The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-05
THE COMPETING RAILROAD.


The chamber of commerce of Los An
gsles has been requested to appoint e
committee to 60 to San Francisco ia an
attempt to induce the promoters OF the
Valley railroad to extend their line to
this city.
The commercial and financial inter
ests OF this community demand that im-
mediate steps be taken to accomplish
the desired result. Los Angeles cannot
afford TO allow Bakersfisld to remain the
terminus OF any railroad with starting
point in San Francisco. Oar merch ants
cannot afford to see the business OF the
San Josqniu valley controlled in San
Francisco at the expense of their own
pockets. A competing railroad from
the Golden Gate to Bakersfield means
the concentration OF all business inter.
eats OF the valley in the city by the bay.
If Mr.. Spreckels and his associates
decline to entertain the proposition to
extend their line to Los Angeles, il be.
hoovss the capitalists and merchants oil
this city to connect with that line and
build q railroad south. There can be
no controversy on this point 1t is
plain business proposition. that can
neither be ignored nor delayed. and the
danger OF delay becomes hourly more
apparent. Los Angeles already controls
fair proportion OF the San Joaqu in
valley trade. bat if the Sprsokels road is
successful and extends no further than
Bakersfield. this city will lose whstevsr
commercial prestige che may possess in
that section of tbs state.
At the same time the Mathews coun-
ty railroad bill should not bs lost sight
OF. Every effort should bs made to pass
the measure, for in the event oil the
completion OF the valley road to Frssno,
counties adjacent to those through
which it passes will desire to reap the
benefits OF railroad com munication with
the main line, and may not be able to
accomplish this by ordinary methods.
The Mathews bill provides that
county may bond itself to build such a
road. in the same manner that it bonds
itself to construct wagon roads, court
houses and school build ings.
1t is only natural that this measure
should meet With strenuous opposition
from the subsidized press of the South.
ern Pacific corporation. They opposed
the building Of the valley road on the
grounds that there was not business
enough in the San joaquin valley to
support two railroads. and that a COM
peting road would become bankrupt in
competition with the established mo-
nopoly. They do not sing that song with
the old vigor now, for they have read the
determination Of the people and under
stand that such arguments are regarded
in their true hght-as the special plead
ing OF hired advocates who defeat the
purpose Of their argument by refraining
from reply to the fact that competing
railroads in sections more sparsely SGT .
tied and less resuurceful than the San
joaquin valley. are transacsing re.
munerative business.
The hired press of the Southern
Pacific has abandoned this line of attack
and 10 now endeavoring to mako the
people believe that the Mathews bill is
unconstitutional. Aside from the fact
that the law does not prohibit county
from loaning it's credit to itself there
can be no valid reason why the legisla-
turs should decide whether the law is
constitutional or not. 1t is the duty OF
tho courts to pass on that question and
1t would be an injustice to the people if
the mere assertion Of snap shot jurists
and the railroad press should be allowed
to thwart valid judicial test. Pass the
Mathews bill and let competent author
ity decide whether it is constitutional
or not.