Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-12-13

posite side of the street from the
speakers stand favored the a sem
blage with some fine music, playing q
patriotic air. In each interval be-
tween the succeeding speeches the
band also played short pieces appro-
pirate to the occasion. The next
speaker was
GENERAL MCCONNELL.
He stated upon commencing that lie
was not accustomed to make what is
called "railroad Speech" neither
was he gifted with the 'gab very gall
loping" according to Sam Weller.
But he had profound interest in the
subject before the people; he wished it
to succeed and was willing to do all in
his power towards that end. 1t is now
late in the day to address an intelli-
gent reading assemblage of Califor-
mans on the Importance of railroads.
In 1913, esyOung and almost penniless
lawyer he'had left Illinois, selling a
tract of land-his patrimony - for
seven dollars an acre. Since that
time railroads had been built through
the country; i'm 1868 that same land
was worth 500 an acre, and now it
could not be bought for more than
twice that sum.
RAILROADS ARE NECESSARY
To the development of n country;
manufacturing and other industries
may follow. A railroad panic or op-
position to railroads, when carried to
certain extent becomes unjust.
With all its abuses, no Illinois farmer
would be willing to part with his rail-
road for the return of what it had cost
him individually. A union of forces
"a combination-is necessary for the
construction of railroads. In this
Western men have failed to provide
for their own interests. Instead of
forming combinations themselves,
they have waited for Wall street and
Lombard street to build their roads
and reap the profits from them. "a,
He stated that Mr.. Crawford had
just returned from country rich
enough in gold and silver, were it de-
veloped, to pay the debt of every
country on the globe. 4HF
THERE Is NO DOUBT
About the wealth of the mines in the
Panamint district. VIM. M. Stewart
now SO largely interested in that<sec-
tion and gentleman of long expert
ence in mining, had assured him that
the Comstock h. not better mine to-
day than the Panamint. The speaker
then adverted to the comparative in
significance of San Francisco In the
early times, and how, by the develop
ment other mining interests, she had
become the great city of the present,
with prospect of doubling her popu-
lation within the next twenty years.
Los Angelee stands
I'm THE SAME POSITION
To-day that San Francisco held in
lS4S. With the enterprise of San
Francisco, Los Angeles can become a
city of vast commercial Importance.
But to do this, we must not let th e
present opportunity slip by. San
Francisco is watching closely to Sc
cure the Panamint trade, by building
branch ofthe Southern Pacific from
Bakersfield a distance of l8S miles,
through rehachipi Pass to the new
district. Los Angeles already owes
much of her prosperity to
THE MINING TRADE
OF our buck country; and, if robbed OF
this, it is considered by some tanta-
mount to our ruin. The question is
simply submitted: If we do not seize
our advantages, others will. The Gen
eral then proceeded to point out our
advantages in distance overSan Fran
cisco in reaching not only Panamint,
but through the Independence road,
Salt Lake, Chicago and New York.
The remarks of the speaker were re-
plete with forcible truths and sound
logic. He spoke of the subject in
thorough earnest and he made his
hearers believe with him in the mn
mense Importance of the enterprise.
At this psint the President of the
meeting was compelled to leave and
Governor Downey look the chair. He
called upon.
MAJOR HORACE BELL
For some remarks, introducing him to
the audience as a gallant soldier who
had turned his sword into plow-
share, and was now working with US
in developing our country. Mr. Bell
said that he was not railroad man,
but would speak upon the subject as a
farmer. From his long residence in
Los Angeles, he was enabled to give
some interesting points OF history
| illustrative of the growth and prosper
| ity of Los Angeles thus far, and the
causes for her rapid advancement. He
recalled the time when he had been a
volunteer under Don Benito Wilson,
to help pursue
A BAND OF HOSTILE INDIANS
Who had been committing depreda-
tions within sight of the present Court
House. Nineteen years ago the first
effort was made to extend our trade
| into the interior. A subscription OF
| $1,000 was then raised, which taxed
| the resources of the little town to its
utmost. This money was expended in
making road through the San Fer
nando mountains, and he had been
one of the first party to pass over il
with teams. From this slight begin
ming our trade with the interior has
grown to it's present proportions anC
has largely assisted to make Los An
geles what she is to-day. If such
progress could be made in that time
with wagon roads and freightina
teams, what can we do with
.nt AN IRON HORSE
AS a promoter of our traffic! If VIZ
work together actively and energeti
cally, we can build the Los Angeles
and Independence Railroad withou
the assistance of foreign capital. W.
are a rich community; the assessed