The record-union., 1895-03-13
A COOL-HEADED AND SENSIBLE
JUDO AENT.

The Fresno E'rpoSit0r, which enjoys the
reputation of calling things by their
proper names, and is friendly to the
new road, in referring to the grant of
State tide land to the San Joaquin Valley
Company, says:
Probably nothing better demonstrates the
large part in the development of this State
that the San Francisco and San Joaquin
Valley Railroad Company purposes TAX
ing than the lease OF fifty acres of the
States water front, south of Market street
IN san Francisco, for fifty years. There
! seems TO be little opposition to granting this
!aVor at the Capitol, simply because 1t Is asked
IN the name OF a competing railroad company
II 1t Is granted, though, how many years will
II De Defore those who voted for it Will be held
up TO the public as betrayers of the peoples
interests? This new railroad is to be built TO
make money for those who put their money
INTO ana manage 1t, and those men will very
naturally make the most of every advantage
that is given them. Work on this great
enterprise has now passed the sentimental
stage; 1t IS henceforth plainly matter of
business; cool-headed, kard-headed business
That is it, precisely! Those who would
throw business prudence to the winds
and trust to the word of promise of men
promoting the new road-who will be in
accomplishment of the promise, by any
possibility-will pretty soon be cursing
themselves and be cursed by everybody
else for going into compact with a cor
poration without having in black and
white provision for every possible con-
tingency that may arise.
to be conserved in all proper ways, one
not to hindered or obstructed by any
| technical or carping objection or whimsi-
cal obstacles. But at the same time it is
one that should be held to just as strict
and cautious provisions as would an old
established and rich corporation.
What legislator is there to-day who
stands ready to give over to another, even
be he so close as brother, the possession
Of his property on the understanding
that the grantee shall build upon the
realty valuable structures that at the end
OF the lease shall revert to the grantor?
! viii not the least business-like man in
the Legislature insist that the conditions
! shall be nominated in the bond? Will
not he realize that Understandings are
not business-like, and have no binding
effect in law, and that such matters as the
grantor fails to express in his grant will
be held to have been purposely omitted
What man is there in any seat of either
house to-day who will give up valuable
privileges to another with the under
standing" that the other is to build rail-
| road to accommodate the commerce of his
section and supply need for transporta-
ton of products out and supplies in?
Will not the commonest Intelligence see
toit that it is provided by recorded express
sion that the road shall be built, what
kind of road il shall be, what improve
ments shall be made on the terminal site,
what the minimum length of the line
shall be, that there shall be within a rea-
sonable time adequate means of trans
portation provided, that there shall be so
much of construction entered upon within
given period, that there shall be provis-
ion for crossing water with cars; and
that if in these and other reasonable par
ticulars there shall be failure of perform
ance, the grantor may re-enter and take
his own? Above all, what man is there
who will not make the rental or consid-
Grafton something fairly representative
of the value of the privileges accorded?