Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-12-18
A QUESTION OF rAcr.

QUESTION OF FACT.
A San Francisco journal has recently
esEoused the cause of Government owner.
ship of railroads, and is manifes!ing the
proverbial zeal Of new convert. 1t as.
sumes as basis of all its arguments that
the rates of railroad transportation are ex.
orbitant, ard that as consequence the
country is suffering decline of prosperity
which, if continued, will work the most
calamitous results to all producing indus
try and commercial activity. This is
simply untrue, and it requires only an un-
prejudiced and intelligent observation Of
the facts to bring full consciousness of
its untruth to every mind. But the first
thing necessary to an adequate comprehen.
sion of the subject is a comparison of the
present rates of transportation with those
obtaining but short time ago. Take the
railroad system of California as notable
example. Upon the principal products of
California, including wool, wine, sheep,
hogs, cattle, grain, hay, hops, green fruit,
mill stuffs, and like commodities, the rate
of reduction between 1879 and 1880 shows
an average of 1867 per cent, the gross
saving, estimated on the basis of the ton
mage of the two years, being S5SS, SOC.
Between the dates of 1879 and 1881,
a comparison shows reduction of
22.69 per cent. The Central Pacific
proportion on through freight charges on
the same tonnage as 1851, as compared
with 1879, shows decrease of 81, ,42S, ,79S.
Thus the aggregate saving to the producers
by the reduction of rates in two years
amounts to S2,0l7, ,599. That is TO
say, that if the rates obtaining in 1879
had been applied to the tonnage of 1881
the revenue from that source would have
been over two millions greater than was
actually obtained. The passenger rates
show corresponding reduction. The
introduction of second-class fares, round
trip and other species Of commuta.
ton tickets made such reductions
that, applying the rates of 1879 to
the passenger travel of 1880 and 1881,
there is an aggregate reduction of over
s., 600. 900 on the traffic of those years.
Thus within two years there is saving to
the people by the natural and unenforced
reduction Of the rates of transporta.
tion OF over four million dollars.
The process of reduction in all parts of
the country will show like result. But
figures present but feebly the vast revolu.
tions proceeding under the influence of
modern railway transportation. 1t is lit.
tie less than marvellous achievement that
fruits grown in the Sacramento valley
are served fresh on the tables Of
Chicago, New York and Boston at
a cost to consumers in those cities
but little advanced over the retail rates of
the markets of Sacramento and San Fran
cisco. 1t is within the memory of men
still young when the grassy plains lying at
the foot of the Rocky Mountains were wild
solitudes, and yet to-day these plains pro.
duce meats to be eaten fresh in London
and Paris. The vast value to civilization of
railroad transportation cannot be measured
bya comparison ofexistiug with former ocean
rates betweensee ports. The rates as relating
to far inlying territory must be considered.
Fort Laramie, which less than 25 years
ago was in the heart OF the great American
wilderness, far beyond the borders OF the
advancing frontier, is nearer London to-
day if rates of transportation is to be o
measure of distance, than was Pittsburg to
Philadelphia, Buffalo to New York or vi
salia to San Francisco. If an argument i;
needed to show the cheapness of railroad
transportation it will be found in the sue
eessful operation of railroad lines along the
banks OF the free navigable waters of the
country and between ocean ports ON tht
same sea coast. That railway rates ar,
successfully competing with the chespes
means of transportation known is Witnessed
by the fact of successful railroad competi
tion with the ocean between New York
Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans
Charleston and other sea ports. The grea
system of western rivers ire still fre,
navigable waters, and yet whit has trans
ferred the vast tonnage OF former com
merce to the railroads between Cincinnati
and st. Louie, between Louisville and New
Orleans. A means of transportation which
can compete successfully with the oceaI
will in its own unregulated way solve il
the interest of civilization and of the peo
pie all commercial problems sIising out o
the questions of cheap and expedition
communication between all inhabitabl,
parts OF the earth.