The record-union., 1893-01-07
SAVE THE RIVERS.
Farmer CAROLS Reasons Why This
Should Be Done.
He Wants the Legislature to Take
Hold of the Important Subject
at This Session.

: EDS. RECORD-UNION: 1t has come to
be an everyday song, for the last year at
least-competition in transportation busi-
ness, especially on interior lines of traffic
and so much has been said by the press
and some of the people Of San Francisco
that, if stranger wanted to settle and
enjoy the healthful influences of our eli
mate, it would be enough of itself to turn
him back. Let me say that so long as
this is kept up It will be detriment 60
the State. Immigration will be retarded
and capital will hesitate before seeking
these shores.
Now, have we no competing lines al
ready that nature has created for the use
of man? 1 mean our navigable rivers
running in the center of our great and
fertile valleys, within the sound of the
railroad whistle. AS l have said, they
are the property of the people and the gift
of nature. Let us take care of them and
see that they are not destroyed, as is the
Feather at present, where the farm
| houses had to be abandoned and fertile
lands are now receiving great deposits Of
sand from the mines.
Such is the situation at Nicolaus. Stock
| has to be driven away as soon as it can be
got out to higher land, and fine dairies
have to be broken up. Let US not shut
our eyes to this all-important matter.
Something must be done, and that speed
| lily, or a calamity awaits us, and the day
| is not distant.
In my last letter I said I would present
some proofs Of the value of river as
regulator of rates. The town of Nicolaus
is about fifteen miles distant from Sheri-
| dan, a station on the California and
Oregon road. Grain was hauled from
within two miles of that place to Nicoiaus
for shipment to the bay, because it paid
| to do so, on account of its cheapness.
The rivers are the regulators, but
| it is good that we have the rail-
roads where needed, and let US
! do nothing to cripple them; for. let
| it be once known that capital is
not safe invested in railroads in Callfor-
| MIA, and l can assure you that not many
more roads will be built. There are none
OF these roads we would want re-
moved, as they have enhanced the values
of property wherever built, and some of
them are built where they don't pay as
vet, but maybe they will when the land
is more thickly settled.
We have watched the progress of rail-
road building from its infancy, when
trying to cross what seemed to be an inn
uassabe barrier, and in truth we have to
| admit that their labors will bear them
record to the most distant age. Railroad
operations must be like any other busi-
ness; they can't fix rates that will kill
business only to create it. l know the
light expense of railroad building and
running, and the charges for freight and
passenger fare in the great State ol
Illinois, for was there last year ana
know that country well. 1t is fertile soil
and has dense population and volume
of business compared TO ours. All o.
this considered, L think we have no
much cause to complain.
Now let US turn to our rivers and to the
fertile lands along them and save them
both, and prepare for it while we have
the law-making power in session, and
not let precious time be wasted discuss
ing useless and impracticable questions
Nicolaus, Cal. P. CARROLL.