Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-11
DIsPosIEG OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
PROTEST OF a RAILROAD.

In this issue will be found letter of
protest from the General Freight Agent of
the Central Pacific Railroad and Southern
Pacific Railroad Companies TO the Railroad
Commissioners, against the proposed freight
rate reductions. The letter very effectu-
ally disposss of mass of misrepresenta-
tions and cant, upon which the political sgi.
tators base their present crusade against the
railroad lines of transportation. 1t is replete
with interesting facts concerning the actual
freight charges on railroads here and at the
East, and the steady and rapid reduction
in freight rates that has been made in re-
cent years. Itshould command from every
candid citizen, from all who are not
swayed by unreasoning prejudice, and
from all who desire to be informed as to
the real facts concerning freight transpor-
tation IN California, careful and impartial
reading.
1t is to be noted that the letter has oc.
casioned the San Francisco Chronicle and
its tender, the Examiner, very much of
trouble. and they'sre forced to fiat denial
of some of it's statements, but fail TO bring
forward any proofs to substantiate their
charges that the statistics of the letter are
false. It will occur to the thoughtful that
the last thing q railroad corporation would
venture to do would be to commit itself TO
recitals of such fact not capable of being
established. Until some better evil
dence of the falaity of the statistics can be
brought forward than the angry denials Of
the sheets named, they must be taken as
correctly presented.
The letter, besides throwing food of
light upon the question of freight carriage,
and dissipating the falsIty of the charges
so freely INDUCED by the political anti
railroad agitators, has some very trenohant
passages upon the general question of reg
ulation by coercion and the fixing of rates
under threats and menaces. 1t makes
these distinct allegations and proves them
First-That the average charge for
freight in California by railroad in 1882
was but two and nine-tenths cents ger ton
per mile, although the legal maximum per-
missible is fifteen cents per ton per mile;
this excludes company material, it excludes
freight interchanged With other States, and
all through freight interchanged with States
east of the Rocky mountains.
Second-The rate in 1878 was g. 7 cents
per ton per mile, and has steadily declined
each year since.
Third-The proposed reduction is un-
justly disoriminative, since it is to apply
only to the Central Pacific Railroad ana its
leased lines.
Fourth-There are no well-founded com.
plants against present charges for grain
carriage.
Fifth-Rsductions ranging from PER
cent. on short hauls from bay points to SSA
per cent. in the upper Sacramento valley,
and from % TO 80 per cent in the upper
San Joaquin, were made by the Commis.
sion in 1881, and further reducEon would
be unreasonable.
Sixth-Ihe grain rates now prevailing
are not burdensoule to the producer, but
contribute to the fostering of grain pro-
duction.
seventh-The average tonnage rate on
the Central Pacific Railroad is much lower
than on the Texas Pacific, Missouri Pacific
st. Louis and San Francisco, Chicago, Mil
waukee and 81. Paul, or the Chicago and
Northwestern roads. the latter road hav-
ing the lowest average of any of these,
and a tonnage more than double that Of |
the Central Psciec Railroad. while the cost