Los Angeles daily herald., 1874-12-13
TO PAN A MINT
The Los Angeles and lndepend-
ence Railroad.
Mass Meeting Yesterday
for It's Benefit.
Add resses by GOV. Downey. DR.. j. G.
Shorb, Gen. Mcconnell, Mr. j. A.
Bell, Judge O'MeIveny, and
Explanations Of the Pro-
posed Route by Easi-
neer Crawford.
A Decided Expression in Favor
of the PROBE ct--- -Sesolu-
tions, Etc, Etc.

Commerce for holding u mass meeting
of the people of Los Angeles, San Ber-
nardino. and Inyo counties in the in
terest Of the Los Angeles and Inde-
pendence Railroad. Before the hour
designated full preparations had been
completed for holding the meeting in
the open air. An ample platform was
constructed at the east front of the
Courthouse and large map of the
projected line twelve feet square was
raised upon framework so as to be
in full view of the assemblage. The
day was somewhat cloudy and the air
quite chill, but not enough so to
interfere seriously with the attend
ance or the comfort of those present.
At the appointed hour several hundred
citizens were cOngregated about the
speakers platform, and the meeting
was called to order by Mr.. Lazard,
President of the Los Angeles Chamber
of Commerce. The officers of the
meeting were then chosen, as follows:
President, Hon. d. b. Wilson; Vice
Presidents, Gov. Downey and Col. b.
l.. Peel; Secretary, w. w. Robinson.
GOVERNOR DowNEY
Was the first to address the meeting.
He regretted that the attendance was
not larger on an occasion of such vital
import to the people of our section of
the State. Had they all taken the inter
est which he felt in the matter, nothing
but the most pressing domestic duties
would have Kept so many away. He
touched briefly on the object of the
meeting and sought to impress the
importance of the matter on the minds
of his hearers. He said an immense
trade lies within our reach, if we will
only seize upon it by building this
road. Not only does the plan compre-
hend a communication with CerrO
Gordo, Independence and Panamint,
hut it looks strongly to Salt Lake. If
we build the road, we make Los An
geles city of vast commercial inn
portance; if we do not, we will sink
! into little insignificant pleasant
I town. The Governors remarks were
very pointed, but brief, as we have
stated, and he merely introduced the
| subject for the speakers who were to
| follow.
DIR. SHORB
Was then called upon by the President
and responded with a forcible and elo-
quent speech of about fifteen minutes
| duration. He said: f"rhere is differ
ence between light and darkness. You
will all probably admit that; and you
| will admit that this scientific an
| nouncement is aqueer beginning for
railroad speech. But the same diff
ference which exists between light
| 4. Tot IfAfx ii
friend-a broad guage and II narrow
gauge railroad" The Doctor regretted
| that his slight acquaintance with the
subject in hand would prohibit him
from entering into its details; but,
while leaving to other and abler hands
| the minute details, he proposed to de-
vote his remarks toa general discus
sion of the two systems of railroads
narrow and broad gauge. In the
| strongest terms he pronounced in ia
vor of the former, first, last ana all the
time. In fact, he said, believe that
if there were a way provided for US to
reach heaven by steam, 1T would be
ON A NARROW GAUGE RAIL;
For do not the Scriptures say that
straight and narrow is the way that
leads to life everlasting" He pro-
nounced strongly against the immense
abroad subsidies that had been
granted to rich corporations by the
| Government. The Finance and con-
struction Committee of the Credit
| Mobilier and the Central Pacific Rail-
road Company were severely handled.
He believed that such powerful organ
izations were working the worst of op-
preston for the people. The time has
been in the recent past when the
farmer of the Western States was
compelled to rp
BURN HIS CORN
For fuel rather than pay the oppressive
railroad tariff to transport it to mar
ket. An impressive picture was
drawn of such condition of affairs;
when the hard-working farmer was
compelled to see the work of his
hands vanish at last in flames, leaving
him in restitution. 1t was damnine
aspect of our political system. The
farmers of the country had right to
look upon the railroads as their friends
as promoters of the good of the peo-
pie; and such were their views. In
stead of this, there was constant
collision, a constant antagonism ol
the railroads and the peoples inter.
ests. The roads were operated for the
good of the company solely, and thai
ON stolen capital. The people fount
legislation so conducted that while il
reduced them
TO DESTITUTION,
1t conferred still more powers upon
the railroads. Then the farmers re
belled. They set out to make the Gov
ernment teach railroads that they ar
the servants of the people->to substi
tute fear for conscience, before un
known to the railroad mind. Ill
noted the origin and progress OF tn
Patrons of Husbandry and exultec
over their success. He recognized
THE NARROW GAUGE .r
Railroad as powerful instrument II
hands to break down the old monopo
lies. It's managers were to be rail
road men and not politicians; it
bonds were to be kept at home for tn
benefit of. the people; it wa
to be built cheaply and opel
ated honestly; tAen it woull
become blessing and not curse t
the people. This he pointed to as tn
road needed between Los Angeles an
Independence. AS promised in nj
remarks, the speaker did not attemE
to enter into the details OF the raj
road project before the people, but b
certainly gave strong recommend;
4 ton to the system adopted ior COZ
structing the road.
e