The record-union., 1892-12-06

hibit them from predicating low rates
upon the anticipation that very rapid de
Yelopment of the agricultural and other
industries of the State will occur TO in
crease the volume of business, such as re-
1erred to in Illinois and its adjacent
States also in Eastern Kansas, Nebraska
and IN the DakCtas. Although such a
policy was adopted with good results
Dy some OF the railroads in the
states alluded to, the conditions exist
ing IN California ana i'll its ad accent States
are greatly different, and present no
foundation on which to base sucn policy.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL
AND OTHER INDUSTRIES IN CALI
FORNIA.
The statement that your board is pro-
hlblted from basing low rates upon an
tIclpated rapid development OF agrIcuIt-
ural and other industries is sustained by
the general situation in California, which
must be taken into account in every et-
tort to determine the question of just and
equitable rates for its railways.
Of the lOO,0OO,0O0 acres Of land in the
State 25,0O0,0O0 acres are claimed to be
productive valley lands: 15,00O, 900 acres
are arabic lands in the foothills of the
mountains; OF the remaining U0,000,00O
acres $1,000, ,O00 are classed as mountain
Gus anC 22,O00,000 as desert lands.
/ Colonel Morgan points out that i'll
( adapting products California is capable
OF, to conditions, we have but begun.
, That where we grew wheat largely wheat
growing has given way 10 other prOduc-
/ ton, and in other sections wheat-groWing
has been just taken up. But we have in
creased in population, realty values and
cultivated area. But the G0000, 600 acres
| Of mountainous and desert lands will re-
main much as they are for considerable
time. and contribute but little to rapid
development and wealth of the State, eX-
cepting precious and valuable minerals
which bring wealth, but not large and
! permanent population or volume OF pas
senger and freight traffic.
| LARGE LAND-HoLDINGS.
! Large land-holdings il the valleys and
other productive sections retard develop
ment. Nearly one-half our arabic land is
owned IN large areas, averaging $4,000
acres and embracing more than half the
/ choicest land, and these acres are held at
high, ii not prohibitory, valuations. APP
pendiX q is referred to for tabular illus
tration OF the great injury large land
holding is TO the State.
FOOTHILLS-IRRIGAT
| The foothills, their soil rich and partly
subdued are slow OF development: large
areas OF arabic land must have irriga-
| ton something like that in Southern
tard development of our agricultural re-
! sources, and prove, he argues, that con
| siderable time must elapse before these
| drawbacks are removed.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE
| STATES AND TERRITORIES SURROUND
/ ING CALIFORNIA.
The most productive State that adioins
| California is Oregon, but excepting a con-
| siderable interstate passenger tratlic the
commercial intercourse by railroad is
small.
| The Siskiyou Mountains divide the
States, and the products on each side OF
| the range, as a rule, seek tide water and
ocean transit; On the East is Nevada
and Arizona, included on the westerly
side of broad. elevated and broken arid
region, extending north and south of
| California, which is from / 200 to 800
miles wide. This vast area has compara-
lively very limited pastoral capacity.
and its agricultural capacity is very much
| less. Mining is the chief industry. on
the south is the most unproductive part
Of the republic Of Mexico, with which
there is but little commercial intercourse
by rail or otherwise.
! CALIFORNIA AN EXCEPTIONAL STATE.
Sufficient has been said to demonstrate
that California is 50 exceptional in its
conditions that it cannot be properlv in
0
rates OF the railroads of the country at
large, and thus determine what would be
just and equitable rates for transporta-
ton.
THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE OF
RAILWAYS AND THEIR EQUIPMENT.
The character Of the construction of the
railroads OF California, and OF their NOV
able and stationary equipment and also
their present material and physical con-
i mr. no fstNr IN ..4I Al.
struction, equipment and condition of
the other railways of the United States.
The physical evolution Of these roads in
all details has generally kept pace with
the development of the RAILWAYS of the
world.
With unimportant exceptions. at no
| time in their history have the railroads
in California been equal in their material
conditions TO those now existing. There
is more and superior motive power and
car equipment, u higher standard Of
track maintenance and better facilities of
all kinds.
CHARACTER OF ACCOMMODATION AND
SERVICE.
The passenger and freight service is as
prompt, efficient, comfortable, ami good
as can be found anywhere under like
circumstances.
RATES TRANsPoSED.
Appendix IL presents class rates in
effect on the lines of the Southern Pacific
Company in California, transposed for
the Western classification, compared with
the rates in effect in Illinois. Colonel
Morgan says: On the whole. this com
parison OF figures is favorable to the
Southern Pacific Companv's rates. and
if the general physical characteristics of
Illinois and its neighbor States are taken
INTO account the comparison becomes
still more favorable, but not so complete
and satisfactory as it ought to be to JUS
tity determination as to which rates are
the most reasonable and equitable. A
comparison OF the figures even with the
aid of the difference in physical charac-
| teristlcs which have been presented,
leaves the question of the relative Justice
and equity Of the rates largely to vague
conjecture, also to prejudice and personal
interest in all their phases.
Before any fairly accurate conclusion
can be reached, further and more precise