Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-01-01
A DOUBLE TRACK RAILWAY.
Resolutions and Address Promulgated
by the Winters Fruit Exchange.

Winters, Cal, Express: At regular
meeting of Winters Fruit Exchange,
held December l5, 1894, the following
preamble and resolutions were unani-
mously adopted. together with an ap-
peal to the fruit growers of California
and ali others interested with them:
Whereas, In all ages good national
highways indicated commercial pros
perity, and
Whereas, All see the necessity of
quick and cheap transcontlnental
transportation to facilitate exchange OF
products-witness the effort to build
canals across the isthmus, claiming
government aid in building highways 3
in other countries, when commerce is
dying for the want of cheap national
highway at home, and
Whereas, In former ages it was con-
sidered government duty to furnish
national commercial highways, and as
the present hard times are brought
about by over production and want of
cheap means of exchange, we consider
the present q most auspicious time to
carry out the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the government pro-
ceeds to acquire, by condemnation,
purchase or otherwise, double track
railway from the Pacific to the Atlsn-
tic ocean, giving quick transportation
and cheap rates from ocean to ocean.
A double track will insure quick time,
less danger from accidents aud will act
as q regulator for transcontinental
rates.
Resolved, further, That we ask our
congressman, irrespective of party
Affiliations to urge congress to come to
the help of the producers In this matter
and try to drop party matters long
enough to help the common citizen
aud everyday worker. Be it further
resolved, That copy of this resolution
be sent direct to President Cleveland,
and he be urged to call the attention of
congress to this matter.
We also appeal to our friends, the
newspapers, to come to our aid.
ADDRESS.
Fellow citizens and fruit growers,
the time has arrived when, If we ex-
pect to make living in the fruit busi-
ness, we must adopt different system
than that practiced in the past. Re-
solving that the middlemen must treat
US better, and that the railroads ought
to cheaper freight rates does not help
matters. The railroad respects de-
mands, not appeals, and will continue
the policy of making the small shipper
pay for what it has to give in rebates
and passes to the large shippers.
We must be united, and persistent
appeals must be made to congress for
1t to come to our rescue, and we must
know no party that will not give us re-
lief. We will have the whole territory
from ocean to ocean, interested in our
success, as our interest is a common
one. Once let national double track
railway be put in operation, not as a
money making scheme, but merely to
pay the interest on the bonds issued to
build such railway, and we will witness
a new era of prosperity. 1t Is not
necessary for the government to go
Into the railway business, but have IL
as a toll road, and any railroad com.
pany In the United States could run
its own trains, collect Its own freIghts |
the government collecting tolls on
cars for mileage. The only officers re-
quired would be the train dispatching
II we had double track, operated
In the Interest Of the whole people we
would then see branch lines built by
tributary communities 10 connect, they
knowing they would not be frozen out
Tor attempting 10 cheaper frelghts.
suppose as II is now, we were TO build
zeal lines 10 Fresno and all other
towntrOdden communities, Ii would
lot release US from our present trouble?
The most Of our products are for for
'ign markets, aud the price at home is
'egnlated by what they are worth, net,
or export.
Appealing 10 the railroad people il
10 those whose Interest Is
'ery little IN common with yours.
You have no vote ~ their councils or
~ their directors, Make your appeal
where you baYe votes aud Hood your
nail With letters 10 your congressman,
IrRipg them 10 oome 20 your relief,
'ei the meter be taken up from ocean
. ocean, aud let every voter without
Koepllop, write letter once . week
continuously % bls congressman Dpill
70 have . double track ol Tallgsy from
he Paelle ~ the Atlantic OeeaD,