Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-12-15
RAPID TRANSIT.
The New Relations Thereby of Countries
to Each Other.

The New Relations Thereby of Countries
to Each Other.
The San Francisco Call gives synopsis
of lecture delivered by William H Mills
before the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton of San Francisco, on Thursday even
ing, upon The Era of Rapid Transit in the
New Relation of Countries to Each Other
The Cal says:
The speaker commenced by disclaiming
any intention of delivering a formal ad-
dress; he was desirous merely of giving a
talk on the subject he had chosen. This.
he said, is the era of rapid transit and the
near relations of countries to one another is
IFS consequence. Rapid transit first affects
people, then goods and merchandise. and
third, thought. By the rapid transit of
men time is saved time is something
which once lest is never regained 1t now
takes six days 10 transport man from San
Francisco TO New York. Before the era of
railroads ard rapid transit 100 days were
consumed in the passage. Fully ninety
four days were thus lost.
1t is TO the transportation Of humanity
alone, Mr.. Mills went on to say, that this
rule of rapid transit applies. When it is
cargo of iron that has to be brought from
New York to San Francisco there are en-
tirely different principles involved. 1t
matters not how long this iron is on the
voyage 1t is purely a question of cheap
ness. Time was when it did not paw 10
transport corn more than twenty miles
from the place where it was grown. Farm
ers calculated that if the driver of the team
hauling the corn had to stay over night at
the place of destination that there had been
| loss. 1t was the same with hay. Wheat
could be transported greater distance.
The railroad changed all this, however.
They brought markets near to one another
and enlarged the area from which supplies
could be drawn. Land which previously
could only have been cultivated at loss
could now be titled with a profit
The speaker illustrated his remarks here
by stating that Albany and New York were
further distant before the era of rapid
transit than are Council Bluffs and New
York now.
INFLUENCE ON CALIFORNIA FRUIT.
Tracing the effects OF rapid traffic, Mr..
Mills went on to speak of its influence on
the California fruit. The transportation
between California and the East had never
been cheaper than at present, though sue
ceeding years would see still lower rates
than those now quoted. California had
| now an immense makret in the East for
| fruit The fruit-grower of the interior val
leys of the State is brought within few
| miles of the great centers OF population in
| the East. To such an extent is this the
case that it is possible now to buy fruit in
New York or Chicago nearly as cheap as in
| San Francisco. Divided among so many
pounds OF fruit the cost of transportation is
eliminated; it is too small 10 consider The
| question of distance is lost when that OF
cost takes its place. When that is moder-
70 VII, <,fE Eo1s
are brought within so many miles of Min
neapolis or any other Eastern city.
Mr.. Mills characterized the project of
| sending a representative of California fruits
| TO the London Exhibition as the boldest
| challenge TO the Old World the New World
had yet made. Its eventual result, he said,
would be to force q reconstruction
of the laws and customs of Europe, par
| ticularly those pertaining 10 the tenure and
cultivation of land. California fruits
would yet take their place in the European
markets, and would force out the product
| of Italy, which now holds and controls
these markets, even though labor in Cali
| fornia is higher and the cost of Transports
| ton so enormous. Once this is done the
Italian will be forced TO confront the pro-
| blem-how commonwealth, paying wages
of 81 30 daily, can possibly compete with
one paying IA cents wages daily. They
| will find out that the land here is held by
different tenure, and that the methods Of
cultivation are more effective. Thus the
old and the new are brought into conflict,
| and there will be a breaking up of the
feudal system in Italy.
OTHER ASPECTS OF THE QUESTION.
Cheap transportation, Mr.. Mills contin-
| ued, is one of the causes for the present
| land agitations in Ireland. Continuing, he
| touched upon the interstate law, and the
long and short haul clause, characterizing
it as a measure of protection to seaboard
lands, to keep up their value.
Concluding, he said that the policy of
| the Government which leaves commerce
untrammeled is the best. Attempt to i'm
pose restrictions and you destroy it. He
| alluded 10 the policy of China in keeping
| herself distinct from the rest of the world,
becoming hermit nation. The effect had
been to retard the progress of Chinese civili-
zation. The result would be same if the
United States pursued a similar policy.
Without raising any question, he drew at
tention 10 the Scott bill, asking if the die
tates of the golden rule had been followed
in the exclusion from our shores of China
men who had left home before its passage
had been thought of.
Regarding the anti Chinese spirit of the
last campaign, Mr.. Mills said if the man
passing down from Jerusalem to Jericho
who fell among thieves and was left strip
ped and beaten on the roadside had hap
pened to be Chinaman, that not either of
the candidates for President, had they
passed that way, would have dared to pick
him up.
On motion of Captain Hull vote of
thanks was rendered Mr.. Mills for his in
terestinp address