The herald., 1895-01-18
THEY WANT COMPETITION,



approximately one-tenth of the state; and of
this area, probably two-thirds can eventually
be placed under superior cultivation. The
population OF california IL 1, 200 900 accord
ing to the census just taken. and of this a
quarter part is centered in the city of San
Francisco and perhaps an eighth more in
other cities OF more than 25, 900 Inhabitants
namely, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San
Jose (the last having nearly 80, 900, and
Stockton having nearly half that number, and
Fresno, perhaps third. The country popu-
lation, including all the local centers smaller
than those above named, does not exceed
$4,000; and the population is disproportion-
ate to the area and resources of the state, and
behind the relative growth OF the other
states.
Middle California has not prospered in full
measure according to its merits 1t is within
very few years that competition in transcon-
tinental traffic has been sufficient to develop
at reasonable rates enough all rail to stimulate
the industries and trade, now almost wholly
dependent on it. Except by competition by
sea, the Central Pacific, in connection with
the Union Pacific. has held California in COM
plete subsection for many years. and the more
recent transcontinental lines have brought
Middle California little or no relief. When the
Atchison system penetrated Southern Cali
fornia complete transformation followed
and in the north, the Northern Pacific and
Canadian companies with the Union Pacific
and Great Northern systems in hot pursuit,
have accomplished wonderful growth of the
Pacific northwest and the country about
Puget sound. Meanwhile, Middle California
has had no snch stimulus and has not been in
the worlds eye. Yet its capacities for pro-
duction, both in extent and variety, are pc
culiarly attractive. We're competing railway
to enter this field in a period OF healthful
tivity and to stimulate its resources as they
have never been stimulated before, new
period would begin-an age, it may reasonably
be said. better than the golden age which
first made California famous
And now, If competing system is to enter
Middle California, what competition will it
encounter from the Southern Pacific company?
And what competition may it expect from pos
sible invasion of the field by other railway
systems? Transcontinental traffic to San
Francisco and other harbors on the coast will
be competed for, as now, by vessels, either
crossing he ocean or coasting from the termi'
nal points of railway systems reaching the
Pacific coast elsewhere. But all-rail traffic
gains both in bulk and in proportion because
it commands greater certainty of movement
and despatch, and less risk of loss DAMAGE
also greater convenience usually OF handling
and delivery. Against additional all-rail sys,
TENS the Sierra Neveda range is heavy bar
rier. Toward the south the Southern Pacific
and your proposed line gain their entrance to
the San joaquin valley over SUBMITS some
1000 feet high, and free from snow, yet the
cost of constructing, maintaining and operat-
ing these lines is of necessity very high To-
ward the north the Central Pacific makes its
passage at elevation of 1000 feet and
through miles of snow sheds; yet its route has
been described by an eminent engineer hay
ing been pointed out by the finger OF Cod
that is, as being prominently the best natu-
raj route in that region.
The prospective gains of railway enterprise
must. therefore, be very large and well assured
before an entrance into Middle California can
be prudently attempted by any OF the eastern
trunk lines The pre-occupation OF the field
by an independent system in addition to tAe
Sothern Pacific will increase the natural hest
tation of other companies. The Southern Pa.
cities advantages from its presumption of CAL
ifornia obvious, but accompanied by
some grave disadvantages. Many OF its more
important lines established before the
country was developed were designed more to
save time and money in construction than to
make thoughtful provision for the future, and
in some cases were located with reference to
land grants rather than traffic (that is, to
r traverse areas vested in the government OF the
United States, rather than the large ranches
whose private titles had descended from Mex
lean grants and were recognized by our gov
eminent validl Some OF its less i'm
portant lines not well located for traffic
returns. having been constructed or nnrcbosed
IN self-de,fense or strategic nrrncsos ,rho
svstem as ttstands is ,n,ch at va Rance with m,
hest modermscience Tbeterrnin al foci1itias orc
not well deTeloped for economical use. tho
eouipment is miscellaneous and second rato.
the grades a -e not uniform or as low as ,oicbt
reasonably have been secured the track is,
much OF it, not well maintained and the
methods of oneration do not show am, ODD
ouate pressure to obtain the best resuIts Tho
extraordinarv exnenses nc tbev MAJ, dalio,+o
lv he classified certainly have haap baoy-
wear inter wear. and while tho oo,n1,o,,,,s
,,,,-a1,, a r,ottar of ,,oIio, Co. ~, - = -