The morning call., 1893-03-23
TO BRING IN GRAIN.
An Upper San Joaquin
River Project.
CHEAP WATER FREIGHTAGE.
A Scheme That, if Worked Gut,
Would Afford Relief to
the Farmers.

c The question of running small fat
bottomed freight boats up the Upper San
Joaquin River is again being agtated, and
it is hoped this time with some purpose.
About four years ago the citizens OF
Fresno conceived the idea of dredging GER
tain portions of the Upper San Joaquin
River and then turning into its channel the
waste water from the hundreds of irrigat-
ing bitches in that locality. The waste
water had long been used to turn the
wheels of mills and perform other duties
before being allowed to pass beyond con-
troll and seek its own level in some sandy
desert or alkai plain.
Competent engineers were secured, sur
veys, estimates ana investigations made.
and the plan was pronounced not alone
feasible but cheap in the long run. 1t was
then stated that all the grain in the San
JOAQUIN Valley could be carried by water
and landed in San Francisco at One-SlXth
the cost of shipment 10y rail.
Once the people became interested In the
subject, and there seemed TO be Likelihood
of the project being carried out, the South
ern Pacific Railroad went TO work TO Kill
the scheme, ana succeeded in stopping all
action.
But the "scheme" has resurrected Itself
and seems to have come back with touri0id
HlEOI. Inc pIOSptCJo arc bAd6 Ahto b'iAC
something will be done. The possibility OF
a competing railroad in the san Joaquin
Valley has long since ceased TO De consiu-
cred by the Inhabitants OF that favored
region. Although il has been proved time
and again that the Southern Paclnc Kali
road earns enough every two years from the
traffic of the valley to reproduce aud fully
equip its lines running through that terrI-
tory, vet capital TO oul.G competing line,
which would ray a handsome dividend on
the stock with less than one-halt OF the
traffic the Southern Pacific now enjoys. has
been either scared of or bought up by the
great monopoly. Hence the people OF the
San JOAQUIN Valley have come 10 look upon
their little" river as their only means oil
escape.
A line of steamers on the Upper San Joa-
uuin would mean the adding OF millions OF
dollars to the annual production OF the
State and thousands Of acres TO the area Oh
cultivation. II is well-knoWn TACT that I'D
the San JOAQUIN Valley four-hfths OF the
farmers would have to haul their products
a much shorter distance TO reach the river
than to reach the railroads as they now
exist. Add the short haul TO the reduction
in freight that would result IN case trans
pOrtatiOu by water was made certainty
and the Argument n favor OF opening up
the Upper San Joaquin IS unanswereOle.
That 1t is feasible Is more than evident from
the determined opposition OF The Southern
Pacific Railroad.
Let it be supposed. however, that line
Of boats on the Upper San joaquin would
not get enough freight to pay dividend on
the cost Of opening uD tie river. Ihen
whatH Why, such places as Fresno, with
its millions OF dollars worth of freight per
annum, would be made terminal point,
and distance tariff would be established
for all POINTS not far removed from the
river. The railroads could charge only for
the actual mileage in conveying the grain
or other products to tile river landings, and
the difference in the freight would pay
doubly for the work OF opening up the
stream.
There must be an outlet somewhere"
say the people of the San Joaquin Valley
oppressed by the great monopoly, and they
are rapidly coming to believe that 1t IS to be
found In fiat-bOttomed boats on The Upper
San Joaquin River.
Anxious days and nights for the past two
weeks have been the portion Of the South
ern Pacific Railroad officials who have the
management of the trains and track In the
valleys Of California. The constant rains
and the consequent melting Of the snow on
the mountains have filled to OYerUuWlDC not
only the nayigable rivers Of the State bat
the smaller streams and creeks spRnned by
trestle bridges. over the Dig streams strong
bridges have been built, so high aud with
such approaches that no matter how great
the flood tide the railroad people felt safe.
But the little creeks we're neglected, and
during the past few days the small streams
have been making themselves felt far more
than the big rivers.
Washouts at twenty different places were
threatened and the construction trains have
been busy hurrying from point to point
with needed material to check the InruadS
of the over flowing streams. Bat no really
bad washout has occurred so far, and yes
terday the telegraph reports from all sec
tioDs of the State stated that the water in
the rivers and creeks was failing fast"
The great, long sigh Of relief which Gen
eral Superintendent Fillmore of the South
ern Pacific breathed when the news reached
him was a signal for general relaxation
all around among his assistants and clerks,
and il is now believed that no danger any
where along the line is to be apprehended.