
found that nearly every thing entering into the
economy OF everyday life Is controlled by
some particular individual or company;
and If their exactions are any less harsh and
their policy less oppressive than those OF the
much decried railroad company, IL is only be-
cause their capacity is smaller and their sphere
of operations more circumscribed. As proof on
the latter point need only cite the fact that
with the almost fabulous abundance OF fruit
and vegetables here, with tons OF the best rot
ting under the trees, decaying in the ground
or becoming stale in the stalls OF the dealers,
the cost OF most OF them. necessaries as well as
luXuries, is greater laid down at the door OF the
housekeeper in San Francisco than the same
articles can be bought for i'm Washington or
most OF the cities n the eastern states.
IL the people of California will only face the
whole situation as il is, and then muster the
courage TO apply the remedy all round, they
will have, feel convinced, far ess TO fear than
they now seem TO apprehend from the much
dreaded firm OF Stanford Il Co. They doubt
less need reforming, but a good many other
things ought to be abolished entirely.
GOAT ISLAND.
have said good deal about the railroad
row, but up to this point havn't mentioned
Goat Island. Now, a letter from San Francisco
at the present time without anything on this
subject would be very much like a letter from
Boston during jubilee week without mention of
the jubilee. 1 therefore take space TO refer to
it, If only briefly. In the first place, don't see
very clearly why the railroad company should
want the island; and in the second place, can't
understand why Congress should be willing to
sell or lease it, much less 10 give il or any pOr-
ton OF 1T as free-will offering to any corpora
ton, rich or poor. Its use for railroad purposes
as proposed could hardly fail to be injurious to
navigation in the bay, and at the same time il
would be alike announcement to the travelling
public and damaging to the business and future
prospects OF San Francisco. But above ana he
You'd these consider stiors, il should ina my Judy
ment be retained by the government intact and
without divided jurisdiction for the purpose 81
tending at once almost the only good harbcT
on the western coast and the commercial inter
ests Of the country so largely conferred here. |
am not interested in the stock of the railroad or,
the one hand nor in property in the CITY on the
other, and that's the way the thing looks 10
me. X.