The record-union., 1893-01-27

FACTURERs' ASSOCIATION.
There appeared in the San Francisco
CaI of yesterday statement of the Sec
retary Of the Manufacturers Association
OF California, which is most remarkable,
and proposes to introduce into the present
agitation a new force, but not new
factor. The interview confirms in every
particular the contention made by the
RECoRD-UNIoN yesterday, and every
charge to which it challenged reply.
We held that the Leeds Traffic Associa-
tion's claim that the local roads shall be
considered in the matter of freight rates
distinctly apart from their trunk lines, is
destructive of the interests OF the in
terror.
We made it clear that the California
railroad system. supplying the State and
connecting it with the East, must be con-
sidered as a whole, else the overland lines
cannot exist, because they traverse regions
originating no freight, constituting indeed
for their greatest length a bridge over
desert and unsettled regions, and hence
not producing revenue enough to main
tain communication with the millions at
the East.
That the Leeds Traffic Associations
idea is to cut off communication at the
State line-that is, the local lines in
denser settled sections shall be operated
with reference to local revenue and the
interest it will pay on the cost Of produc-
ing the roads. This means, as every one
must see, improvement-prohibi rates
in sparsely settled sections, or cessation
OF operation of roads there; cessation OF
operation of the roads connecting Cali
fornia with the East, that do not yield in
enough revenue to pay station expenses. !
So we alleged that the effect of the
scheme of the Leeds Traffic Association
is to drive the overland railroads out Of
existence in the interest of san Francisco,
and with deadly results to the interests
of the interior. We demonstrated this
charge by irrefutable statistics, showing
that railroad communication with the
East has conferred so per cent. of the
value possessed by all real property in
California, because it has made possible
development Of the producing interests.
To put onerous burdens upon overland
transportation must, therefore, result
fatally to the producing interests of the
interior; development Of sparsely settled
sections will cease, transportation rates
over long non-productive lines will ad-
vance on both outgoing and incoming
freights, and dis as precisely aohat San
francisco DautS.
This was proved by quoting from
San Francisco journal of the 23d inst,
which begged merchants of the interior
to ''see' that their claims of right to re-
ceive goods from the East. at rates as low
rs San Francisco, the more distant point,
"are unnatural, artificial and not aceU
founded" That is to say, the people of
the interior are asked to confess that they
hare no right to receige supplies ercept
rom San FroHciSco, a0hich claims the
right JioreUer to hold Hea, as va8sals IN
commerce.
We had not expected thus early
confirmation of our statement of
truths, from the San Francisco side;
truths made perfectly plain in yester-
days RECORD But here comes
the San Francisco Manufacturers Asso-
citation and declares that, having con-
suited in secret, it is about to enter
upon a new campaign, and Mr.. Williams,
its Secretary, tells the call that its war
cry now is to be California for Callfor-
Mans"
Without pausing to suggest that the
broader, nobler and more patriotic motto
would be Californians for California"
We call attention to Mr.. Williams ex-
plicit declarations: l. That some years
ago California manufacturers all made
money tlourishing under a certain ''arti-
fetal advantage" ,. They had discrim-
mating rates that enabled them to bring
ia raw material and make it up cheaper
than the Eastern manufacturer could sell
here 3. But with the advent of the
Transcontinental Association this advan-
tage was wiped out, and Eastern finished
goods came in cheaper than such goods
could be made and delivered by home
manufactures. We quote:
Again. the railroad used to make san Fran.
cisco a distributing point; that is it would
bring freight from the East to san Francisco
and then reship it TO points in the interior at
ABOUT as cheap rate as you could ship it
from the East TO that interior point The
Shipment from san Francisco to the interior
practically cost nothing. This made San
Francisco a distributing point.
Here the fact is distinctly stated gthat
san Francisco had no complaint SO long
as she was made the distributing center
and the interior was helpless. 1t is for a
return of that condition that the Leeds
Traffic Association is laboring. a fact that
alLevidence of the hour confirms. Again
we quote:
But the Transcontinental Association
changed all this. You can now ship goods
rom Chicago or New York to any interior
Tooint at about the same rate that you can
-, de from m in.