Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1879-02-08
RAILROAD REFORM.

than that the people of Nevada are aroused,
and very much in earnest for a RECONSTRUCT
ton of our existing system of railroad laws.
The appointment of committee of their fore
raost men by the citizens of Virginia, and the
work done and time spent by the committee
TINS appointed means business. The fact is,
tais is the first session IN which any serious
effort has ever been made to offset the infu-
eace of an organized force of railway lobby
ists in and about the Legislature. Hitherto
the railroad companies have had everything
their own way.
The present effort in the direction of
reform, though very much in earnest, is
guided by cautious and prudent counselling.
There is sturdy purpose underlying the
movement to secure Justice all round-that
Is to say, to secure better terms to the pee-
pie without doing any injustice to the rail
roads.
1t will prove to be the part Of wisdom for
the railroad managers and agents to move
with and not against the stream. 1t will be
the height of unwisdom for them to be in
Tarrumental in baking the will of the people.
WHAT TIE INTERESTS OF THE CoMsToCK DE-
MAND
The high tariff maintained by the Virginia
and Truckee Railroad Company has had the
effect of depriving the Comstock of the vast
abundance of frewood and timbers lying con-
tiguous to the Truckee River Wood is landed
at Reno (being foated down the Truckee), at
E,D 10 oS
transportation to Virginia City would put this
wood within reach of the lesser mines of the
Comstock lode at S. to 81 per cord.
It IS stated as by authority that the 4 nae,9can
Fiat mines are many of them closed By reason
Of the high price Of yf,souood and tin,bsrs.
Shall the paramount interest of the State
laugush and decay when, but for the unrea-
souabie exactons of the V. & T. Railroad
Company the great and almost limitless for
ests which line the banks of the Truckee
would be available to promote that INTEREST,"
This is question which is inseparable from
tae present movement
Not only is the further development of the
Cpmstock very closely related to this ques-
zion, but the opening OF and prospecting for
a.ines in every part Of the State. Railroads
are organized and fostercd by our State laws
because of the comparative cAoapness of
transportation offered by them. Transports-
ton by steam power is facilitated by the
state because of the conveniences it places
within the reach of the business comm unity.
Abused and mlsappled as their privileges
ltAve been by the railroad companies doing
business in this State, remedial laws are inn
iuedistely requisite and essential.
A MONOPOLY OF SUPPLIES AS WELL AS TRANS
PoRTATIoN.
In the case OF the Virginia and Truckee
Railroad Company and its closely corporated
Wood Ring, the public interest is made to
suffer in exact proportion the people are
deprived thereby of the advantages of COM
E,etiou in trade and freighting.
Having killed off all the small industries
relating to the wood cutting interest, and
having absorbed the same within itself,
very serious detriment ensues, not only to
tle wood choppers themselves, but to the
merchant who would otherwise sell them sup
piios, the smith who would mend their tools,
the tavern keeper who would board them,
and the OK drivers who would help them in
their work.
Having monopoized the w-mill interest,
this grasping monopoly has deprived large
class of citizens of an employment to which
they have been reared; destroyed competi-
ton and become the sole dictator of the tim
Der trade.
Being the sole occupants of these great
fields, they make them both tributary to
their railroad and the law permitting such
injurious practices, they carry their own
wood and timber at their own price while
practically excluding from the market the
much needed supplies Of those essentials
which stand, unavailable, upon the banks of
the Truckee.
Thus the paramount interest of the State
IL deprived Of what most it stands in need
through the rapacity of this greedy and all
absorbing monopoly.
No wonder the people are aroused to earn
eat action
No wonder, seeing the people thus aroused,
shat the railway people, instead of maintain
lag their old arrogance of manner, are very
baaily at work to secure for themselves the
siIosG favorable terms.
rgE xaDxPaTz HrN IN TUT Jrc1S1 .r1rpu