The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-13
WHEN COURAGE IS NEEDED.

1t is reported from MERGED the people
there are anxious 10 serve the Valley road,
but that fear of the Southern Pacific is
restraining some of them. This IS most
extraordinary and seemingly incredible
news. 1t is as difficult TO believe that the
people are so timid as that the Southern
Pacific is SO unwise.
In the days of its early enthusiasm the
Southern Pacific did seek to make and un-
make towns 1t left Visalia off its main
line and created Tulare, but Visalia was
not suppressed, and the company's failure
OF its purpose was acknowledged not long
ago when it removed its shops from Tu-
lare. 1t determined to make MERGED the
great city OF the San joaquin Valley south
of Stockton, and erected there a splendid
hotel; but the hotel proved an elephant
and Fresno took the lead. Even in San
Francisco it thought to move the business
part of the City by establishing its head
quarters and freight sheds on Townsend
street, but the business part of the City
stayed and grew where il was born, in
spite of the great inconvenience which it
was made to suffer by the remoteness of
the railroad terminus and recently the
company confessed its failure byeahandon-
ing the great brick house and moving its
headquarters into town. It sought to
make city of Sumner at the expense of
Bakersfield, but Bakersfield grew strong
and yoracious and swallowed Sumner.
There are great forces which the people
as mass direct in spite Of opposing inter
ests and efforts. The residents of MERGED
have no cause to fear, for if they are united
and fearless no danger can assail them. 1t
Is hardly possible to believe that they are
timid now, for timidity would be their
ruin and courage their salvation. II they
keep out the peoples road they will be no
better of than at present, and if they Sc
cure il their prosperity is assured.
1t is conoeiyably Though only barely SOY
that overZealous friends or agents of the
Southern Pacific are anxious only that the
people Of MERGED shall not give substantial
aid TO the peoples road. for clearly all the
aid so given viii place the Southern Pacific
al disadvantage on the score Of competi-
ton. At the same time il will enable the
peoples road to haul the products Of Mer-
ced cheaply, and thus enable its producers
10 make a reasonable profit. Still some OF
the Southern Pacific magnates have large
landed and irrigation interests in the vicin-
ity Of MERGED City, and this and other rea-
sons should put every one in a frame OF
mind TO believe that the Southern Pacific
would not object TO the increase of busi-
ness settlement and land values that would
follow the peoples road into MERGED.
II there are any waverers in MERGED land
We shall not believe it except on the most
evidenee) they are lacking in
the spirit which makes success in this
world possible Such lack would be so
contrary 10 the prevalent manliness and
OF Californians that It can
not be accepted without stronger proof
than We have st present. We prefer to re
gard all the residents OF MERGED County as
having the enterprise, independence and
clear business sense OF Messrs. J. J. Steven
son, William \. Gray, George S. Bloss,
Henry F. Greer and James S. Peck, who,
as private land owners or their representa- |
lives. have offered clear right Of way for
-hirty-fve miles through the richest sec
tons OF the county. The people OF MERGED
City n their collective capacity have from !
these gentlemen an example which should |
inspire emulation.