The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-09-06
Thursday, Sept. 8. 1877.
PREPOSTEROUS.


ever crcpt into type. He reviews our
srticle ON the Walla Walls and Column
bis River railroad. of last week, in
which we mentioned that if attempts are
made at the coming legislature to re-
duce freights 10 eighty cents or even
one dollar per ton. DIR. Baker will close
up his railroad and compel the farmers
to haul their wheat to the river by
teams. Here's what the Star man has
to say about it:
IF DIR. Baker has an annual income
Of $4,000. bs certainly can afford to
run his railroad without making cent
more than what it costs to operate it.
II closing the road will bankrupt one
halt the settlers in that valley. he has
q screw which he Can turn at pleasure
and squeeze those settlers. till he can
rs!l up AL income Of twice $4,000. II
be can carry freight cheaper than teams
can haul it, and cover expenses. legisla
ton ought 70 compel him to do it
Settlers aud others should not be bled
10 increase his wealth"
The idea that any law or lsw-making
power could compel DR.. Baker to run
his railroad whether he is making any
thing or not, could never have origin
ated outside Of the Star mans prolific
brain. That road vas built by private
enterprise exclusively, receiving no
subaidy from the commonwealth, and
bound by no restrictions in its construc.
ton. 1t 10 as exclusively under DR..
Bakers control as bis private carriage,
aud need not be run for any one else's
accommodation. II freights are re-
duoed to . dollar per ton. it will close
up till legislators and farmers get back
to their senses. The Oregon and Cal
ifosnis road was built by European cap
ital, and the earnings Of that road
Gre sent abroad to pay the interest
upon that capital. On the other hand,
tho Wslls Walls aud Columbia river
road Was built by citizen of Washing
ton Territory aud its earnings are re-
tanned 1t home.to aid in the develop.
ment Of the country. They are loaned
to the farmers and mechanics of that
section'by DR. Baker. whois banker
and not a. leech. When men come to
him for money and show good collat-
erals. he loans it to them at some rate
If timss are easy, his interest rates are
easy; il they are hard, he raises his
rates in proportion. But he will loan
Il vt some rate or other. He does not
dismiss men who. have good securities
with the remark. "Times are hard and
We are losning No money at.all." But,
a. we said before, he's banker.
The idea that man ''csn afford to
run his road without making . cent
more than it costs to operate it, is an
other refreshing invention Of the Snoho-
mish finsnoier. Does hs think because he
can afford to run newspaper without
making cent more than it costs to OPP
crate it." that every moneysd man is
going 10 do likewisef "Can afford" is
good. Men can afford TO do . great
many things. There are men who came
here with nothing. who now are rich
aud ''can afford" to build railroad from
hers to walla Walla. but they won't do
It. They want other people to build
the road while they get richer by the
increased value of real estate. without
putting out a dollar. Should settlers
and others "be bled to increase :heir
wealth, unless they lead Of.
We do not dispute the right of our
Legislature to pass . Law regulating
frsights and fares on railroads we
merely question the expsdiency Of such
legislation. Tho Northern Pacific
railroad is to-day carrying freight from
Kalsma to Tacoms. . distance Of los
mileA. for t2 30 per ton; tho Central
Paciic charges % 10 and s. 50 for FIRST
and ssccsd-clsss freights between San
Frsncisco and Stockton. . distance Of
~ miles. aud carries i've tons to the
Northern Psci6c's one. The Walla
Wslla and Columbia River road carries
freight ct forty per cent. Of what il
cost TO haul wheat in wagons. and 10
the only causs OF the fArmera' pros
perity there. But for that very rail.
road. farming lands in Walla wslla
county would not be worth an average
Of twenty dollars per acre to-day and
it earnings are all invested there 70
aid In the development Of the country.
The AIMS silly crusade was made BY the
Cslifornis 0nngess against Isaac Fried
lander, the man Of ell men 70 whom
the Pacific coast is indebted for its
European grain market. In order to
create that market. il was necessary to
visit Europe. to estsblish agencies for
the sale Of grain; system Of banking
and exchange BY which be might pay
the farmess for their wheat before Il
rsachesi lie destination; charters Of
tonnage. to convey that wheat across
two ocssns and system Of insurance