Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-04
THE RAILROAD CONTRACT AND MIS-
REPRESENTATIONS.


The SAN Francisco Chronicle is the prince
of mendacious journals. The lusty lying
it does really excites admiration Refer
ing to The interest payments on Central Pa
cihc Railroad bonds guaranteed by the
State Of California, it coolly declares that
the railroad company has not complied
with the conditions of its contract, and
with deviltry of adroitness that Is some
thing stupendous ii so states the case as to
leave The impression upon the readers
mind that with the expiration OF the in
tercst payments by the State in 1891, the
obligations of the railroad company to the
State also cease. That this was a purpose
full Misrepresentation, is undcniable for
three reasons First, that the CAroujclc had
the law before it, written plainly upon the
pages of the statutes; secondly, the law
has recently had judicial Interpretation,
of which the Chronicle was aware; and
lastly. because the State has always claimed
and it has never been denied, that the con-
tract so far rs the obligations of the COM
pany are concerned, is continuing: that is
they run cocqual with the existence of the
corporation.
The matter is a very simple one, and not
al all involved, the law reading with per-
feet cleancss. In 1864 the State, by Act of
the Legislature approved April 18th, agreed
with the Central Pacific Railroad Com
pany to guarantee the payment of interest
on 3 300 900 of railroad bonds for the
period of twenty years On its part the
railroad company agreed to transport and
convey over its road whenever required all
public messengers, convicts going to the
State Prison lunadcs going to the asylum
materials for the construction of the State
Capitol building, articles intended for pub
lie exhibition at the fairs of the State Agri-
cultural Society, men and materials in
1imcs of war, invasion or instruction. and
ar all other times, troops and munitions of
war belonging to the State, without any
compensation and free Of charge. Also to
go OH and build the railroad in sections of
at least twenty miles per year, and cquipir.
Also to release to the State all claim to
warrants provided TO he issued by former
Ac, I'm aid of the road Also To deed within
ninety days after receipt of patent there
for certain granite lands in Placer county.
II the company fails in any of these obliga-
UouS. The state has under the Act, the
right 20 recover back from the company
the whole amount paid by the State under
the Act
Now thar is the whole of the matter
Nct in the face of this law and Of the facts
known 10 all the people the C6ronicic has
the unbushing cfirontcry to say that the
conditions of the contract were that the
railway company should carry free of
charge all the granite blocks necessary to
build the State Capitol building at Sacra-
mento. and discount of half freight charges
on aH q,gds going to or coming from the
State Agricultural Fair, and free transpor-
tauon of all persons taken by rail to the
mnatic asylum and to the State Prison
The italics are ours to specially point out
the mcndacity of the Chronicle 1t adds
that the railroad company secured practical
exemption from the contract as to carving
building material and for the rest they
have not complied with the contract. This
patent and blatant Justification (for the con-
tract has been kept or else the railroad
managers have deliberately thrown away
100000 for 4 song Will be especially sur
prisins to all exhibitors who have ever had
goods conveyed to the State Fair, and who
know that the company named always has
carried them free coming and going over
the road and over lines not included in the
ceased. the obligation of the railroad COM
pany remains says a Court of the
State. and if, As the Chronicle alleges, the
company has, to use the words of the law.
refused to do and perform the said con-
dtions and the said agreement on their
part, the said company shall be liable to
repay to The State the amount which shall
have been paid by the State under this
Act :" if it has, as is falsely charged
avoided its contract, the company has done
that by which the State is gamer in large
sum, since it has had the free service for
twenty years, and may now recover back
all the interest money paid under the
guarantee.
Yet out of such timber as this are anti
railroad assaults constructed, and on such
thin subStructures as this do the Chronicles
misrepresentation rest We confess that
the weakness and transparency of the