The herald., 1894-12-27
TO STRANGLE THE RAILROAD OCTOPUS.
SECRETARY WILLARD.

G. D. Willard, secretary cham
ber Of commerce 1t is gratifying to the
people of this section OF the country to
see that the merchants and shippers OF
Central California are beginning to
realize that the natural commercial out
let for their section Ia not the north, but
the south.
There was an interesting and signi6-
cant letter read at recent directors'
meeting of the chamber recently. 1t
came to ca from d. r. Cameron, of
Haniord, Kings county, who is the sec-
rotary OF a local organization formed to
secure q competing railroad running out
OF the valley. At the present time the
products OF Kings county, as we'll as
most OF those of Fresno and Tulare,
muet be hauled at ruinous tariffs to San
Francisco. or carried through San Luis
Obispo county, partly by rail at high
rates and partly by muio power over
bad wagon roads.
Now the people of these counties have
been at work for some time trying to
secure railroad outlet TO San Francisco
or tide water. II they suonssd in getting
a line to San Francisco-which seems
now almost forlorn hope-they will
still be without competition on their
eastern business, whereas ii they build
direct to Los Angeles they will enjoy
competition in sll directions. "There
ia no good reason" said Mr.. Cameron
in his lettsr. why the people of the
valley should not mean Los Angeles
when they speak of ''the CITY,"
There is, in truth, every rational rea-
son why the people of Central Cslifor.
MIA should look to Los Angeles for dis
tributing point. The medal line OF
distance between Los Angeles and San
Francisco will run along the southern
boundary OF Mono, Fresno and Monte.
rey counties. The grades in the south
are more dificult, of course, but this is
more than Offset by the fact that the
eastern grades on the southern routes
are easier by far than thoae on the
northern routes. But the great nd-
vantage to be secured by the central
counties in dealing with Los Angeles in
stead of San Francisco 10 that of rail-
way competition.
The people of Los Angeles will certain
ly meet the people of the central coun.
ties half way in all these matters. In
spite OF the fact that the Southern Pa.
cifc rate along the interior lines are
arranged 30 as to favor San Francisco aa
against Los Angeles, there is, neverthe'
less, growing trade between the CEN
tral counties and this city. II an inde-
pendent fine can be constructed in &C.
eoTdancs with these suggestions, and the
great dried fruit and grain regions oi
the San Joaquin valley given an outlet
at Los Angeles, this trade would be
vastlv Increased, not only to the great
advantage of the central counties, but
also to that of Los Angeles and all OF
Southern California. Heretofore we have
placed the northern limit of Southern
California at Santa Barbara. In the
future it will be necessary TO include
Kern. San Luis Obispo, Inyo, Tulsre
and Kings counties. They are elsmor-
ing for admittance, as it were. They
send exhibits to our fairs, and in many
WAYS evince their interest in our section
of the state. We muat welcome them
heartily aud warmly, not only by word
OF mouth but withimaterial assistance.
They need US and we need them.