The record-union., 1893-02-08
Weather FORECAST.
INCREASE OF POPULATION, AND
RAILWAY DEPENDENCE.

hA1hW al DEPENDENCEs
The San Francisco Traffic Association
and its hired expert have been more
than vociferous concerning interior water
competition as factor in State develop
ment. If there is any one choice morsel
they have rolled about the tongue more
than another it has been this.
But Mr.. Curtis pricks the bladder of
this imitation by simple statements of
facts with which all are familiar, and
which prove that the interior sections
wholly dependent upon railway trans
portation of products out, and of supplies
In, have surpassed in material growth
so far as population proves growth-the
sections having waterway competition.
This does not establish that navigable
Waterways are not blessings and are not
to be conserved and guarded, but it does
prove that the claim of the agitators that
they have made point against the rail-
ways is false. 1t does prove, as Mr.. Cur
tbs demonstrated before the Senate Com
mittee on Monday. that the railways
fairly and honestly adjust their business
to the needs of their patrons; or, in other
words, that they are alive to the wisdom
of conserving traffic production.
A navigable river runs through Sacra-
mento, Solano, Yolo, Sutter, Colusa,
Glenn, Butte and Tehama, and a naviga-
Bile tributary of it through Yuba County,
and on these streams free navigation is
guaranteed by the Federal Government.
These counties, by official showing, in
creased in population from 1880 to 1890
9,43S, or per cent. OF this gain more
than half was in the city of Sacramento
and the large town of Woodland, leaving
but S,571, or per cent, to the rural Sec
tions proper.
As the RECoRD-UNIoN showed some
months ago in elaborate analysis of the
official returns, some of the counties lost
in population, due in part to mining
quiescence. But it is undeniable that
these counties in soil and climate rank
lottily among the favored sections of the
world. They represent indeed capacity
not surpassed, if, indeed, it is equaled
anywhere, and that for a great variety
OF products. All these counties are
traversed by railways, trunk lines and
branches and feeders to them.
Again, San Joaquin County, fertile
almost beyond calculation. traversed by
railways, and having two navigable
rivers and several navigable sloughs. and
all Immediately related to tide water, in
creased in population from 1880 to 1890
only 4,2S0, of which gain Alp is credited
to the city of Stockton. So, too, in STAN
islaus County, an especially fertile region
and with both water and rail transporta-
ton, the same conditions prevail.
Now take sections that have only the
railroad lines of the Southern Pacific
Company for transportation facility.
Merced gained in the decade between 1850
and 1890 2,429 population, or 43 per cent,
of which only 600 went into towns. In
that county a very little traffic goes by
river short distance. Fresno, with rail
lines only, gained in the same period
22,54S people, or 29s per cent, 8, ,7O6 only
going into the city of Fresno. Tulare
augmented her population 1928, or lis
per cent, of which but $3.50 went into
the town of Tulare. Kern County added
4,207 to her population, being 70 per cent.
gain, and of this 1,s25 is credited to the
town of Bakersfield.
Whatever increase and decrease in
population proves in relation to interior
development or decadence, and regarding
transportation facilities and the influence
they exert in development directions, it
California-treated aside from all consid-
erations other than those of transporta-
ton and its rates, which are the only
factors taken into account by the agitat-
counties wholly dependent upon the
railroad the march forward has been
rapid and strong, while in counties hav-
ing river competition with railway lines
the movement forward mas been so slight
that it really stands for non-progession.
1t will not do for the Leeds contingent
to reply that there are other conditions to
be taken into account. When it comes to
that it can be shown, as every well-in-
formed citizen knows, that the river
counties have greatly superior natural
AGAINST them. The fact remains that if
Growth in consuming and industrial pop
ulation proves anything, it proves that
the progressive counties are not, as the
apitators claim, choked, crushed and
abused by railway carriers.
HOW LEEDS LIED ABOUT FUEL.