Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-01
PEEv1sH COMPLAINING.
The Dude of the San Francisco Receiv-
ing Hospital.
From the San Francisco Alta. /


From the San Francisco Alta.I
Yesterday two of the local papers treated
their readers TO long winded complaints
made against the railroad officials by two
or three of the south bound passengers who
reached the city Sunday. Oddly enough,
the reporters of the journals in question
found every man who had anything derog-
atory to say about the railroad manage
ment, but managed to entirely overlook
the numerous reputable passengers who
praised the railway officials and expressed
themselves as satisfied with the efforts
made in their behalf. One grumbler
would be quoted at length, while twenty
men with no complaints to make were
found unworthy of notice. Does any re-
liable well-informed Californian need be
told what newspapers followed this course?
It will be observed that the greatest COM
plant is made in behalf of certain poor
passengers who have not become suffi-
GENTLY indignant to complain on their own
account. If the railroad officials have been
DELINQUENT, the Ahd believes they should
be severely censured, but the facts should
first be ascertained. The testimony of all
interested should be fairly taken. If one
condemn where twenty praise, shall the
word of the one outweigh the testimony of
all the others? Only by a full and fair
hearing can the facts be arrived at. 1t is
inexpressably mean to vent spite against
the railroad company over the mishaps of
the great storm. 1t is losing from $4,000
to 100000 every day the blockade lasts,
and is really the great sufferer from the
recent unparalleled storms. Of course the
snow-bound passengers have been sub
iected to all sorts of discomforts and vexa-
tious annoyances. They have suffered
naturally from cold and the other priva-
tons incident to being stuck in the snow in
the heart of a bleak and almost unin-
habited mountain region, where subsist-
enee and hotel accommodations cannot be
had for love or money. They have doubt
less been obliged 10 put up with scanty
food indiferently cooked; but this hard
ship was natural result of the blockade.
Nobody could foresee what was coming. 1t
was unusual and entirely unexpected. The
railroad company cannot control the ele-
ments it did not bring the storm or con-
triye for the avalanches and washouts.
Those of the passengers who took sensi
BILE view of the situation, treated their en-
forced detention, with its consequent hard
ships and priyations, in philosophic spirit
and made the best of their disagreeable
predicament. They felt assured that the
railroad company would relieve them as
quickly as possible, for it was the COM
pany's interest to do so. But there is al
WAYS a proportion in every gathering of
human beings who will view nothing with
philosophy nor bear anything disagreeable
with fortitude. This contingent furnishes
the "chronic kickersv of this imperfect
world. In the summer they grumble be-
cause it is too hot, and in winter they growl
because it is too cold. If it rains they
damn the wet, and when it is dry they
lament because crop prospects are bad.
They have always got cold in the head, a
soft corn, an aching tooth, heartburn, or
the bellyache. They are never satisfied in
this life; let US hope they will get all the
satisfaction in thenext that they deny them
selves in this.
In this class may be numbered Police
Surgeon Foulkes of this city. A dude,
Miss Nancy, with lah-de-dah lisp, in
town, of course he became as peeyish as a
sick girl when he was placed where he
could not get rose water and milk toast
every morning. No wonder he was taken
down sick, and filed the ears of his COM
panions and the telegraph wires with his
meanings. As he was down sick most of
the time he could see but little, but that
did not prevent his imagining great deal.
He unbosOmed himself to reporter as
soon as he reached town. and promptly de-
MED the maior portion of his charges when
he saw them in print. DR.. Foulkes talked
as though he expected the railroad COM
pany to maintain irst-class hotel at every
mountain cut, and keep relay of French
cooks on hand to provide quail on toast at
every snowshed for snowbound passengers.
He criticised Division Superintendent
Wright, although the latter was at Sacra-
mento and his doings were beyond the
personal knowledge of Foulkes. This
dainty exotic of the Receiving Hospital
grew stronger in his denunciation the far
Their he receded from events within his
knowledge. He had little to complain of
on his own account, but waxed indignant
over the wrongs of other people, who were
so healthy. hearty and robust minded that
they expressed themselves as Sc listed.
The 4ka desires to see fairnes sall around
in this matter, and it hopes tn i spirit of
fairness will attend further inquiry. When
the snowbound passengers get in let Us
hear what they have got to say collectively.