Los Angeles daily herald., 1875-05-15
the RAILROAD QUESTION.

The San Francisco Post, taking the new
hotel and wharf for basis, has written santa
inhabitants, with Los Angeles as a suburb.
OF course, people hereabouts Will appreciate
the Joke.
The above is from the Mirror of the
Sth instant; and although we may
look upon it as huge joke, we will
find that there is method in its mad
ness. The Post is the organ of Senator
Jones, and speaks eT cathedrd. The
eight or nine leagues Of pasture land
about Santa Monica will soon be map
ped off in town lots, and the projectors
are in hopes of transferring the nascent
prosperity of Los Angeles to this point.
The argument used at the time that
the Senator was induced to purchase
into this property, that it was .prepos-
ferrous that Los Angeles could be
commercial city-her position did not
justify it-and the great city, the en-
porium of this valley and its vast tri-
butary interior, must be on the sea, is
still the governing idea of those in in
terest. That Los Angeles could become
a great commercial city, would be a
contradiction to all the traditions of
English-talking people, it might do
for the Latin races and their congen-
era the arabs, but to think that an
Anglo-Saron race, the otspring of the
Nkings, would build up city in the
interior, was sheer nonsense.
The individuals who obtained the
charter for the Los Angeles and Inde-
pendence rood were friends Of Los An
geles and Independence, and had no
real estate scheme in view. They did
not contemplate hostile movements
upon the lines of the Southern Pacific,
whom they had invited here to make
Los Angeles a railroad centre, and
which they have and are accomplish
ing at vast outlay of money, and dis
play such energy and prodigality Of
Individual means as has not been made
manifest in the history of railroad
building. If our citizens furnish the
means to build up rival city at Santa
Monica, they should demand to be let
In on the bedrock in the land and lot
speculation, and unload a little of
their Los Angeles property; for as sure
as the sun rises and sets, the interest
of Los Angeles is in jeopardy. The
Southern Pacific has made US now
what we are, why not treat it with
kindness and respect? Let US contem-
plate little, and not run wildly mad
at fancied benefits that T. w Dark and
J. Gould are going to do for H. Their
operations so far have been as marked
with selfishness and disregard to pub
lie interest as the members of the
Southern Pacific Company. The
Southern Pacific Company is composed
of individual members, who are emf
nently Californian in heart, sympathy
and interest. They all came to this
State as boys, grew up with the State,
and use their means to develop our
interests. 1t will be a sad day for us
when our railroad interest passes into
Wall street or the hands of stock job
bers. Let US be wise, prudent and on
the lookout. Let as not be rash. We
are doing splendidly. When the Shoe
Fly and Panamint road does us the
benefit that the Southern Pacific has
already accomplished, then let us be
ready to give it its need of praise.
We invited the Southern Pacific to
come here and give US connection by
rail with Francisco and push for our
interior and Arizona trade. They are
doing it. What did we give them?
Our interest in the Los Angeles and
San Pedro Railroad, of which we had
already been robbed. In addition we
gave them some $27O,OOO or 100000
subsidy. What-has the Southern Pa
cific given us in exchange? The en-
HANGED value of real estate eloquently
tells, and legitimate assessment
would in two years pay off the debt.
Now why should we encourage paral-
lei roads and hostile opposition? Is it
honest? Is it reasonable? Is it right?
Fair-minded men will draw their own
conclusi ons. VERBUM, SAP.
Los Angeles, May 13, 1875.