The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-29

A long list OF taxpayers and wheat
growers of Butte County commended the
proposed reduction to Port Costa and pre-
sented a statement that the distance from
Biggs to Port Costa is 113 miles, all down
grade, requiring but one engine for long
train, and the present wheat rate is 81 so
per ton, while the San Luis Obispo county
farmers pay only 81 so per ton over more
difficult road of go miles. The petitioners
prayed for reduction of at least 20 per
cent.
A petition from farmers and stock-raisers
in the Salinas Valley asking immediate
relief inclosed in letter from Dr. NJ. E.
Gonzales was presented. The petition
urged a reduction in grain rates, setting
forth the following facts:
The rate of 50 per ton for grain from Con-
zsles to San Francisco is manifestly unjust
when but 50 so per ton is charged for a sim
liar amount of grain hauled from Pismo to
San Francisco, greater distance by 116 miles.
In shipping our grain we are, by reason of the
exorbitant charges, compelled TO pay the
Southern Pacific Company one-fourth the crop.
In many cases, particularly when the grain is
poor in quality, we are compelled to go
further and give an amount equaling one sack
in every three.
The producers are compelled to eventually
pay the exorbitant freight rate of So 40 per
ton for the actual necessaries of life shipped
here from the City of San Francisco. If the
condition of affairs now existing is allowed to
continue for any length of time we viii be
forced to convert our valuable agricultural
lands into cattle ranges, at q great loss.
A communication from P. Burrows, San
Miguel, Monterey County, in which he
says the farmers last season had to mort
gage their crops to get seed, and, after
sacking, the sacks had to be branded TO
secure them from other creditors, was
read. The letter continues:
From Templeton to Metz station they charge
Us 50 per ton on grain. From San Luis Obispo,
average sixty miles further, they charge 81 so.
Our land is in mountain patches fit for Guilt
walton, small valleys and patches five to fifty
acres on hill sides. Now to protect rs ask the
railroad company at your next meeting to give
US at least an equal show with San Luis Obispo
Are we not charged higher rates than other
points of equal distances? / laid the matter
before the Railroad Commissioners four years
ago. They informed me they thought they were
elected to help people in our condition, and ap-
pointed the 9th day of August, 1891, to try
cases. The Farmers Alliance were to furnish
the hall and conyeniences for trial. got COM
plalnts rom Shippers and business men OF this
upper Salinas Valley. The political hacks as
sembled In force and broke up the meeting
and ordered me and the Commissioners out of
the hall. think the iron man at the head of
the railroad who could not see any obstacles
in building road over a rocky mountain can
well afford to help in our straitened cireum-
stances.
Two communications laid over by the
last meeting were read. They were from
the Southern Pacific Company. One
signed by T. II. Goodman reduced the
passenger rates on the Lodi branch, which
was approved by the board.
The other was from c. F. Smurr referring
to the letter by Fred Hutchings, addressed
from Woodbridge, April 10, complaining
of the tariff on wood from Valley Springs
to Woodbridge. He explains that wood is
a commodity handled under the Western
Had the shippers called at
tentlon to the fact that they desired to ship
wood and the rates would not permit them,
it would readily have been observed that
the Western classification was inadequate.
In answer to the charges of discrimina-
ton from San Luis Obispo, the letter says
that the regular transportation lines have
been harassed by tramp steamers, hard
lines causing water-craft to hunt up