The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-07

Inc portion OF the southern Paeihc Kali
roads annual report which has been allowed
10 90 forth TO the public is a curious speci-
men OF commercial literature. 1t contains
no figures and no means of testing any
statement The public are presumed not
to take any interest in the affairs of the
company. although they supply the traffic.
and it is assumed that they have no right 10
the information il they were interested.
The railroad is only private concern. ope-
rated Tor the beDefit OF private shareholders,
and not subject 10 any law but its own.
But without any details of traffic results 20
examine and compare, the assurance Is
given that the business OF last year was in
the main satisfactory. There is actually, it
is declared, no way to increase earnings
until larger tonnage pours in for trans
portaton. and the company believe this
%ill come soon when there is a steady
and rapid Increase Of producers. No
doubt; but why should the company not
do something 10 encourage producers
and attract immigration? Their policy is
the reverse Of encouragement The direc-
tors congratulate themselves upon having
done much TO build up portions of Cali
fornia, and say This charitable work is a
compensation for not receiving dividends
upon their shares. Thus the public are
asked to believe that il is a case of virtue is
lis own reward-R conclusion 10 which they
are likely TO assent when they reflect upon
the number OF milliOnaiTes the Pacific rail-
roads have made. An increase Of an intelli-
gent working population unquestionably
would improve the property OF the railroad
and Of tile State, but cannot the company
do not little at once TO stimulate this in
crease so much desired by all classes? IL is
not quite so necessary TO tell people about
the wonderful fertility of tile Californian
soil as 10 make il known that the facilities
fer communication and TRANSFORMATION are
fair and reasonable. The fact that these
facilities are not what they ought 10 be-
keeps this State back.
Mr.. A. T. Hatch. weil-known fruit-ship-
per, has obliged the public with some figures
which throw little light on the traffic man.
agement Of the Southern Pacific. He shows
that when shippers have TO endure repeated
losses from their shipments they are not
likely 10 increase tonnage in the hope of
getting lower rates. A great increase Of
tonnage would follow reduction of rates
TO the East, the demand for green fruit at
the right seasons being practically unliln-
tied. That would be the rational method of
developing traffic for a railroad, but Mr.
Huntington understands the business Of
transportation and prefers putting the cart
before the horse. Local rates are high and
overland rates ruiDousy high. A car of
fruit, says Mr. Hatch, must sell in New
York at $500 10 clear the shipper Of loss
and he gives Instances where, not reaching
lLdb tt6lG was great loss. IL Is true
that number OF sales 60 above this
quotation. If there were not some return
the shipper would cease to send his
fruit East. But the fruit-grower would ex-
tend his trade vastly and with complete GER
tainty of reward il rates were reduced
tangibly. In the end the railroads would
gain by increase OF tonnage The business
aspect OF the appeal TO the railroads 10 deal
fairly by traders is quite as sound as that
which warranted the establishment of cheap
Al j. sol.s l.
benefits have come TO tie world. If re-
duction Of 25 per cent be given. it is esti-
mated that the fruit shipments would this
year be increased 80 per cent. AS 10 local
rates it is bad state Of things when grapes
cannot be shipped proftIbly from Placer
County 10 San Francisco. although beans
may be sent to New York from Ventura.
A notable antiquarian has passed away in
London at the age of 81. John Collngwood
Bruce. for the greater part of his life
resident Of Newcastle on Tyne, Is best
known for bis researches and publications
on the Roman wall between tie Tyne and
SOlway. Thanks to his laboTs, the track
of the wall has been thoroughly laid bare
over great distances. and many relics of
artistic and at all events archaeological in
terest have been discovered and preserved
TO throw light on the civilization Of the
Roman conquerors. His enthusiasm as an
explorer In the rubbish-heaps of the past
extended to other fields of inquiry, and he
was prominent in any gathering of anti
quarians.
1t is to be hoped that no suspicion rests
upon the hunters who have scalped coyotes
in this State and claimed head money that
they have procured any of their specimens
beyond the State line. The claims foot up
to large sum, and so much the better if
they are all genuine. In Douglass County,
kans., reward of SO Is paid for wolf
scalps, and the wolves of other counties are
being killed to accommodate the demand
Ii the reward went much higher it would
tempt the INSCRIPTIONS to import scalps
from any region. Frauds are liable to be
perpetrated the higher the compensation
| rises.
The more the matter Of Police Court
| bonds is probed the more scandalous does
the laxity of the system appear. People
| give bonds who have no real estate 10 at
tach. and who can afford no satisfaction if
| execution were resorted to. Mr.. ODonnell
| Is not wide of the mark when he says that
| some men make money by giving their
| names as sureties. That is all they do give
| Besides bonds that are worthless there are
| bonds missing, and consequently very much
| worthless. Perhaps had these remained In
| custody they might have realized little
Ii stolen there would be motive for steal
| ing them. One bond was yesterday pro-
| duced before the Finance Committee Of the
| Supervisors entirely In the handwriting of q
| clerk. Even the handwriting of the sigma
| lures was pronounced to be that of the
| clerk, although he denied il was. Evidently
| the regulations affecting the acceptance Of
| bonds require thorough 0verhauling.