The record-union., 1893-05-29
AN ASTOUNDING SITUATION
An Interior journal Cries Shame on
San Francisco.


Sutter Independent. May 26thl
1t is the most astounding situation we have
ever seen,
We quote the above from an editorial
in the Colusa SU7l, criticiSing the people
and press of Chico and Red Bluff for
growing at the railroad company and at
the same time doing nothing looking to
the protection and improvement of the
Sacramento River. In reply to the Slt7t'S
structures the Chico Enterprise AYERS that
the town OF Chico is over six miles from
the Sacramento River and adds that
after all, Chico has done as much in the
matter as her sister town, so on what
grounds has the Sun any right to kick ?''
The Sun is right. 1t is the most astound-
ing situation ever assumed or brought
about among a civilized people or any
people making pretensions to CONNER
cial activity or foresight. Here is a great
natural commercial highway, built by
the hand of Omnipotence right through
the center of the finest valley in the
State, without the cost of a cent to the
millions whom it was intended to bless,
and yet we find men at each end of its
navigable portion, who, while pretend
ing to be cOnservatorS OF the public good
and anxious for commercial prosperity,
not only fail, neglect and refuse to do
anything looking to the preservation and
improvement of this great natural high
way of trade, but actually give aid and
comfort to those who are doing all in
their power to destroy it. The spectacle
Of great commercial city, such as San
Francisco claims to be and ought to be,
consenting to and even aiding in
the destruction of its only natural
artery of interior commerce., is in
deed tastounding." And the compla-
cency with which towns at or near
the head of navigation-like Red Bluff
and Chico-view without protest the
process of destruction, is not only ''as-
founding" but is an evidence of mex
cusable business shOrt-sIghtedness not
to say imhecihty. A situation such as
contronts the people of Central and
Northern California at this time would
be impossible in the Mississippi Valley
or east of the Alleghanies, or anywhere
in civilized Europe. In the East, where
the whole country is gridironed with rail-
roads, millions are expended in the inn
provement of navigable waterways and
Tor the construction of auxiliary canals,
while san Francisco, whose former great
ness was due solely to the fact that it sat
at the meeting of the waters, has for a
quarter of a century looked calmly on
while the mountains were being mbled
into the sources of the only navigable
tributary to its splendid harbor, and into
the harbor itself Truly "the situation is
astonishing" A city that boasts Of
everything which goes to made up the
highest civilization has not produced one
man broad-minded and courageous
enough to call halt in this work of de-
struction, or having the will or ability 70
go before Congress.and persistentiy de-
mand that the Government shall atone
for former neglect and injustice. 1t was
left for the dark-eyed little Latin-Call-
fornian from the mountains OF Amador,
Congressman Caminetti, to make the only
persistent effort ever made by any Cali
fornia Congressman for the permanent
Improvement of san Francisco's only
natural interior feeder and distributor.
Shame on such a city!