The record-union., 1893-01-27


glneer, Z. o. Perris, who explained the
physical characteristics of the road, and
the dlftlcult engineering feats overcome
IN its construction. The line was com
menced, he said, twelve years ago at San
Diego, and brought to its present condi-
ton by building little at time. There
were few settlements then in this
portion of the State, and 1T was not
until the boom of 1887 that business be-
gan to come in. At this time develop
ment was inaugurated upon which our
hopes for future success are based. Many
floods have visited US and the expense
entailed by these casualties has been
enormous. We have increased our mile
age during the past few years by slow
stages. II the measure under discussion
should become law we cannot operate,
| and the progress of Southern California
Will be materially retarded.
William Collier, by request of Mr..
Wade Of the California Southern, gave a
sketch of the anti-railroad legislation in
Iowa from 1874 to 1878, where he was
most of his life a resident. The legisla-
ton scheme was tried just four years,
and was then repealed as to freight
charges. Then a commission was es-
tablished, to which all these problems
were left.
The result of the anti-railroad legisla-
tlon was complete cessation of railroad
building in Iowa. The people unani-
mously demanded the repeal of the law.
Mr.. Collier submitted the old Iowa law,
with all the classiiications and rate sched-
ules provided by it.
SIR. Collier advised the committee that
the experience Of Iowa and her return to
the commission system was directly in
point and ought to influence our iudg-
ment here. Since the commission sys-
/ tenn, harmony between the people and
the raj roads hog
is without much friction, and roads and
people are prosperous i'll all business re-
| lated to transportation.
Competition was great and complete all
the time OF the agitation in Iowa. said
Mr.. Collier to Chairman Earl.
Mr.. Freeman of the Southern California
Railway here laid before the committee
maps and proiiles of the road, showing
the grades and their character, and other
physical features of the locality and build
ing of the road. He read statistics, also.
showing the contiguity of lands to rail-
! roads in Illinois and Kansas, COMPARED
with contiguity of producing sections in
California. He pointed out that on his
the California; railway there is 240 miles
OF desert traversed, yielding not cent OF
revenue.
lie said no State in the Union presents
so many obstacles to profitable railroad
ing as California, and this was capable of
easy demonstration from recorded and
undisputed facts.
He took Mr.. Leeds to task and showed
that he had not the knowledge of railroad
building and operation III California nee
essary to formation of correct judg-
ment.
Mir. Freeman said he was a large ship
per, and be knew if the amendment pro-
posed passed it would kill of the enter
prise of most if not all the feeder roads
III Southern California and prove disas-
ter to that portion of the State
Z. .. johnson of the Pacific Coast Rail
way said his road, though under the 81
600 limit, had extension and increase in
view to pass beyond the limit The pro-
posed amendment would kill that enter
prise, and cOnfine the owners of the road
to nursing the property they have
lie has been in the railroad business
twenty -one years, and knew of what he
spoke. If roads must be supervised. then
give fair supervision by a commission
made up of men knowing something of
railroad business. If not done capital
Will not come III nor remain in the State
III railroad business. He did not believe
tue Legislature can supervise railroads.
and not do them and the people great in
jury, for the business is a huctuating one.
requiring constant change and modihca-
ton.
His road cost s., ,972, ,S27, interest at per
cent. sllS,9l3, but the net earnings have
never reached anything like that figure.
lie read statistics to show that for labor.
fuel, material and maintenance of his
road is mOle than double the cost in
Kansas, Missouri or Illinois. on his road
the engineer cannot pull such loads as in
those States, nor have the engines in
those States such strain to endure as on
his road.
Fighting grass fires Is a great cost on
his road; in three or four months of the
year this cost is two-thirds Of the whole
cost of maintenance. He contradicted
MIR. Leeds; the ties on his road dry rot
and are not fit then for even "fence-
posts"
Ihe maximum rates allowed under the
proposed amendment would, if applied
to his road, prevent the existence of his
road. The people made no complaint of
his rates. The amendment would reduce
his income II per cent. on the chief com
modify the road hauls.
The reductions would not increase the
business of the road to new profit. for
the business has its limit in the section
traversed, and it cannot be expanded for
many years.
Large land-holdings in California
greatly cripple railroads here, for such
lands prevent settlement and expansion.
The grades known in California are un-
known in Kansas, Illinois or Missouri.
and are most important factors that can
not be ignored, and on these points the
speaker was very emphatic
Mr.. Fulton, OF the Nevada, California
and oregon Road, again spoke He
showed by citation of figures that the
Traffic Association of San Francisco, rep
resenting merchants and manufacturers.
IS very alive to their own interests. Said
he, if we buy rails for our roads in San
Francisco, we find the price is always the
price at the East with freight added,
though the quotation at the East may not
be two hours old. Referring to the sched@
ule of the proposed amendment he said
that Hour and wheat on fifly-mile haul
on his road brought it 24 cents, the
amendment cut it to six cents. Yet the
people do not complain of the present
rate, for it is barely sufficient for the road,
! ct, said Mr.. Fulton, here is Mr.. Leeds
on $4,000 year telling us how to econo-
mize and stand the reductions he dictates.
"On barley for iifty-luile haul we oct 10
cents; Mr.. Leeds scheme gives rs five.
on bricks we get 10 cents; MIR. Leeds
schedule gives US four cents. On first
class rates per 100 pounds on a fifty-mile
haul we get 10 cents. the proposed sched-
ule gives us y cents"
MIR. Dolbere here arose and asked:
Docs this bill include all roads using
rails and locomotives"
Chairman Earl can not say; you
II ust judge.
Mr.. Dolbere-There are forty or fifty
roads that have steel rails and haul goods.
Some unineorporated,s some are common
carriers.
Mr.. Earl-Do you mean the logging
roads?
Mr.. Dolbere-Yes, sir. Our firm is the
half owner of one. Can't the author Of
the bill tell US if we are taken in?
Mr.. Dolbere was told that he must
Judge of that. The committee was not
there to reply, but to hear.
- Mr.. Kidder-Yes, sir; and there is the