The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-23
SOLID CITIZENS WHO WILL BUILD THE ROAD

chairman, in his Introductory remarks SAID
that the time had come when the farmer,
with the present market prices existing,
could no longer pay the rates of freight re-
quired to reach the seaboard and exist.
The rates on merchandise to this city were
in fact an embargo, and the people in the
San Joaquin Valley must have relief or In
evitable bankruptcy must follow.
Chow would the real estate men of the
city stand if that time should come?s he
asked. 1.-THE pecuniary interest OF real
estate men in this matter should cause
them to give it their support if no other
reason actuated them. There are men who
stand ready to build this road now" he
continued, "but if they do so they quite
naturally wish to control it. If they do
build it the cost of construction will come
out of the pockets of the people"
Thomas Magee, well known as real
estate agent, called attention to the COM
parative worthlessness of the land lying
south of this city in an agricultural sense
and mentioned the fact that city property
only sustained its value by reason of the
mercantile interests that the city was able
to control.
lie scored Lie CLASS VI NhASl AiO 10 Z.
member for their lack of enterprise and
wanted each individual to ask himself
what he had done toward the upbuilding
of San Francisco. The merchants, he said,
had done great deal, and they were in a
position to remove their interests from this
CITY if they wished, while the property
owners were not. Speaking of the feeling
of dependency noticeable among the
| farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, Mr.
| Magee said that one of them, a few days
ago, when congratulated upon the good
rainfall experienced there this season, re.
piled:
"What difference does that make to me-
OF every three drops of rain which fall II
| this valley, c.. P. Huntington owns two
II have agreed ITO give $4,000 in aid o.
this project, and I will give $4,000, i
necessary" concluded Mr.. Magee, "ano
every cent of that money will be com
PEELED to borrow"
Traffic Manager Leeds made few re
marks, after which Mr.. Belshaw of Anti
! och suggested that the real-estate owner!
of this city should agree to contribute pei
cent of the assessed valuation of their prop
erty this year and l per cent next year Il
aid the road, and the plan seemed to NEE
with much favor, although no definite &C
ton was taken upon this proposition.
Daniel Meyer agreed to follow the sug
gestion offered and also to give substan
tial subscription besides.
S. n. Griffith of Fresno made forclble
and eloquent plea for the road. 81 will
agree to secure the right of way over every
foot of ground between Stockton and Ba-
kersfeld within thirty days after the
necessary amount has been subscribed,
said he.
Ex-United States Senator A. P. Williams
pointed out the fact that the wholesale
business of San Francisco has lessened 81
per cent within the past eight years; that
the merchants are making no money. and
that many lines are dropping out. The
merchants, he said, had borne the brunt Of
every call from business or charity fol-
many years, and the time had come fol
property owners to assert themselves.
E. F. Preston, John 7. Doyle and Others
followed with remarks much in the same
strain, and finally Isaac Upham made