The Placer herald., 1873-01-25
IMPORTANT TO FARMERS.

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adopted a petition to be signed by all inter
ested persons and forwarded to Congress.
This petition when generally signed III
neghborhoods should be addressed 10 United
States Senators Cole or Casserly, as they
are now the only representatives, the people
Of California have at Washington; S rgent,
Houghion and Coghlan being the reresen-
tatives Of the monopoly. After the 4h OF
March next they should be sent to Casser y
or Lutrell. 1t is not only the farmers OF
California that are interested in This matter,
but every man in The State, except the mere
railroad owners, are equally in proportion to
their carrying trade and travel the slaves OF
The monopoly. We append the petition il
a form That it may be cut out and attached
10 paper, ready for signatures.
FARMERS, PETITION 10 CONGRESS-.
ToTHE HONORABLE THE SENATE AND IloUsL
OF REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE I NITED STATES
lhe undersigned, your petitioners, respect
fully represent
That they are citizens Of the United States
and residents of the State of Cliiforna; that
they are interested in II reduction of freish
aud fares charged for transportation over the
railroads of the State and those extending
beyond the State in the direction Of Omaha,
that there being no competition, these charges
are TO certain extent ppressive; that, as q
part Of the people, their money has entered
nto The construction OF these 10 Ids; that the
lands granted to the several interpretations
operating these roads were part OF the pub
lie domain; that the bonds of the United
States and these lands, placed in the hands
OF such companies, were held hy them IL
rust for the construction of such roads, the
whole people being interested us lenelciAries; ;
HAT the managers Of these incorporation,
forget that they are trustees, and reat the
several roads as their own, discharged OF
such trust; that instead of executing then
trusts for th3 benefit Of the people, the road,
are managed with a view to private gam
merely; that scarcely any priya'o money
(compared with the whole COS J went m'o
the construction Of their roads, they having
been principally bull; and equipped by pro
ceeds OF the United States bonds or sale Of
lands donated for that purpose; that to the
amoult Of the funds advanced by the United
States and the proceeds Of the sale Of THEN
lands, the United States is the cquitabl,
owner Of the roads; that the Incorporation.
mentioned, as trustees Of an expressed trust
have not faithfully discharged The same, bu,
have diverted large sums from The building
md cqnipping Of such roads into heir private
Golfers, some of which is probably invested
n first mortgage bonds with view TO the
eventual acquisition Of HE roads to the eX-
clusion Of the lien of the United States for the
money advanced; that The people are interest
ed in preserving these roads TO the, public;
that the United States should in fact own
md operate in The interests Of tie peoplt
what the money Of The people has lhus
produced; that through the media OF Credits
MobiIier and Contract and Finance Comps
nios, or direct miaappIc ,lions OF TRUST funds q
the Government, large amounts Of the none,
Of the people have been misapproprit,ed :,
hat the N ,nasers Of the 70 IDS from such
moneys have suddenly bocomc men Of larg,
wealth; that mo Of the stock ot he Central
Pacific Railroad has passed into the hands OF
tIe managers Of that company, aud they ARE
enabled to hold it 10y the use of .those trlIsl
funds; that the people Of he United state,
re required 10 pay not only the interest on
he bonds loaned to the Government, hut all
security that the interest shall be plid on the
first mortgage bonds Of the companies; tha,
there is imminent danger that by means OF
these first morlg ge bonds the whole interest
Of the Government in these roads will bt
swept away.
W therefore, as n measure Of protection
to The interests Of the Government as we'll a,
10 rd ourselves of IA corruping, oppressive
monopoly, ask You at an early day to pass
IN act which sha! authorize the Attorney
General to file apprc pirate bills on the ,quit,
'lde in the proper Circuit Courts making
the case OF the Union Pac iic Il ,ro I'd Com
pAny and the Credit AlobilIer and every mem
oer thereof p,rties, and in the cls. Of the
Central Pacific making the Contract ana
Finance Company, with each member lhereot
parties, the scope Of which bill shall be:
FHst-Io ascertain the amount of none,
realized from bonds Of the United States ano
sale of lands donated for the construction O.
the railroad.
Second-'Io ascertain how much of this
money Went into the construction and equip
meut Of this road.
Thrd-liow much money so raised has
been diverted from the purpos IS Of the trus
reposed in these compAnies 10y Congress.
Fourlh-lnto whose hands such moneys
have been diverted.
Filth-How much money has been b,
these companies raised from operating sucl
road and how it has b en- used.
SiXih-To ascertain how much private
money went into the construction and equip
nent of the road, who advanced it, and vii,
now own the stock representing it.
Sevenlh-To compel all persons who hav,
any part of such trust funds to account fol
the same and payi over to the proper officers
OF the companies.
IipLtb--In t,l,o f.,lI .aaa,.... !