The herald., 1894-12-12
A STATE RAILROAD.

The only objection urged against the
proposition to build state railroad was
based on the fear that il the legislature
should be entrusted with the enterprise
The Southern Pacific would control it's
action.
At the recent convention of the Farm
ers' alliance, held in Oakland, a resoiu-
tion that the state of California proceed
to build a competing railroad through
the San Joaquin valley WAS laid on the
table, the delegates believing that as
the legislature stands the action would
be entirely controlled by the Southern
Pacific Railroad company, and that if
competing railroad were built it would
be run by the big monopoly.
"If we should induce the legislature
to build a state railroad now, the con-
etruction would be paid for by issuing
bonds" said J. M. Moore. the state
business agent OF the alliance. "We
are opposed to bondage OF snv kind, and
we cannot favor the building Of rail-
road in that way. OF course we want a
state railroad; we believe always in
government ownership of the railroads.
But we do not believe that we have the
state government that will take hold of
the matter in the right way. 1t is the
general sentiment that Huntington &
Co. own the legislature, and to ask the
legislature to build competing road
would be submitting the matter to the
friends of the railroad and allowing them
to do as they please with it,"
At a previous meeting of the conven-
ton, II. r. Sprague. OF Fairmont, in
this county, made an address on the
subject of a state railroad, basing his ar
guments on a resolution favoring the
project, adopted by the State Fruit
Growers convention at Sacramento.
To solve the transportation problem
Mr.. Sprague argued that the state could
borrow money to build a railroad at a
much cheaper rate than any individual
or corporation. 1t could also save the
bonus which capital usually demands
when undertaking large enterprises.
These savings, he oontended, would be
equivalent to an increased net income of
hundreds of dollars per annum to the
average Californian family.
In the course OF his remarks, Mr..
Sprague said:
In the proposition that the state build rail.
road frst through the san Joaquin and sacra-
mento valleys to tide water, and to reach trans.
continental connections north and south, and |
then progressively extend branch lines to such |
other parts of the ate as shall be able to show
a traffic sufficient. at low rates, to pay for all
costs OF construction and maintenance lies the |
means ofdistributing to the whole people large |
Gums OF money that otherwise would go to |
swell the accumulatOns of the rich. And this, |
too, without one dollar of taxation upon the |
taxpayers of the state
This year, when we have no wheat to ship, |
the railroad company makes n rate that had it |
mac e last year would have left in the produc- |
ers pockets SO, 600. This year chickens and |
turkeys are about all we can ship, and the rail
road insists upon getting S1.l3 per 100 for q |
heul OF 10 miles, and to haul one ton of coal
the same distance they demand 81.
No farmer or manufacturer can get goods to
market at profit while the present policy OF
favoring the eastern shipper holds besides, no
one dare start factory while his freight rates
ere unstable and determined solely by monop-
oily. No farmer dare undertake the preliminary
cost necessary to diversity his products. while
re knows that as soon rs the needs OF the local
market met the Iowa farmer can ship in
outter at letter rates than he can get.
Let the people get together upon this or some
oet.er proposition at once, and begin the cam
Jaiga for freedom.
Mr.. Sprague's arguments are con-
elusive. Undoubtedly thousands of cit
izens Of this state have made individual
comment OF the came character based
lpon the same premises, but this is the
irst time that decided effort looking 10
concerted action has been made.
The method of raising the money
9Th which 20 begin operations is sec
,ndary. II plan more feasible than
shat OF bonding the state can be offered.
It will be adopted, and the more i'm
porient ard valid objection that action