The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-31
MoRE RAILnoAps VIII PAY.

California must have more railroads. and
Ct is time for cur citizens TO begin to think
about them. This State is some 500 or geo
miles 10 length, and we have the Central
Pacific, which runs east and west through
the poorest portions Of California and Ne
yada Then we have the Northern Pacific
Railroad. which Is 500 or 400 miles north Of
tie Central Pacific. Between these two
railroads there is a broad expanse Of coun-
try extending westerly from the longitude
Of Ogden to the Sacramento Valley. There
must ultimately be two or three railroads
between these two lines, for much Of
the country consists Of valuable grazing
and farming lands There are also rich
mines, and on the tile Sierra Nevadas, north
of the Central Pacific. there IS an immense
tract Of The finest timber in the world.
This country must soon be settled. Indeed,
tntre are already quite large settlements, A
railroad connecting with the Chicago and
Northwestern near the South Pass Of the
Rocky Mountains, coming into the Upper
Sacramento Valley, would prove a Yalua-
be property. Some Eastern company viii
take such d read in hand If California does
not. The Vanderbilt roads are tending
in This direction. California must also have
railroads south Of the Central Pacific and
north Of the Southern Pacific and the roads
controlled by the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe system. Here is an immense
country which must also have railroads. 1t
would be absurd to urge that such region
Of country as we have both north aud south
Of the Central Paeiie Railroad will not have
communication with the outside world.
Then all through our valleys there is room
for numerous railroads, and California must
have them. and they viii come soon. How
are Va going to obtain them? San Fran
cisco has within her reach the means TO
build all these roads. In fact there is an
abundance Of money which could be well
and safely invested in railroads. All we re-
Qu5re is for discreet and reliable men
to move in the matter. and it Will
be sure of accomplishment. On Sunday
morning THE CALL published sn editorial
saying that railroads can be built at a cost
OF about S20,0O a mile. Railroads costing
only such a sum would Immediately pay a
fair profit, but suppose, for tie time being,
they would pay NJ more than a fair rate Of
interest. would they not become valuable
properties? THE CALL urges that twenty
millions Of dollars could be raised In San
Francisco as fast as money would be re-
Quired to build a well-planned railroad ex-
tending far enough east TO meet half a dozen
strong lines. The plan would be to organize
and issue bonds as fast as money was re-
quired TO build the road. Probably 5-per-
cent bonds would obtain the money, but
6.per-cent bonds surely would. The persons
furnishing the money should be allotted a
certain number Of the shares Of the capital
stock IN addition to the bonds. We urge
that California ought to take this matter in
hand and 90 ahead with it. Reflect upon
what change would take place in CGlifOT-
MAN affairs were such a movement as we
have suggested fairly inaugurated. The
building Of railroads, which California must
have. would put in motion large sums of
money. II would enliven business. Immi-
grants would come in, and our cities and
towns, from one extremity Of the State TO
the other, would spring into Importance.
TIE CALL urges that California could al
ford to build all Of the railroads she needs
without calling upon Stanford and Hunt
ington to step in and build them for her. hr-
Ing the money and then plundering us
ProDerty-Owners had better join hands and
90 to work. for every dollar put into rail-
roads, If properly managed, would return
them large profits. Stanford & Co, at best.
are only taking the money out Of the inhab-
iiants Of this coast to build the roads, which
they viii then use 10 Cypress Us.