Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1879-02-01
THE RAILROAD FIGHT.
The Assembly With the People,
But the Senate Not SO Sure
Names OF the Senators Who are
Believed to Favor the Railroads

DOho'Ou W dNOT JHo ftuIlrOAuS.
In Carson, just now, all other sub.
jects pale into insignificance before
that of railway fares and freights
Hardly anything else is spoken OF
for five minutes at time in the cor
ridors OF the Capitol, in the hotel
bar-rooms, or on the street. The
opinion prevails that almost any
measure which promises the people
relief from railway cxtortion will
pass the Assembly by large MAORI
ty. AS much confidence is not felt
in the Senate, however. That body,
besides being more conservative, is
said to number among its members
many who are exceedingly well dis.
posed toward the railroads; but they
are not sufficiently numerous to form
a majority, hence do not express their
preferences very freely, either by
word or deed. Others are quite out
spoken; but it is nevertheless very
difficult to be able to tell with any
certainty who are favorable to a con-
tinuance of the present high freight
and fare rates, and who are not. A
gentleman who claims to know, how
ever, supplies the following list of
Senators who lean very strongly to
the railroad side: Blair of Lincoln,
Dangberg of Douglas, Gallagher. Of
Esmeralda, Gibson and Wheeler of
Storey, Perley of White Pine, and
Shepherd and Stone OF Elko. The
Senators just named are believed to
be sound for the Central Pacific.
On questions affecting that road
alone Senator Gallagher might vote
with the opposition, but when the
interests of the Virginia g. Truckee
Railroad are menaced he will, likely,
vote with the railroad men. Al
there is considerable doubt as to the
legality of laws affecting one road
and not the other, it is not likely
that any such will be passed. The
last mentioned gentleman may there
fore be counted ON the railroad side
Senators King and Westerfield, OF
this county, are somewhat favorable
to the Virginia & Truckee Railroad,
but will vote for reduction oil
about twenty tive per cent IN all fare
and freight rates. At least that is
the impression left on the mind of q
representative of the TIMES who con.
versed with Senator Westertied on
the subject last Wednesday. This
will not be enough of reduction
but, if no more can be obtained, il
will at least be a start for all futhel
legislation. Two years hence 8
further reduction can be made.
There is quite a feeling springine
up in favor of local roads. This is
owing to misapprehension. The
adhercnts of the Virginia & Trucket
Railroad have studiously circulated
or caused to be circulated, concern
ing their rates, yarns that would dc
credit to Ananias Of old. They aver
for instance, that they charge less, il
proportion, for freight from Rene
to Virginia, than the Central Pacific
does from Sacramento to Reno
Another favorite averment of their
is that the profits of the road only
suffice to pay one per cent. pei
month on the capital invested, which
they claim exceeds $4,000, 900. The
fact is that the rates on the Virgins
& Truckee Railroad are from three
to twelve times as high as on the
Central Pacific. But the verdani
member from the rural "deestricks'
does not know this, and the state.
msnts referred to have quite an
effect upon him.