The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1890-12-25
ClIlEEL VHSTOES ROAD,
RIply 70 n Editorial IN The RuTlsV--
Hs viii Push tho Project,
Having Resolved warn Eneourage-
msnt, NE says, Rrom Press
ana People.

Il now being widely discussed In this
state, and has strongly advocated the
building Of Q state railroad. Last even
Ing P0stIags1igencer reporter showed
him this rooms At the Albion an edi-
torihl u TIE Spokane RsvisD Of December
u, declaring i'the strong common sense
o. the people has already rejected his
proposition Of . state railway from the
grain lands Of eastern Washington TO
the shores Of Puget sound"
Colonel Winston commented in his
usual vigorous style on this editorial,
saying; The proposition Is q simple
one. It d that charter shall be obtained
for . railway from Puget sound across the
state 70 the Idaho line; that the state
shall subscribe 10 the stock Of the road in
precisely the same way an individual
does. A bill authorizing . subscription
would provide for the appointment Of
proxy 10 vote the state stock at the stock
holders meetings. The stockholders
would elect . board Of directors and they
IN turn woHldelect the officers Of the road.
Z There IL nothing novel about this
business. Cities, counties and states
have time and again and from time i'm
memorial subscribed 10 the stock Of such
works Of internal improvement. Eng
land owns . majority Of the stock Of the
Sues canal, Ohio owns the Cincinnati
Southern railway, New York owns the
Erie canal, and North Carolina owns the
Atlantic railway. It Is only a question
Of financial ability.
''To read some Of the newspapers you
would suppose this was q kind Of semi
political, ssmi-eOmmunistic scheme;
that the officers Of the road, from presi-
dent 10 brAkemen, are to be elected BY
popular vote, the people to ride free and
the produce 10 betTanspoTted for nothing.
Gas l have said. the only difficulty in
the way d the one Of financial ability.
II the state should subscribe 5000, 900
TO this enterprise the stock would have
to be paid for By . sale Of state bonds
running for twenty years. These bonds
would sell ct par. It Is not much to say
that debt Of S0yOOO,OOO would not be
buFdensome 10 our state twenty years
IRON to-day. Just think what our Popu-
lation and taxable wealth will then BET"
In reply 10 the question whether or
Dot q railroad commission would relieve
lhe situation and answer all practical
purposes. Colonel Winston answered:
HCan . railway commission furnish cars
and rolling stock? Can . railway COM
mission compel roads TO furnish freight
ean 4 the roads havenT got them to
furnish2 There d another question
which I would like to ask some Of the
Newspaper gentlemen who are discussing
this railroad commission proposition, and
that b, Can . railway commission ever
regulate freight and passenger charges
under our constitution? The constitution
expressly says that fares and freight rates
shall be fxed BY the legislature. Now,
In the lace q the provision, Is il certain
that right can be delegated by the legis-
lature 10 . commission? l do not be-
lieve it can"
The objection was then mentioned that
Jay Gould or some other corporation
would soon RObble up the railroad. For
this Colonel Winston's answer was:
''0f course, from the day when Esau
sid his biTthright for . mass Of pottage
until now the 'accursed thirst for gold
hes eanSed men 10 betray not only them
selves but their fellows. Suppose, how
ever, the act authorizing the subscrip-
ton should contain provision that the
rod should never be sold or leased 20
long - Il paid running expenses I
take Il that Mr.. Gould or Mr.. Anybody
slsS would hesitate . little while over
The title before sObblinE b up. as you
suggest"
However," continued Colonel Win
aton, 'this b no hobby Of mine. I am
not . man who rides . hobby. With
millions Of dollaEs' worth Of produce
awaiting transportation, with the entire
years labor Of many Of my fellow citizens
threatened with destruction for the want
Of . market, /, in common with others,
was called on 10 suggest . remedy for this
unhappy state Of Affairs. About that
time I read in the papers that the farmers
q The PalOuse country were talking about
building . railroad to Puget sound.