The herald., 1894-12-08

The people OF the Gan Joaquin valley
are enthusiastic for the road. They
have suffered 90 long from the opprss-
sion and extortions OF the Southern Pa
ci6c monopoly that they are desperase.
They are willing to give every aid short
Of that which involves actusl impover.
ishment,. TO smanoipate themselves
from tyranny whose policy 10 TO
charge all the traffic will bear" The
business community OF Stockton, Freq
no. Bakersfield and intermediate towns
are unit in favor Of the road; but those
who will reap the largest bene6t-the
business men OF San Francisco, who will
derive the biggest profits from this COM
pietion-are only thinking" of build
ing . competing road into the
widest area OF productive country
in California. Some Of these business
men are 90 cowardly that when
they do subscribe q small amount
Of money to the enterprise, conditional
on an aggregate subscription sufficient
to complete the road. they insist that
their names shall not be made public.
They fear the vengeance OF the Southern
Pacific, and make no effort to conceal
their trepidation whenever their inter
ests are in danger Of antagonizing those
Of the corporation. The Southern Pa
cific has 90 often disciplined individuals
Of the business community OF San Fran.
cisco by its unlawful determinations
and its fragrant defiance OF the people,
that these timid merchants exist in
ahlsct fear OF the consequences Of
rebellion against the railroad corpora-
tion. Their souls are mortgsged to the
monopoly.
The conditions are different in Los
Angeles. Here the merchant and the
farmer have the benefits of railroad COM
petition. Our business men are not
compelled to kowtow to q despotic pow
er. claiming the com merce of the COM
munity az tribute to its tyranny and the
producer az vassal to its selfish will.
The people OF Southern California can
defy the Southern Pa.iflc and laugh at
its pretensions.
1t is possible that the citizens OF San
Francieoo, driven to utter desperation,
may eventually burst their thraldom,
and. BY a supreme effort. overcome the
ailurisu conservation that has hereto.
fore clogged every enterprise. 1t is in
cumbent upon Loa Angeles, therefore,
to be up and doing. There is no time
to be lost If We would secure the prof.
Of trade that naturally belongs to US.
A competing railroad from Los Ange-
lee to tap the San Joaquin valley 10 in
direct line with the enterprises of the
future-it is the forerunner of Southern
Caliiornia's destiny. With the COM
pletion OF harbor i'm provements at San
Pedro and the building of the Nicaragua
canal, Los Angeles must become
the metropolis of California. re-
versing the conditions that now
exist in the relations of this section
with San Francisco. 1t does not re-
quire the prescisnce OF one gifted with
prophetic powe,s to predict the future
Vi OOUtnclA OhiiIULHiag bub OuI lAuo-
diate interests neCeseitate action com.
menaurate with the certainties and pos
sibilitiee before ua. We are entitled to
the profits of the present, and it is our
duty to lay the foundation Of our future
prosperity wide and deep. Already we
have been appealed to by the people
OF tha north to lift them from their
slough OF dcspond. It is Macedonian
cry and we should hesd it. Let the
work begin at once. 1t is in order for q
special meeting OF the board OF trade to
decuss the question and ascertain di.
rectly what the people OF this city and
county will do to forward an enterprise
that means emancipation for thousands
of citizena now enslaved by greedy,
selfish. grasping corporation, and at the
same time insure to this city an in
crsased and profitable trade which,
once secured, car never be wrested from