Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-21
AN OPEN LETTER TO EX-GOVERNOR
STANFORD.

Frank NJ. Pixley writes and publishes an
open letter to Governor Stanford, in which is
formulated specific allegations of abuses
alleged to exist in the systsm Of railroad
transportation in this State The counts in
the Pixley indictment cover the entire ground
occupied by the issues raised by the Demo.
cratic State platform and by Democratic
speakers. If Mr.. Stanford replies the re-
spouse will possess unusual and peculiar in.
serest. The letter is as follows:
eARGoNAUT OFFICE. August Ia, 1882.
Ex-Governor Leland Stanford-Dear Sir /:
The prominent place occupied by you in the
political history Of the State !; the relations
you and your associates sustain to the ma.
terial interests of this commonwealth, and
especially to the interests of transportation,
invest the views you may entertain upon
these issues with general public interest.
An important State campaign has been
opened by the convention held at San j ose.
One resolution OF the platform declares IN.
compromising hostility to railroad facilities
tor transportation in this State; declares in
favor OF material reductions in fares and
freights, and in both general and specific
terms seeks to make an indefinite sentiment
OF opposition to tie railroads of the Ssste the
basis OF the campaign.
In defense of this last general position as.
sumed by the Democratic party, it is al
Legged
First-That the railroad transportation
facilities OF the State of California constitute
en- oppressive monopoly.
Second-That the rates of transportation
charged By the railroads of California are
exorbitant and excessive to such degree as
to arrest the growth of the commonwealth
and to discourage and stiHe production.
Third-That the principle of regulating
freight tariffs upon the basis of what the arti.
Gle transported will bear rather than by the
standard OF the cost to the carrier of the ser.
vice rendered. by means of freight classified.
ton, Is erroneous, unjusti6asle and discrim-
| mating.
Fourth-That, in practice, the railroads of
California discriminate arbitrarily and un.
| justly between individual shippers and be.
| tween shipping points, showing fayoritisrn to
individuals and localities, to the obvious in.
| jury of the persons and places Disseminated
| against.
Fifth-That merchants and manufacturers
are, by force OF existing conditions, coerced to
enter into contracts to ship all goods import.
ed by them by rail, to their disadvantage, and
to serious loss and injury to their business.
Sixth-That the coercion alleged to be prac.
ticed By the railroads, as set forth in the
above count, prevents competition by the
ocean, raises the aggregate cost OF transporta-
ton, entails additional cost upon all articles
imported. and forces entire reliance upon
overland railroad lines, to the injury of the
| commerce Of this Stale.
Seventh-That freights are carried for
longer distances-as, for instance, to terminal
points-for less, or at the same rates charged
for shorter distances
Eighth-Thst hostility to the railroad as a
basis for political action is justified by reason
OF the facts, to wit: That the construction
OF the railroad system of the State was en-.
courased and aided by county, State and
national subsidies, and that in the processes
OF their construction the right of eminent do
main was exercised in the condemnation Of
the right of way, and other important mat.
ters. That all these concessions and priv.
leges placed you and your associates in the
attitude of trustees for the public, and that
1t is unreasonable and uncomfortable that
You should be able to earn profits amounting,
by your own exhibits, to something like nine
millions year, and which are necessarily
drawn from the industries and commerce Of
this State.
Ninth--That an irrecoacilable conflict exists
between transportation and production,
Tenth-That material reductions in the
rates OF freight and fare are demanded by
consideration of the interests of both labor
and capital.
Eleventh-Ihat the opening OF the railroad
route of transportation to gulf ports, BY
which the wheat, WOOL wine, and other stsple
productions of this State will be transported
to ships on the Atlantic seaboard, will drive
from the Pacific Ocean, and the port of Sar
Francisco, the import commerce now carried
thereon, and place the producers of Califor
MIA at the mercy of monopolizsd lines o.
transportation for the carrying of their
products.
Some OF the points made in these interro
cations are suggested by speeches, newspaper
discussions, and what is claimed to be pub
lie belief, irrespective of party
Referring again to the allegations of abuses
above enumerated, your explanation as t,
the facts alleged and your views of the gen
eral issues raised by them are respectful,
solicited, and shall be glad to give your re
ply IS wide circulation and the same pub
licity have given to this open letter to you
am, very respectfully,
FRANK M. PIxLEY, Editor Ayponaut.