The new daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1872-1873, 1873-02-28
WISE AND LIBERAL.

The following, which is a copy OF
The Report of the Minority OF the
Committee on Federal Relations to
whom was referred Assembly Bill
No. 4, which provides for certain ac-
ton prejudicial to the Railway inter
ests of this State, is so wise III Its
conclusions and so fair in its tone as
to be we'll worth reproduction here.
The majority of the said committee
having recommended the passage OF
the bill in question, the minority re-
port as follows:
To tie Honorable Assembly
The undersigned members of the Committee
on Federal Relations, to whom was referred AS
;embly Bill No, l. IAN Act to Amend an Act Ell
tiled an Act to provide for the Incorporation OF
Sailroad Companies and the management i the
.tfairs thereof and other matters relating there
90 dissent from the majority report o1 your
committee for the following reasons:
Eirst-That assuming it AL imperative neces-
sity that the State of Nevada needs railroads,
IS unwise legislation to predicate now favor
ible report for the reduction OF frelShts ana
ION of one single railroad alone i'll the State OF
Nevada. ,,+,,
INA. the Virginia and Truckes RalIrosd, being
he only incorporation now in successful opera
ion in the State whose rates would be Affected
without any question in the minds of the uIl-
lersigned by the passage of this Act, is running
and transacting business to the great ADVANTAGE
Of the western portion of the State OF Nevada
me its various interests, both mercantile ana
mining to wit: That it supplies merchandise
- in, hot Winter Summer
ole, wood timber and supplies to its mines both
Winter and Summer, and ores to Its mills
thereby keeping i'll constant operation al KS va
lous ana great industries the whole yeaI round
10 the benefit of its laboring population, and to
the advantage of the State in its Increased bull
lion productions.
Second-That railroads wholly i'll the State are
experiments; and from the inclplent conoltlon
ii such enterprises, there is lack OF any good
information, in the minds OF the undersigned,
WHY such a bill should pass when the eastern
.itions of the State are clanorlnS tor rallroads
asa relief for the isolation OF their many rich
aiming communities; and the investment OF
capital in their several railroad enterprises has
been predicated entirely upon the existing legal
rates of freights and fares.
Third-That the passage of this Act will par
alive the many proposed railroad enterprises,
particularly in the eastern portion OF the state,
or At least retard the building of such roads;
and no experience of the operation of any rail-
road in localities SO sparse OF populatlon, go
entirely unpr )ductlve III agricultural prooucts'
or any products except alone minerals, mas oeen
less adduced before your committee to sustain
the belief that railroads could be operated, eVeu
at the maximum under the proposed amend
ment in that section OF your state
Fourth-That it it is not wise Legislation to
prematurely pass laws of a binding character,
as regards freights and fares, without posittoefy
knowing that railroads can be built and operat-
ed under the existing law, successfully, III at
least more than one small section OF this State.
Fifth-That leaving out OF consideration the
Central Pacific Railroad, a corporation of Cali
fornia, and operating now under franchise OF
the United States, it being disputed II such an
amendment would reach them III thslr taflf1,
the undersigned believe it would be better to
encourage any and all railroads to be built by
private enterprise in the State of Nevada, by
the presence of the existing laws. mat 1t
would be reasonable to have, under the moor
poration laws OF Nevada, at least TWO operating
railroads, SO that in forming Judgment upon the
maximum rates Of fares and freight. direct
proof may be had of their profits. their cost, op-
Grating expenses, and the many contingencies
of their business based upon the condition OF
the mines and mining communities they con-
meet with.
Sixth-The only inducement to build rail
roads in the State OF Nevada is rich mining
district where several districts would be con-
nected; and it is conceded that the value OF
mines is very precarious, changeable with
every foot Of development, and that alone upon
the favorable looks of mines depend the num-
Der of people of any district, its pros
perity, its absolute rise Or fall. Railroads,
though assisting in the development OF our
mining localities, by easy and cheap transpor-
tation Of its supplies of Ores must absolutely
decline in value when ore is scarce, and fail to
be a profitable investment when no ore lsxln
sight.
Seventh-In the opinion of the undersigned,
these railroads base alone their success upon the
condition of the mines and it must be good,
rich developments, justifying an idea OF some
wears permanency, that will induce any rail
road building in this State. Private enterprise
alone has never yet assumed such an outlay OF
capital upon the precarious and uncertain value
of mining industry. Extraneous aid has al
ways been sought at the hands OF mines ana
counties. The operation OF this amendment
would only entail much larger gift by the
people Of the different counties to railroad cor
norations through fear that railroads, SO vital
to them in their isolation, would not be built, or
if built, not be operated successfully.
In conclusion, the undersigned, for the varl-
GUS reasons above mentioned, and for the rea-
son that upon no railroad wholly in the State OF
Nevada is the legal maximum now charged, Dut
that rather below the maximum now contem-
plated by the amendment is charged on passen-
gers and freight are of the opinion that the
bill should not pass.
We want experience with railroads before re-
pressing them. We needs railroads imperative
" in the eastern portion of the State. Foster
them-it may be munifcently in infancy; but
let Nevada be discreet enough to invite Ly her
laws the investmauk Of railroad capital at this
time. +. NJ. HART.
e E t,G; PRAGUE.