Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-10-21
Attempt TO Withdraw Terminal
Railroad Facilities from lntc-
~xn~ Rinias.

Attempt to Withdraw Terminal
Railroad Facilities from Into
l.~rior Cities.
The recent movement to induce the
Southern Pacific Company to withdraw
from interior cities the terminal facili.
les so long enjoyed, can but be re-
garded by right-minded thinking men
as diametrically opposed to progress
and to the development OF the State.
While we appreciate the position of the
jou,nsw hich takes the contrary view
from tat entertained by the merch-
ants who have identified themselves
with the movement, there can be no
doubt as TO the duty OF the journalist,
when an honest conviction impels, him
to take the unpopular side of any ques-
ton. That our view Of this matter, 80
far as San Francisco merchants are
concerned, is an unpopular one,
we are all aware. But this renders it
none the less forcible, neither does it
prevent as from looking at the question
in an impartial, unprejudiced manner.
Fair. open competition, alwas develops
latent abilities. and it is the duty of
every person Interested in continuing
this port as the principal commercial
city Of the coast, to do what lies in his
power. legitimately, to maintain this
pesition. by overcoming all competi-
t;or. But it is not within the scope
Of fair competition for the merchants
of large city to invoke the
aid of powerful railroad
corporation to accomplish this
result. nor do we believe that the man.
ayers of the railroads in this State will
be induced to assume this position. San
Francisco occupies no mean advantage
already over every other city on the
coast. by reason of her facilities for
water transportation. Besides this, it
is the principal financial and manufac-
Nsuring point. Through shipping facili-
ties, t IL possible also for merchants do
ing Gusiness here to reach almost all
parts of the coast; hence, development
Of any section tends to increase the
trade Of this port. While the railroad
facilities enjoyed by merchants doing
business in interior cities enable them to
bring goods from the East, in some in
stances on more favorable terms than
they can be purchased in San francisco,
there 10 q oompensating advantage in
the fact that these facilities encourage
srovth and development that, under
other and less favorable Conditions
would not be experienced. This growth
directly contributes to the growth of
the principal commercial port. and what
= lost in the one instance is more than
made good through the larger demand
for suoh commodities as are manufac-
tured here or brought by sea from for
sicn markets. The advantage does not
siop here. The growth of the interior
cities necessarily develops new towns
and villages adjacent to them, and
these in turn encourage development of
the rural districts. This all tend, if
not directly, indirectly to the advantage
Of the larger city. There is still another
view that should not be overlooked.
The merchants of San Francisco being
the larger purchasers, are supposed to
snioy an advantage over smaller COM
netitors in the great markets of supply,
n this regard. If they cannot make this
felt in q way which cannot be over
come. without asking freight discrimin-
atiops in their favor, there is something
-ad;callv wrong with our system Of
ao;n~ business. How is 1t that mer-
chants in Chicago have prospered under
cond;tions similar to those which are
comniaiped of here? Terminal facilities
A. ali the larger Western cities are equal
from this coast. Our canned fruits,
salmon. dried fruits. sugar, rice and
ether commodities are distributed from
ali these ON equal terms, so far as trans
nortation rates overland are concerned:
The only advantage the merchants OF
a. Louis and Chicago enjoy in handbag