Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-04
WHY THR RAILWAYS SHOULD LOOK
FAvORABLY UPON THE NICARAGUA
CANAL

We are inclined to think That the
Southern Pacific railway officisls do not
take at all times the wisest view of the
transportation problem. 1t is quite
natural that they should be set in their
opinions. People entrenched behind
millions repeated until the figures be-
come fatiguing, with all the powers that
these many times multiplied millions
involve, have, if not a right, at least a
prescription to be opinionated. But it
would probably do the magnates of that
corporation world of good if they
could drop their own personalities for a
while and see themselves and their in.
terests as others see them. This expe-
rience would not be altogether without
value even to Mr.. Coils P. Huntington,
whose all around cleyerness and ability
to tfcave people down the bank" are
universally admitted. From some re-
marks dropped by him on his recent
visit to Los Angeles, it is quite apparent
that he looks with hostility on the
Nicaragua canal project. This attitude
of Mr.. Huntington is founded on
merely surface view of the situation.
The canal undoubtedly means competi-
ton in transportation matters by sea,
immemorially the cheapest method of
conveying products and persons. The
railway fears this competition, as is
shown by the enormous subsidy they
have paid the Pacific Mail Steam
ship company. Perhaps as respects
that steamship line this was wise
policy from the point of view OF the rail-
way interests. We will concede that it
was, and pass that view of the matter.
When it comes to the Nicaragua canal,
however, the case is altogether differ
ent. 1t can be safely assumed that the
completion of that great work would
make the Pacific coast, and California
especially, the attractive point for both
eastern and European immigration. De-
sirable immigrants and our laws will
be go shaped as to repel any but desir-
able immigrants-could, with the canal
in operation, land at San Diego, at San
! Pedro, Redondo, Santa Monica and San
Francisco, from Liverpool, Queenstown,
Hamburg, Havre, and other European
ports, as cheaply and almost as
quickly as they could be landed in
the harbor OF New York. They could
certainly reach Southern and Central
California, Oregon and Washington as
cheaply-in fact they could do it more
cheaply-as they could hope to reach
any of the western states which hold out
any inducements to settlement, via New
York. Thus the result would be that,
while the business of the overland rail-
ways might suffer a momentary and
scarcely appreciable diminution, their
local business would shortly swell to
tremendous proportions. Werisk moth
ing in saying that, inside of decade,
through the increased population and
: consequent development, the local busi-
ness of these roads would swell to three
times its present volume.
Surely it is worth something to the
railways to see the whole Pacific coast
pulsating with new life? To see the
waste lands made productive, and to be
able to feast their eyes on expanding
communities as to whose development
there is absolutely no limit, especially
when the railways themselves would
benefit by the splendid impetus which
had been impaired to our growth? If
the railway magnates will only stop and
consider the matter little; if they
will, so to speak, get out of their we'll
but not hostile eyes, they will see the
immense benefit to themselves in
rounded and harmonious development
of section as to which Bishop Berke-
ley's words that times greatest tri-
umph would be his last apply. The
westward star OF empire cannot rest
until it has reached the brink of the
Pacific ocean, and the Nicaragua canal
will be the agency through which it will
attain it's perihelion OF wopdrous accom-
plishment.
AS to the status of the enterprise, it
is improving every day. The accession
of Andrew Carnegie, John w. Mackay,
H. M. Flagler, and many other capital
lists OF note, shows that it possesses
great financial vitality. In this state,
during the past few months, it has won
many adhesions. Such men as MIR.
Louis Sloss and Captain Cole, of San
Francisco, are interesting themselves in
the project, and all signs multiply in
favor of a strong and enthusiastic CO.
operation in the enterprise by the lead
ing capitalists OF this coast. We hope
the movement will not cease until, from
the length and breadth of California,
clamorous demand will 60 up to con-
gress in favor of guaranteeing the inter-
est on quantity of bonds sufficient to
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