Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-02
THE Effect
OF CLOSING UP A LINE OF RAILWAY
What SENATOR Brown Says About the
Closed Placerville Road

The recent closing of the line of railway
which runs from Folsom to Shingle Springs,
and at the former place connects with the
road from this city to Folsom, has had a
marked effect upon business, especially in Ell
Dorado and Amador couaties. State Senator
w. H. Brown, business man of clear views
and long experience, was yesterday met by a
representative of the RECORD UNION, and the
conversation which ensued is deemed of such
interest to the public that it IS presented
herewith in full
Question = You live at Single Springs,
Senator, believe?
Answer-Yes; at the terminus of the
Placeryille and Sacramento Valley Railroad.
| On business there?
A.-Yes; in the wholesale -four, grain and
! general merchandise trade
Q.-Are you familiar with the trade Of
! that section?
Al am have been in business there fl
teen years.
Q.EWhat has been the effect of the closing
of the railroad by reason of the order of
/ Court:
At was closed by the appointment
of a receiver at the instance of Mr.
Kittle, for whom George Cadwalader is
attorney. The company withdrew its rolling
stock, and hence the road is not operated.
Q.-How do the people there understand
the matter?
A.-They are suffering great loss by
the closing of the road, both merchants
and grain and fruit producers. lumber
men and wood dealers. This year all of
these had made larger preparations for pro-
dUction and shipment than ever before. Es-
pecially IS this true of orchardists and grape
growers Last year a large winery was
erected at Single Springs, one at Ell Dorado
and one at Coloma, and these gave renewed
impetus TO the grape-growing business. They
fully understand the situation. and have
no fault to find with the railroad company,
believing the company to be the victim of
judicial outrage. The company was afford
ing the people transportation, and they were
not depreciating the value of the road as a Sc
curity for any possible debt. On the con-
trary, we have it, the company proposed to
put up 81 for 81 to secure the Kittle debt
payment, if it was decided that it is to be
paid by the company.
Q.-Was this debt one of the companys
own contracting?
A.-Oh, no; it was contracted long prior
to their acquiring ownership, and they bought
the road. we understand, believing it to be
clear Of debt.
Q.-Then your people think no gain has
been made by the closing of the road?
A.-No, but great loss. Kittle gains
nothing, and our people lose much. It leaves
US wholly undecided what TO DO and what
is best as to investment and cultivation for
production, for without rail transportation
production cannot be made to pay in that
section.
Q.-But we have always been told that
teams can haul to and from Placerville and
Folsom and up into Amador at less rates
than charged by the railroad company. That
was the old story in the railroad fight of 1878
and ever since. How. Is it?
Att can't be done. Since the closing of
the road freights have advanced from So to
"a per ton, and that is, of course, taxed to
the consumer.
Dwell, how does the situation affect
your people, and to what extent financially,
and over what area of territory, and what
will the effect be if the road remains closed
this season
About two-thirds of FL Dorado county
and one-t third of the area of Amador county
relied for transportation on that road. As
to the effect, it will kill off the lumber bnsi-
ness-wipe it out. Wood interests will be
entirely stopped early fruit crops will prove
loss almost entirely, fine as the yield prom
ises to be, and at least one-haf of the entire
fruit crop of all qualities will be dead loss.
Then property is and will be deprecated in
value fully one-third, and the whole section
relegated to the primitive state before the
days of railroads.
Q.-How does the situation affect Sacra-
mento?
At is loss to Sacramento in business
to a considerable extent. 1t throws large
numbers out of employment; lessons the con
sumption of goods brought from Sacramento,
and cuts off the large shipments of fruit,
butter, wine, wood and lumber to Sacrl-
rnento which it has enjoyed before. Added
to this is the limitation of travel and its in
convenience under present conditions. La
trobe is entirely cut off from mail service,
and not even stages run to that section now.
Q.-What, in your opinion, will be or
might be the outcome?
A.-There are two propositions. One is
that the Court and receiver must stock and
operate the road, which is believed to be im-
possible, and make the road pay running ex-
penses.
Q.-Why so?
A.-Because it is impossible for the re-
ceiver to operate short line with full set
of officers and employees, and handle The
freight twice at Folsom-which they would
have to do-for the same tariff the company
charged; i. e. the receiver can't do this and
tariff merchants will not submit, but viii re-
sort to teaming from Folsom to Shingie
Springs for bare necessaries
Q.-Nhat is the other proposition
A.-That the Court set aside its order APP
pointing receiver, and turn the road over
to the company unincumbered, as it will not
operate the road under receiver.
Q DO you think compromise will be ar
rived at
A.-No. sir; only by the Court setting
aside the order.
ct Is said that Mr.. Cadwalader and his
client have sent East for locomotives, and
are to secure cars and operate the road
Al had not heard that, and | don't be- |
Geve it, for he has asked the Court for an or
der to mortgage the road to raise money TO
buy stock. That is impossible. Not $4,000 |
can be borrowed on the road in its present |
situation 1t is already mortgaged, and only |
the rails and ties and the roadway are there |
to answer the call of the mortgage. 1t is |
understood the receiver viii not advance
dollar. he has had it in possession over |
month, and has taken no steps toward OPP
Grating the road.
Q.-The situation, then, is not agreeable |
for your people?
A-Not by any means. On the contrary, |
it is anything but cheering, Our people fully |
understand the matter, and, as / have said, |
regard it as judicial wrong, and notwith- |
standing their loss have no blame to attach TO |
the railroad company. but say it did just |
what any man would have done under like |
circumstances.
l. L L.