Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-20
A RETROSPECT,

The Argondut says: 1t may be admit
ted that as California railroad magnates
are human, they are not innocent OF al
the sins to which humanity is incident.
To those holding the affirmative Of this
issue we leave TIE statement and the argu-
ment that they have abused or misused
their power. Fer the defense, we may be
permitted TO assert that the railroad build
ers have been, during all their California
| lives, men OF average respectability ; that
| they have not been conspicuous as enemies
| to the communities in which they have re-
sided; and that they have demonstrated
by their acts the possession of enterprise,
energy and great business capacity. 1t
may, we think, be admitted that there was
no portion of our country more in need OF
railroad communication than this distant
coast that there was 10 part of our coun-
try's domain so inviting in every respect,
so sparsely populated, so unoccupied and
unused. There were vast plains, valleys
and mountain sides, almost valueless be-
cause of remoteness from the great centers
of industry; lands, fair and fertile as the
sun ever shone upon, lying at waste and
uucultivated, because of the fact that
grain and fruits, grown and gathered,
would not pay the cosD OF their transporta.
ton to market. Where now are farmers
homes, and homes of independent wealth
and comfort, less than twenty years ago
was desolation. Over fields, now inclosed
and cultivated, bending with grain over
garden spots surrounding happy firesides,
there once roamed wild and worthless
Spanish herds. Where now flourish pros.
porous villages, there were then no inhab-
itants. What then were dull and thriitless
hamlets and missions, are now thirty
ing towns. What then were thriv-
ing towns, are now buoy, pros
porous cities, censers and marts Of
trade. 1t may, We think, be conceded
that ali this-we modify the expression,
much Of this-is attributable to the rail.
roads. We think we may assert that there
is no locality-not one-in all the State
which has not bsen advantaged by railroad
building that there is not a business man
not one-in all the community who has
been made poorer by the enterprise OF rail-
road construction. We assert, without
fear of contradiction, that to the city OF
San Francisco there have been added not
less than hundred thousand people, to its
property value hundred millions, to the
Sacramento and San Joaquin farm lands
and villages hundred millions more. To
the counties of Los Angeles, San BernaT-
dino. Kern and Tulare there has been given
prosperity hich, without railroads, was
to them forever impossible. The two hun
dred millions expended by railroad cor
porations has been generously done. They
have generously paid for labor. It is
notable fact that, while strikes and riots
|, abor ~
arrangements, while complaints have gone
up from railroad workers of inadequate
compensation, over-work and over.length
OF hours, in all other States and countries,
against their management in this State
there he's been no complaint. From the
time when Governor Stanford with spade
of steel turned the first sod at Sacramento,
through winter storms and snow battles in
the Sierras, through scorching suns in deg
ert passes, down TO this Sabbath day Of
writing, when three Thousand laborers are
toiling to repair the disasters OF flood and
wreck OF road, there have been no labor
complsints. From the twelve thousand
workers now engaged in Office and shop,
on engine and track, there are no COM
plants. Ample pay and generous usage is
the rule Of the Central and Southern Pa
cfic arrangements. Their schedule is the
standard to which the payroll of all other
transportation companies must conform.
The rate of wages maintained by the railroad
companies is the standard rate of wages
for ali the industries of the State. The in
telligent labor interest which depends, not
only upon direct railroad employment, but
which finds occupation from industries in
cidental to railroad building and operation,
is noi Unmindfpl OF these facts. Hence it
is, that, from the time Of the gittering
blade which turned the primal sod, fol.
lowed By generous cheers for the success
full completion of a great national work, on
that day SO auspiciously inaugurated, down
to the present hour, there has been no con.
tijct between railroad wealth and honest
labor. From the workshop and the teller
there has gone out against them no COM
plant. And yet 70 day we hear q ciamor
against railroads which dins upon our ears
with the deafening rattle of summer
hail storm. We stand in the presence of
go great crisis that the exigency OF the
situation demands the converting OF an
extra session Of the Legislature demands
the change of our organic law by a sco-e OF
amendments to the Constitution demands
the impeachment, disgrace, and removal Of
two Democratic Railroad Commissioners,
who, up to the time OF their election, had
been regarded as honorable men and gen.
tlemea demands that the fixing of isres
and freights be made again the subject OF
legislative controversy; demands the ex.
penditure of so much money from the
State treasury for mileage, per diem, spe-
cial commissions, stationery, and other ex-
penses as Democratic Legislature may be
content to disburse. The Governor of the
State, in document of the most remark
able character, under the advice Of min
GRITTY wing Of his own party, in the personal
interest of few individuals OF that minor.
ity, has called an extra session.