The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-27
THE SITUATION EXPLAINED.

Certain newspapers have recently had
considerable 10 say in respect to the different
interests Of San Francisco and the interior
Of tile State in respect to freight rates by
railroads. These interests, it is urged, can
not blerd any more than oil and water"
In other words, the wise conductors of these
newspapers would like to have the San
Francisco merchants attend to their own
business and permit interior merchants AMI
farmers to attend to theirs. We take it for
granted that the objects Of the present agi-
tarion in respect 10 freight charges are de-
signed to benefit the whole State of Cali
fornia Merchants are not only interested
in obtaining reasonable charges upon their
own merchandise-that which they intend
TO sell-but it is essential also that the in
habI;aIt5 of the interior, farmers Tor in-
stance, shall sell their fruits and other
products for something more than enough
to pay the anspOrtatiOu charges to mar
ket. What does il signify even if the mer-
chauts could obtain a reasonable reduction
in freight rates on the merchandise which
they have for sale, if the other industries of
the Stlte are 50 impoverished that the persons
VINO conduct them are unable to purchase
those commodities. There is no difference
Of opinion among intelligent citizens that
the business Of The State suffers from the
lack Of markets., which are to certain ex-
tent cloggrd by combination with the Cana
dian Pacific Railway Company, the Northern
Pacific Railroad Company, the AtchisoD and
Topeka Railroad Company and the Pacific
Mail Steamship Company. The combina-
lions TO which illusions are made are to
great extent at the bottom Of our troubles,
and in the opinion OF TIE CALL we shall
not reach a proper degree OF prosperity un-
til relief is obtained.
The CALL has heretofore pointed out how
relief could be obtained. Under any state
Of things San Francisco should secure the
control of line Of steamers to New York.
via the isthmus. II this were done heavy
merchandise could come to the city at COM
parativelY light freight charges, and many Of
our farming products could be sent to mar
ket by the same route, also at reasonable
freight rates. For great city and State to
be at the mercy of combination like that
which exists on this coast is frightful, and
it is quite certain that San Francisco cannot
do much while her energies are cramped
with combinations of this description. San
Francisco must control a line of steamships
by way of the isthmus. This proposition
is self-evident if she expects to take a
proper position in the transaction of the
business of the Pacific Coast, and we may
add also that she cannot obtain freight
rates low enough in any way except by
water to do a reasonable amount of bust
ness with interior towns. 1t is an essential
point that we keep open the waterways
leading to and from San Francisco. AS to
freight charges by our railroads it is just
and proper that California should join With
every interest on tAe coast in asking Con-
gress to adjust freight rates upon fair and
equitable basis. This adjustment, The CALL
believes, may be obtained without much
difficulty. In It gard to California We must
elect men upon the Railroad Commission
who are in the interests of the reopie in
stead If permitting railroad combination
to control them, for lie it borne in mind
that within OUT OWN borders We can regulate
such matters ourselves,
A few days ago The CALL referred to
the claim which the General Government
has nj on the Central and Union Pacific
railroads. In fact our citizens realized
that money and land enough were furnished
to the companies to construct two roads.
These roads have been wrcIchediy man
aged. The Union Pacific is hampered with
a large floating debt, which was probably
created for the purpose of iDiuring the
property. The Central Pacific Railroad
Company is hung on to the Southern
Pacific Railroad Company, corpora
ton which was never worth much to
the inhabitants of California. but it
furnished a tail" as the saying is,
to wag the Central Pacific Railroad with.
THE CALL is inclined TO believe the Gov
eminent will have eventually to own few
great lines of railroad. and one Of these
should be from the Mississippi Valley to
this coast, say San Francisco. Why should
not the Government begin by fOreclosing
the mortgage which it holds upon these two
roads? Surely If the Union Pacific must
be made thing with which to gamble at
the expense of the people, why should not
the Government take it and use it as it does
canal? The Central Pacific is a tail to
the Southern Pacife's kite. hence it might
be served in tie same way, with no impro-
prety or injustice to the gentlemen who
now control it, for they are old men and
already have more money than sAsy know
what 10 do with.