Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-27
THE RAILROADS,
The Chinese and the Vegetable
Traffic.
How the White Commission Men Are
Out.
Mr.. Cows Agency In Chicago-The Pc.
tato Trade in the Hands of the
Chinese-News and Per-
sona1 Notes.

John Chinaman to play it alone in the
game Of life, independent Of his white
brothers, is shown in the way that the
Southern California potato crop, or at
least that portion of it which is grown
by Mongols, is being handled in the
east.
Heretofore the commission men and
shippers of the city have done all the
business for the Chinese farmers, but
this season they found their business
falling away to almost nothing. It is
the same way with the railroads. The
Chinese vegetable grower used to pc the
favorite object of freight agents in their
attempts to gather in business for their
roads, but now John let's them talk and
ships his potatoes over the Santa Fe. A
great amount of speculation has been
INDUCED in as to the why of these mat
ters, and yesterday HERALD reporter
was given an explanation which ex-
plains.
1t seems that the Chinese farmers
have formed protective union, and
have established one of their number,
All Ach EN- Cow by name, as their
representative in Chicago. Mr.. Cow re-
ceives all consignments of potatoes, cab
bages, onions, and all the other prod
ucts, sells them in Chicago and other
eastern points, and remits the results to
the shippers.
That explains why the Cinnamon do
not patronize the local commission
agents; bat why is it that the Santa Fe
is credited with having almost monop-
oily Of their freight business? This is not
absolutely clear, but the HERALD's in
formant stated that Mr.. Cow has his Of
fee in Chicago with the Santa Fe,
which would account for his preference
for that road, which is now sending east
an average OF twenty-five carloads of po-
tatoes daily.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
At the next meeting Of the railroad
commissioners, which will take place on
Monday, June 6. James Rea of San Jose
will read complaint from John T.
Porter Of Watsonville asking for gen.
eral reduction of rates on the Southern
Pacific lines in California, says the San
Francisco Call. This complaint was
filed with the San Jose commissioner
about two weeks ago, but withdrawn
two days afterward, presumably for re-
vision, but in reality owing to several
small clouds in the political horizon,
The author of the complaint upon close
examination discovered that the clouds,
while still in their former position, have
the proverbial silver lining, and so he
has again presented his document for
the consideration of the board.
Ii, as the commissioners argue, they
can do nothing on the rate system with
out specific complaint, an opportunity
has now presented itself calling for i'm
mediate and decisive action. The act
ion of the board in this matter will be
watched with considerable interest by
people whose interests are involved and
by citizens of the state generally.
It is believed by the merchants, mem
bers of the Traffic association and other
wise, that the complaint will do abso-
lutely no good, for the reason that two
members of the board have been trying
to prove that rates are already lower
here than in some of the eastern states,
and that no general reduction is neces-
sary for the commercial prosperity of
California. In view of these recent
arguments for the Southern Pacific COM
pany that they say that it is entirely use
less to look to the present board for any
relief whatever, and also that the Traf.
fic association adopted wise policy in
refusing to file complaint as requested
by Messrs. Rea, Beckman and Litch-
field.
NOTES. l
L. M. Fletcher, general agent of the |
Texas Pacific and the Missouri Pacific,
with headquarters at San Francisco,
after brief visit here has returned.
Passenger business eastward is re-
ported as very light.
Passenger agents are figuring on Sc
curing the patronage of the delegates to
the Chicago convention. No rate has
yet been made.
Mr.. E. w. MCGEE was yesterday ap-
pointed city passenger and ticket agent |
of the Santa Fe company, with Office at |
129 North Spring street. Mr.. G. T. |
Parsons, heretofore passenger agent,
will remain in the employ of the Santa
Fe.
On Memorial day two additional trains
at s :25 and 10 80 a. m. will leave the |
Arcade depot for Santa Monica and the |
cafion. The last train will leave the |
cafion at 5 40 p. M, and Santa Monica |
at p. m. for Los Angeles. Interesting |
exercises at the Soldiers home and the |
Southern Pacific employees picnic and
athletic sports at Rustic cafion are the
attractions.
Wfnterilla leaves the skin soft and beautiful