The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-02
Is FRESNO APATHETIO2

1t seems an unfortunate coincidence for
Fresno that on the heels of its petition to
the Railroad Commission for reduction
of freight rates on grain the local subscrip-
ton committee working for the Valley
road is meeting with some difficulty in
collecting pledged subscriptions and Sc
curing new ones. The company's graders
are ready to so to work as soon as the
money is paid, and the enterprising men
of the City are working earnestly to raise
the funds.
If there is any section of this State that
has greater reason than Fresno to encour-
age competition in transportation we
should be glad to know where it may be
found. A reduction of transportation
rates has been the one thing for which the
people there have clamored. The wonder
ful energy which transformed those bar
rem plains into an empire of orchards and
vineyards has seen the rewards of its labor
absorbed by power which neither earned
nor deserved them, and the people have
observed that with the decline in the
market returns of their products caused
by hard times the heavy tolls have been
continued and that their business has
been driven to the wall.
They know that wherever the Southern
Pacific has encountered genuine competl-
ton, as along the coast, it has reduced
rates to figure which makes the cultlva-
tion of the soil profitable industry. They
have the history of the Pajaro Valley be-
fore them, which shows that the advent of
the Spreekels railroad in that valley
forced down the Southern Pacific Com
pany's rates and insured the prosperity of
the region. They know that they must
make good to the Southern Pacific the re-
auctions which competition elsewhere has
rendered compulsory. They are aware
that what with the heavy cost of construc-
ton and the fictitious fixed charges which
the Southern Pacific has created, includ-
ing the carrying of debt far in excess of
the cost or value of the road, the Southern
Pacific taxes their wealth and industry be-
yond the ability of ordinary means 10 bear.
They know, further, that the Valley
road will cost much less to construct than
the Southern Pacific; that it will have no
fictitious fixed charges to meet; that it
will have no vast stretches of profitless
track over mountains and deserts which
will have to be operated with money
drawn from its highly developed sections,
and that it is to be competitive line and
is determined to lower rates of all kinds.
In addition TO all this they know that
the pro iect is in the hands of honest and
able capitalists who are utterly independ-
ent of the Southern Pacific and who have
no fear of the lash which that great cor
poration knows so well how to WELD. The
people of Fresno are aware that they are
not asked to give their money, but to in
vest it in the shares of the company, with
every reasonable prospect of receiving a
fair direct return on their investment,
and of securing in addition all the finan-
cial benefits which will arise from profit
on their products and an enhancement of
their property values.
They should bear in mind the fact that
to the extent of their ownership of shares
will their interests as partners in the en-
terprise be promoted; that this is a Cali
fornia undertaking by Californians who
have already demonstrated their pride in
their State and their loyalty to its people
and resources. Surely the sensible men of
Fresno cannot have overlooked any of
these considerations or be Indifferent to
the only relief that has ever been offered
Them