Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-02-09

~ o>~-N~'
E..=.=..z.=.
4 Dissincsive Los Angeles Policy.
As we have an entire belief in
the future of Los Angeles, as we
think this place has sustained the
last Of its serious drawbacks, we
note with an absorbed interest the
opportunities which lie before us.
We have already commented upon
the offer Of Mr.. Huntington to
place the Southern Pacific Rail-
way, for its whole length, under
the supervision of Congress. The
sum total of his demand is the mere
right to build the Southern Pacific
towards the Rio Grande, to a point
Of junction with Scott; and, for this
privilege he is willing to volunta-
rIly concede the priceless boon of
Congressional regulation of road
which is SO pregnant with develop
mont to Los Angeles. Mr.. Hunt
ington does not come before Con-
grsss with . petition for a moneyed
aims. He is willing to take Scott's
enterprise where Scott helplessly
dropped 1t years ago, and he an.
nounces his ability to go on and
give the country transcontiuental
railway, independent Of the Gen.
trail Pacific, subject to the caprice
of the National Legislature-only
asking for a share of what Scott
has had since 1871, and what he has
shown himself unable to use. The
span of road which Scott has built,
since he made his vauut before the
people of San Diego, now nearly
six years ago, is mere bagatelle.
Four years ago we were informed
that the Texas Pacific Railway had
been ironed as far as Fort Worth,
and to-day that road is not ad-
vanced foot west of Fort Worth.
Col. Thomas A. Scott, pseudo Rail-
way King. omnipotent constructor
OF railways on paper, has realized
the character of the "sturdy beg
gar" with which the phraseology
of the parish laws of England is so
conversant. He has begged in sea-
son and out. He has begged,
and begged, and begged. until
his story has become a
wearisome monotone, compared to
which Hamlet's harping on old
Polonius's daughter was variable
and lively refrain.
We again say, what we have
said all along, that if Tom Scott
did succeed in getting his San
Diego road guarantee through Con-
gress, San Diego, and not Los An
geles, would profit by the measure.
We should find, as a result of it all,
that our pretty, rival city would be
built up at our expense. A perfect
maelstrom of real estate specula-
ton would spring up in San Diego,
which would carry strangers and
q large element of our own city
people, down there. For three or
four years Los Angeles would be
entirely overshadowed, though
then, we admit, our turn would
come. 1t would come because
broad and fertile valleys may be
ignored for time, but their per-
snnial value is certain to assert
itself in time.
We will be told that Huntington
only makes this proposition in Or
der to defeat Tom Scott. We
unfeignedly believe that Tom
Scott was already defeated before
Congress met. He is in the posi-
ton of the Irish servant in the
farce, who was discharged before
he was hired. The country is done
with subsidies under any pretence
whatever. When Cakes Ames
read his diary, which resulted in
the retirement from public life of
such men as Schuyler Colfax and
. hundred others of that ilk, that
chapter was closed, ii not fore yer,
at least until all memory of those
disgraceful disclosures has been
effaced from the public mind.
The interests Of Los Angeles
really call for the closing with Mr..
Huntington's proposition. Happy
for us if Congress can be induced
to take these Central Pacific peo-
pie at their word, especially in view
of the public sentiment which is
rapidly gathering for q national
regulation of railways. Mr.. Hunt
ington has Willingly or unwit.
tingly himself put In the entering
wedge for the new era.
What more assured and Clio rious
guarantee of the future greatness
Of Los Angeles could there be than
the starting Of great transconti-
mental railway from the Missis-
sippi river, ramifying to ali the
great Eastern cities, which should
find two ocean termini near Los
one at Wilmington and
the other at Santa Monica?
II either of these points
should be selected, our city would |
have a capital guarantee of com.