The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-16

things than meat to equally as good adj
vantage. Oatmeal has supplanted fried
meat to a great extent, and to the great
gain of the life of the people. Sugar is
cheaper. Rice is more in demand and
within easier reach. Bread is better and
cheaper. Perhaps, more than all, there is
incalculable gain in the extension of fruit
consumption to the tables of the masses.
Fruit is a staple article of table use, in
stead of the between-meal luxury it used
to be-" 1t may be said of this view that
even if the American has taken to cereals
and fruit as substitute to large extent
for meat, as a matter of forced economy,
he will have no reason to regret it. Thanks
to the prolific orchards of the Pacific Coast,
fruit is sufficiently abundant for all, and
the more largely it is consumed, the better
will be the health of the people and the
finer their enjoyment of life.
The Harbor Commissioners have doubt
less received a multitude of suggestions in
regard to the material to be used in the
construction of the ferry depot at the foot
of Market street, but that is no reason they
should not receive more. The Bridgeport
''They should decide to use our Bridgeport
travertine, the most beautiful and lasting
building material in the world. The build
ing is for all time-or as long as it will
last-and the best of everything should be
put in" Whether the Bridgeport traver-
tine is really the most beautiful and last
ing building material in the world is
subject which may be thought debatable
in other localities having building mate
rial to sell, but none can question the
right of the Chronicle Union to speak up
for the home product and speak boldly. 1t
may not get this particular order for the
travertine, but it has certainly given the
material good ad and helped to make
market for it.
The reduction in freight rates made by
the Southern Pacific Company on ship
ments from all points between San Luis
Obispo and Guadalupe has afforded the
San Luis Obispo Tribune an opportunity to
teach the people of that section a clear
lesson on the value of competition. 1t
points out that Mr.. Huntington has him
self explained that the reduction was made
simply as matter of business, in view of
the competition of the Pacific Coast Steam
ship Company, which, if the old rates con-
tinued, would secure all the grain ship
ments from the southern portion of this
county. In reducing the rates Mr.. Hunt
ington was careful to make them apply
only to points that are far enough south
to have the advantage of shipment by
water from Port Hartford. The lesson
should be learned by the shippers of every
section of the State. All localities do not
enjoy the advantage of competition by
water, but the work\now going on in the
San Joaquin shows they can have COM
peting railroads, and that the power OF
breaking the cinch of the monopoly is in
their own hands.
While waiting for a competing railroad
the San Benito Advance urges the people
of that section to employ their idle hours
to haul the hay crop to market. With hay
at 10 ton, it says, the railway charges eat
up one-third of the amount, leaving no
profit for farmers. A proof of the adj
vantage of using teams for transportation,
it says, "can be found in the Alliance mule
team, which delivers -four to Santa Cruz,
returns to Hollister loaded with lumber
and thence to Gilroy with grain. Not a
single mile is travelled empty, and the
team is a long way ahead of railroad rates"
1t Is not to the credit of California that in
this age of the world any portion of her
people outside the mountains should be
compelled to make long hauIs with mule