Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-12-13
WHAT CONGRESS MIGHT DO FOR c. Ii
FoREIA

able, it is very questionable whether it
would be sound policy to enter into ar
rangements which would in the very ma
ture of the case vest individuals with
power capableof being exercised oppressive
ly. But it is certain thai the capacities of
large sections of the State can never be
demonstrated until engineering works of
great scope have been constructed. The
fertility of the Tulare and San Joaquin
valleys demands for its development sys-
tenn of irrigation which, for the security
of the cultivator, ought to be undertaken
by the Government These valleys are
capable of sustaining a population OF
several millions. IF crops could be guar
anteed in them they would attract immi-
grafton from all parts of the world, and
their settlement would in few years raise
the State to higher pitch of prosperity
than it has ever yet enjoyed. 1t is, how
ever, very difficult to obtain the consent
of Congress to such appropriations As
would alone insure the success of any CON-
prehensive system of irrigation. The de-
mands of the other States upon that body
are constant and great, and our distance
and comparative political insignifcance
stand in the way of the Advancement we
seek. Yet there is method by which
Congress could assist California without
mourning the jealousy of other parts OF the
country Under the Thurman bill TIE
Central Pacific Railroad Company is
compelled to pay from its net earnings.
81, 100000 year into sinking fund
for the extinction of its debt to the
Federal Government. Now, very large
proportion of the earnings of the Central
Pacific is derived from it's California bust
ness, and, as in all such cases, it is there
fore the people of California who are really
paying the debt of the corporation. OF
course they receive compensation for their
payments in service but nevertheless it is
| their business which makes it possible for
| the company to meet its obligations to the
| Government We therefore suggest that
| Congress be requested to set apart cer-
tain percentage of the Central Pacific sink
| ing fund for the prosecution of internal i'm
| provements in this State. The money
belongs to the nation, but the nation can
dispose of it as it pleases, and it certainly
cannot employ it more equitably or more
usefully than in developing the resources
of the State which is practically refund
ing the advances made by the country to
the railroad. Suppose that $500, 600
year was thus set apart for internal i'm
provements. Such a sum would make it
| possible to undertake State system OF
irrigation, and to devise means for storing
the rainfall and the surplus volume of
mountain streams in those sections which
stand most in need of artificial aid to Gull
tivation. Every dollar of the money so
expended would produce hundredfold
eventually, and the whole country would
reap large benefits in the impetus given to
settlement and production in California,
and in the enhanced creation OF new
wealth which would follow.
It appears to US that if the Legislature
about to meet took this proposition under
consideration, and passed resolutions
recommending it to our representatives in
Congress, or to Congress itself, it might be
practicable to carry it into effect. As we
| have shown, there are certain obvious
equities in the case which divest the idea
of unreasonableness, and which ought to
commend it to Congress. 1t is IN fact
request that the community from which
this money is drawn shall be allowed to
no other part of the country can set up al
equal claim to its use, SO no other part of
the country would have any right to CON-
plain of the arrangement. 1t would in
fact relieve Congress by removing all
pressure upon the general fund from Cali
fornia, and it would be simply restoring to
this State part Of the money which has
| been taken from it. 1t must be also re-
membered that independent of any such
scheme we have equitable claims upon
| Congress for internal improvements which
have never yet been adequately allowed,
and that we can make very strong show
ing on behalf of large appropriation for
irrigation in any case. True statesman
ship would have met this demand long ago,
but as nearly all questions of this kind
ultimately become matters Of compromise,
the probability is that we should in the
ordinary course be obliged to wait many
years Tor help, and even then obtain
it only in driblets. The proposition we
now make has the great advantage of deal
ing with fund already at the disposal
| of Congress, and the maintenance of which
is fully guaranteed. From purely prac-
tical standpoint, moreover, the scheme is
a sound one, for it is obvious that what
ever increases the population and produc-
tive power of California must increase the
business of the railroad, and SO enlarge the
payments made by it to the Government
In fact it may be predicted with confidence
that such an expenditure OF moiety OF
these payments for five years would SO
increase the earning capacity of the rail-
road that the temporary deficiency in the
sinking fund would be much more than
compensated, while the growth of the
State would in still larger proportion
iuure to the benefit of the Government
In short, no matter from what standpoint
we view this proposal, it appears to us
eminently judicious and thoroughly prac-
teal, and we cannot believe that If it
were properly represented to Congress
that body would hesitate to adopt it. We
invite the attention of our Representatives
and Senator's now at Washington, in the
meantime, and we ask the people of Cali.
fornia to give it their serious attention, to
the end that, if no serious objection can be
found, come action in regard to it may be
taken at the ensuing session of the Legs
| lature.
TIE ousTrNC ne JnEy KrTJy