The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-08-22
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.

Govorner Booth, OF California, made a
speech at San Francisco, last week
upon the above question, which was
a somewhat remarkable one, creating
quite a sensation, the points of which
were telegraphed through the land.
We reproduce a few OF them:
Iappeal to the experiences of every
business man in this community who
takes part or feels an interest in public
affairs, together with q committee ap-
pointed for the purpose of considering q
question of public Importance, the mo
ment it touches upon railroad ground,
how many will feel that it is a danger
Gus ground, full of pitfalls for their per
sonal saftey. Attempt an organization
to resist a railroad demand, no matter
how bold and inscriptions, and how
many will tell you that l should like to
join it; but it will injure me in my
business. The railroad can take away
from me a special rate and give it to
my neighbor; they can give an order
all along the line that none of their en-
ployes shall deal with us; they can ruin
merchants who refuse to obey their
orders. It may be a question of ruin, of
bankruptcy, Dr. of bread to my family.
The struggle of manhood is earnest and
painful, but the yoke is upon his neck,
the iron in his soul, and the ballot-box
is stuffed or the returns altered to carry
on subsidy. After this another man
will say, know it is wrong. 1t is an
outrage. My property is all in the city.
They cannot affect its ultimate value.
but it is mortgaged and they can un-
settle prices by their threat and / should
have the sheriff at my door," What in
;terest is there that cannot be made to feel
this iron pressure ? But If it were too
tedious to capture these several interests
n detail, they 60 to Congress and de-
mand the possession of Goat Island and
boast that they will get it. Reserved
Tor military purposes, they scarcely
intend to change its purposes. They
only intend to lombard the city instead
of its enemies when it refuses their de-
mand. God in Heaven! You are q
hundred thousand. but they are three;
have they got a hook in the jaws of this
leviathan to draw as they pleasee
Down in the country the farmers will
tell you that the rates may be changed,
their depots moved, their accommodate
tons restricted, or that they are living
upon railroad sections with imperfect
titles, and that they too are In the tolls.
! have said nothing of the 224. 600, 600
acres of public lands-three times the
area of Great Britain-given to rail-
road corporations, and also that at the
last session of Congress bills were intro
duced giving l89. 900. 900 more. / have
made no reference to the 3,0OO,000 this
State and it's counties have been asked
for by railroad companies through legis-
lative action and popular votes, nor to the
fact that while the general government
is paying . 100000 per annum for the
bonds Of the Central Pacific, and the
State e105. 600. the company can success
fully defy the State to collect its taxes, |
and. with IN effrontery that il sublime, |
makes the gifts and largess it has re-
one Of the grounds for its refusal
10 pay.
The fact Is that today there is not a
piece or speck of public property from
China basin and Goat Island to all the
broad acres Of our main land, from the
emotest point in the mountains TO the
waters Of the rivers Of the plains,