Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-06
The RaiIrond Commissioner.

The Railroad Commissioners.
SAN Francisco, March 5sh.-The Railroad
Commissioners met this evening.
An order was made ia the case Of Richards
l. Harrison v6 the Central Pacific Rail
road that al cf the complaint, except as IL
related 10 all overoharges and Determinations,
DO stricken cut.
f. S. Douty, the Assistant Secretary Of
the Pacific Improvement Company, was
sworn. He had never had any connection
with the Contract and Finance Company.
The Pacific Improvement Company is q new
incorporation, with similsr line of business
to that of the Western Development Com
psny. The only reason witness could give
for the disinc0rporation of the Contract and
Finance Company was that it had completed
its work, and ascribed the same reason for
the dissolution Of the Western Development
Company. Tie iucorporators of this com.
parry were, as near Us witness could remsn-
ber, John Miller, d. G. Wright, IL. K
White, f. @. Ross and himself. In reality
these incorporatoEs were the representatives
of the capitalists OF the c. P. r. R.-Messrs.
Stanford, Crocker, Hopkins and Huntington.
These gentlemen furnished the capital used
by the Development Company. They re-
ceived pay in stock and bonds. The object
of the company was to build the Southern
Pacific Railroad. The stock paid in return
was about $50, coo per mile.
Mr.. Foote asked what was the actual esst
of the rosd to the Western Development
Company-whether It was really mora or less
than $50 600 per mile.
Judge Sanderson here raised point of ob-
lection. He considered this question out Of
order ard irrelevant to the questions of the
Investigation.
Mr.. Foote pressed the question. and re-.
e--raJ - 4ba Gk.ir f,r daois;o-
Chairman Carpenter sustained Mr.. Foote.
and asked Mr.. Douty il he was prepared to
answer the question mentioned. Mr. Douty
replied that hs was not.
Mr.. Foote-Win you look this matter up
and let Us know IS soon as possible?
MIR. D5uty-I viii if I havs to.
Mr.. Foots-Thst is If you are ordered to.
Mr.. Douty-Lf I am directed to 90 SO by
my employers.
Mr.. Foote said he would like to further
question Mr.. Douty ct tbs next meeting.
Mr.. DoUty named the various companies Of
which he was Secretary. There ars about
dozen in all, among others the Colorado
Steam Navigation Company and the Los
Angeles and Independence Railroad Com
pany, He said ne knew nothing Of the old
Contract and Finance Company. Mr.. Gum
was the former Secretary Of this company.
Charles Crocker was then sworn. Being
examined by Commissioner Foote, he testi-
fed as follows " / was one Of the incorpo.
rators of the Contract and Finance Company,
whose object was to build portion of The
Central Pacific Railroad The line in this
State was under my especial supervision.
Could not state the cost of building the road
from Sacramento, or in this State. There
were books kept recording the transactions of
building the road. Where these books are, [
don't know. They were all closed up and
put in q box. aud arc now somewhere in Sac
rsmento. Know Of no way to get at the
exact figures of these records. AS l remem-
ber. the aid Government loan for eight miles
Of the road was SIG. coo per mile. AT other
points in the mountains it was S43 0O0 per
mile, and il other sections S32, 600 psr mile
The company Issued SO, 900, 600 of bonds on
the land grant received. managed the Con-
tract and Finance Company entirely. Mr..
Stanford and Mr.. Huntington, and I think,
Mr.. Hopkins, we're not connected with this
old Company.
Mr.. Foote asked what was the cost of
building the G. 2. r. r from the State lire
to Pronontory, to the Contract and Finance
Company.
Judge Sanderson moved that this question
be oYerruled.
Mr.. Crocker continued, and stated that
the company was deeply in debt when the
Central Pacific Railroad was finished, and
carried the debt for q number of years. The
Contract and Finance Company afterwards
bought the line from ProTnontory to Ogden
from the Union Pacific Railroad Witness
said he had no desire for eonceallnenf, but
could not see how the Commission was inter
ested in the cost Of road in Nevada and
Utah. The company could not have built
the road as cheaply as the contractors, and
was lucky to get the contract taken.
SAN Francisco, March 5sb At a meeting
of the Board of Supervisors tonight, rego-
luton was offered asking the Senate and AS
sembly Of California to pass joint resolu-
tion requesting the Controller to refuse to
audit and the State Treasurer to refuse to
pay the salaries of che Railroad Commission.
ers until they shall redeem their pledges
made to the people before election. The res.-
luton Yves lost by a vote of 6 to f.
The Charter EIectlOn-suSpicion of Fraufs,
SAN FRANCISCO, March 9TH. The official
canvass of the vote on the charter election is
going on to-day. Thus far the changes are
against the adoption, and there is some sus-
picinn that the charter is being "counted
out, as the ofieials at the City He'll are
generally opposed to it.
SECOND DISPATCH.l
SAN Francisco. March 5.h.-The official
csnvess shows that the charter is defeated by
81 votes. Many protests have been fled, and
much suspicion of foul play exists.
The Spring Valley Case.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 5th.-On the open.
ing of the United States Circuit Corrs this
morning, Judge Sawyer announced that he
could not render en- opinion in the Spring
Valley wster rates injunction case before
Wednesday next or perhaps Thursday, ow.
ing TO the examination of the numerous au.
thorities presented by both sides.
Hand Blown to Pieces.
GAIT Sacramento county,, March 5sh.-
George Der, of this place, had his left hand
nearly torn TO pieces to-day by the explosion
of q loaded brass she'll held in his hand and
the explosion of another shell at his feet.
The Oakland May0raIty.
OAKLAND, March 5.h.-The Republican
City Convention tonight nominated Colonel
q. M. Gibson for Mayor.
A Mysterious Explosion.
YREKA, March 5sh.-A terrible explosion
occurred at the Yreka stable this evening.
caused by a soda bottle filed with powder
taking fire in some manner, and bursting over
three boys, iniuring them severely, and prob
ably disfguring them seriously. The powder
bottle was in a pigeon.hols over the desk
wke-e the boys were reading, and no one