Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-29
PROTECT AMERICAN RAILROADS,
Comments Upon Joseph Nimme, Jr.'s
Earnest Protest.

Earnest Protest.
frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper
The application made by the Canadian |
Pacific Railroad to the Treasury Depart |
ment, for the same international traffic |
privileges that the Grand Trunk Railroad |
has been receiving, calls from the pen OF
Joseph Nimmo Jr., of Washington, an
earnest protest, which invites and deserves
general attention. Mr.. Nimmo opposes
the granting of any faEors by the United
States Government to the Canadian Pacific
Railroad. He says that road was built as
a purely political ard military enterprise,
intended to unite the disconnected blocks
of the British Dominion,,to induce them &c
trade among themselves instead OF WIFI
the United States, to suppress the anheXS-
ton spirit in Canada, to divert commerce
from the American lines, and lastly 20
serve as a line CT military communication
in the Dominica and promote the scheme
of British imperial confederation. He
quotes Sir John Macdonald, the Canadian
Premier, the leading promoter Of the
Canadian Pacific Railroad, as publicly de-
claring that his chief aim was to establish
a strong government on this cont. aent
based upon monarchical principles. This,
Mr.. Nimmo SAYS, explains who the Do
minion Government granted an aggregate
subsidy Of S2I5,000,000 to the Canadian
Pacific, although its total cost, including
the entire plant, was only Sl65,eO0,G0O,
and its fetal stock and bonds are but
S12I, 100000 In addition to this subsidy
of the Canadian Pacific RaiEoad, a
steamer line has been established on the
Pacific with subsidy of 100000, against
one of S16,750 paid by the United States
for the carriage of our Asiatic meiEs
Mr.. Nimmo says, further, that the Do
minion Government has granted z subsidy
of 100000 year to an Atlantic steamer
line to operate from Halifax in Conjunc-
ton with the Canadian Pacific liae which
is Just being finished across the State OF
Maine He protests against extending to
road thus subsidized, largely for govern
mental purposes, the same privileges that
have been granted to the Grand Trunk
road. which received from the Dominion
Government only one-tenth of the S241,
600 O0Q which it cost. He calls attention
also to the fact that the Grand Trunk
Railroad carries a large amount Of Amer
lean produce through Canada into Mon
treal for export. and brings a large amount
of traffic to the American sea ports, while
the Canadian Pacific is reaching out tC
secure all LnS American Du5iLSSS II Cttl
get, and even proposes, by the construction
of its lire through the forests Of Maine
to connect with a subsidized steamship
line to Europe, thus cutting off New York
Boston, and Portland and their tributary
railroads from the benefits they enjoy Of
the transit trade through the Grand
Trunk and its connections in this coun
try. @
Considering these facts, it is not sur
prising that this earnest protest agains
the proposition to extend American aid t
a purely Canadian enterprise has been en-
tered. The Canadian Pacific Railroad
does not come under the operations of tht
interstate commerce law, and is thus en-
abled to take great advantage over th'
competing American trunk lines, which
Weld obedience to the strict provisions 0
that oppressive Act Before any furthe
privileges are extended to the Canadian
Pacific, it Should at least be stipulated tina
that corporation must submit to the sam
restrictions as are imposed upon Ameri
can railroads by the Interstate Act. Tn,
need of a strong American policy at tn
seat of the Federal Government was neve
more manifest than it is now, in the treat
ment of these perplexing problems relativ
TO the competition of subsidized Canada
railroads with struggling American trun
lines Mr. Nimmo's statement Of the fact
is pertinent and timely. 4 perusal of
shows the obvious improperly of tn
Canadian Pacific Railroads request.