The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-17
PRICE FIVE CENTS

1
the fret steps will be taken look
ing toward the solution Of a prob
lem that has agitated the people OF Gal
ifornia for years.
Today measures will he taken that
may forever settle the question OF
freight and farss as far as Southern Oai-
ifornia and the San Joequn valley are
concerned.
At 80 o'clock this morning .
number of the representative cstis
zens of Fresno. Kern, Tulsre and Kings
counties will arrive in this city to take
part in the deliberations that will fol-
low at O'Clock In thc ch amber Of COM
merc~ The members of the latter or
ganization will attend in large numbers
to testify by their presence and their
debate that they oonsider the interests
OF the visitora and their own advantages
as mutual.
The farmers. merchants and bankers
come specially to attend the meeting in
response to an invitation extended by
the chamber OF commerce to consider
the plan of building q competing rail-
road from Los Angeles to Fresno. s
The delegations are unanimous in their
desire to lay the foundation for a move
msnt that will start the enterprise, and
in this they are joined by the chamber
OF commerce.
Speeches will be made By several OF
the members of the chamber, bat it is
hat II - Ill
from the people of the San Joaquin VAL
ley. who are more familiar with the
wants than the chamber.
President Freeman will deliver the ad.,
dress OF welcome, and the meeting will
thcu sslect its own presiding officer and
, secretary.
W. FL. Holabird of Bakersfield will
make one OF the principal addresses OF
the day, and he has drawn o large map
OF the section of the state whore the
railroad lie intended TO be built. The
map shows the agricultural resources OF
the country to be trsvsrsed and also the
topography and tho difficulties that are
likely to BIS encountered in the con.
s.ruction OF the road from mountains
and mountain passes. Mr. Hol ahird
will also exhibit an album cont lining
Photographic views Of the section 10 the
vicinity of the Tej,n ps,s. the only
possible outlet from L1s Angeles, ac-
cording to his opinion.
SENSIBLE IDEA.
prominent merchant and shipper
f~a.
that he beIeyad that ths road would
csrtainly be bniit. II have not the re-
motess fear a. to the ultimate ,resuit oil
tomorrow's -tiesiins,p hs said. "a
competing road between San Joaquin !
valley and Los Angeles wonld be OF the
greatest benefit tn all concerned. The
wondarful and varied rssocrces OF the
country through which the line will
be built will be marketed here and we
will ship our merchaudise and provis-
ions to our northern neighbors in re-
turn.
What we want is a irsight ra,e for all
shippers alike. As it is nov with the
Central Pacific thers is q ditisre rate
for each shipper. don't know what
my competitor ia paying, and whom L
ask for a schedule l am told that
l am favored with lower rate
than some other merchant. In fact the
Central Pacific is simply juggling with
a fictitious schedule.
KERN coUNrY's DANGER
II believe, however, that the Central
Pacific has such a grip on the shippers
in Kern county that the latter will not
dare to openly advocate = com.
peting line. They are afraid
of retribution. Last lysar $6g0,000
was contributed to the Golfers OF the
octopus from Bakers field alone. In con.
vsrsation with one OF the shippers from
that point few weeks ago, l suggested
that Kern county ought to come
strongly to the front and declare itself.
He replied that the farmers and ship-
psra are heart and soul with us for tka
construction OF competing railroad, but
that they are afraid to declare them.
selves openly. Mr.. Huntington hss .
peculiar faculty to get even with a ship
per. He can make it very dissgreeable
and uncomfortable in the switching of
freight cars, that makes q shipper think
twice before be takes sides againat'
Fourth and Townsend Streets"
AN EDITORS OPINION.
W. s. Melick. editor of this Lancaster
Gazette, writes to the secretary OF the
cham Der OF commerce. under date OF
Jannary 18th, az iollowa:
"The people OF Antelope valley are
much interested in a com pstinz railroad
from Los Angeles north, and are willing
to help in every way possible. l think
such a road would recsivs the hssrtisst /.
cooperation of every citizsn aud props
erty owner in this section west to Tejon
pass. 1 am certain the people here
would give right OF way and muoh help
iu grading, etc.. toward pushing the
right kind OF road. A road hoirtlly en-
dorsed by the chamber OF commsrce
would command tue confdencs OF the
people and would get their continued
support"
The Antelope valley paid the South
ern Pacific 800. 600 in 1898 for frsights
and passenger fares. l know, bscause
e \ T.