Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-05-02
RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION.

RAILROAD CONSTRUCTION.
In the United States the financial ar
Engagements OF this business have some
peculiar features. In any other country,
companies that project sad build rail-
roads :npply the funds themselves, and
take tbs chances of remuneration from
the profits OF the undertaking. OF course
there are exceptions to the rule, as in
the great trunk lines of Russia aud por-
tons Of continental Europe, which are
built on eesslons, tbs lines after a GER
tain tins reyer.ing to the government
and becoming its property. In the
United States, however, we have i'm
proved upon any such old fogyish no
tious as that, and now we get the people
TO supply the money TO build the line,
and thu projectors coldss,eni to ac-
cept the finished railroad as a present.
They do this, no doubt, not because
they want it. but merely to show their
patriotism. This is precisely the condi-
ton OF those who control the Central Pa
cifc. These men formed an inside ring
among themselves and called it the con-
tract and finance company. This ring
within ring did all the building, and
received all the money. Whether it was
profitable or not may be surmised, when
we fad the principal members of it
building palaces, and making tours
through Europe for the purpose Of find
ing and purchasing rare works Of art
with which to adorn their luxurious
dwellings. 1t is in the operations of this
close corporation, this inner ring, that
Luttrell, one of the Congressman for
California, is demanding an investiga-
lion. In his statement before the House
Committee on Pacif, Railroads, Lut-
trell urged in the following words:
The necessity for an investigation,
which should lead 10 compelling the
Central Pacific Directors to disgorge the
tens of millions of dollars which they
had dishonesty acquired. An honest
investigation could harm none except the
guilty parties, and the country would be
satisfied with nothing less, Luttrell read
an affidavit of James b. Rogers, Super
visor OF Placer county, California, assert
ing that Director Crocker had attempted
to bride him (Rogers) 10 sign false re-
port in the interest of the Central Pacific
Railroad Company, and had threatened
to shoot him if he divulged the attempt.
Luttrell said the Legislature Of Califor-
mia was powerless to investigate the
affairs of this company, and could not
even compel the collection OF taxes
against it upon the ridiculous low valua-
tons set by the company upon its prop
erty in that State, as it claimed to be re-
sponsible only to the Federal authority
Not single member of the Legislature,
either Democrat or Republican, voted
against the passage of the resolution de-
handing this investigation, as it was
called for by the people throughout the
whole country. If it were ordered, he
would produce ample testimony ana I'M
impeachable w!tne to prove every
material allegation he had made"
1t was surely enough for the nation a
large and the State and counties of Cali
fornia to build this road by subsidies
and afterwards give it to these men; il
was surely enough for the people to pay
the actual cost without being suindled
out of as much more by these men, whc
were thus not only having the road bull,
for them, but receiving an enormous
bonus besides. Luttrell also alludes tc
the insoence of this over-grown mon
ster, that has grown great only by tn,
public gifts. How that it rather con
trolled the Legislature of California thar
that body maintained any check upon thi,
railroad Frankenstein. How it refused
to pay its fair quota OF the public bur.
dens. How it.imposed high rates o
transportation. In short, how far it wa
in every respect from answering to tn
expectations Of the public that gave i
birth. Here III Nevada our citizen
have been sufferers from its exaction
from the first. Nevada has always beel
Disseminated against. Her people hav
had to pay higher fares and rates Q
transportation than any other com
munity along the whole line. Good
coming from the East were sent first t
Sacramento AMI then shipped back t
Reno, or other way stations, and til
rates charged for all this unnecessar
travel, were less than if sent direct irot
the East Certainly we in Nevada hav
no cause to look upon the railroad wit
any favor. 1t has done its best to drai
Nevada OF every dollar it was possibl
for a constituencies ring to exact, an
now they wonder that our citizens al
not favorably disposed towards the con
pauy. However, We hope that Mr.. Lu
trell will press the inquiry and comp,
some of these contract and finance cou
pany fellows to confess how much the
stole, even if it is not possible to g
any of the stealings back again.