The San Francisco call., 1896-05-10
One of the Methods to Be Used
Against the Competing
Valley Road.
AFTER THE wHEAT-GRowERs.
How the Matter Is Viewed by a
Prominent Merchant of the
Locality Affected.

Eugrossed as c. P. Huntington's mind
must necessarily be with the attempt to
pass funding bill in Congress and to win
the suit pending in the Federal court in
this City 10 prevent e reduction in rates
by the State Railroad Commission, he has
still found time apparently to formulate
plan by means of which he expects to con-
troll a considerable portion of the trans
portation business of the San Joaquin
Valley for some time to come, in spite of
the advent of the Valley road IN that sec
ton of the State.
From a gentleman who is a large grain
grower and prominent in commercial
circles in the San Joaquin Valley and who
is now on visit to this City, it is learned
that the Southern Pacific Company now
has, and for some time has had, large
corps of solicitors throughout the San
Joaquin Valley at the points which the
Valley road will touch, whose business it
is to make transportation contracts with
the large shippers Of grain, as well as with
the more prominent merchants.
These contracts, according to the state
ment of the gentlemen named, are drawn
for three years, provide for all transporta-
tion business being done exclusively with
the Southern Pacific, and in return for this
the railroad company makes special rates,
considerably lower than those now in
force.
The work of these solicitors is done in a
quiet and exceedingly cautious manner.
For this course there are two goou reasons
assigned. 1t is, of course a most impor-
tant requisite that the intending competi-
tor of the Southern Pacific shall not be
made aware of what is being done in this
direction, in order that the desired object
that of freezing out this competitor from
its due share OF business-may be accom-
plished.
A further reason, and one not less
important, is that the contracts thus made,
giving as they do a lower rate to some
persons than are given to the general
public, are violation of that clause of the
State constitution which prohibits dis
crlmination in rates, reading as follows:
No discrimination in charges or facilities for
transportation shall be made by any railroad
or other transportation company between
places and persons or the facilities for the
transportation of the same classes OF freight or
passengers within the State or coming from or
going TO any other State.
So carefully have the emissaries of the
tions that their work has not attracted
public attention heretofore, although they
have been at work for some weeks.
THE CALLS informant. for obvious rea-
sons, does not desire to have his name di-
vulged, as he was one of those approached
by an agent of the Southern Pacific. He
declined their oYertures, however as he
realized, he said, what would be the result
fha Of l.
were furthered by those whom the San
Joaquin road is designed to deliver from
the bondage of the Southern Pacific Com
pany. That this gentleman understands
the full import of the scheme of the Hunt
ington monopoly is shown in the words In
which he expressed himself.
II cannot understand" he said, chow
any man with sound sense can be induced
to bind himself to the Southern Pacific
Company at this critical period for three
years. Surely every one who ships a.
pound of freight out of the valley must
understand that any favors that are
granted, or appear to be granted, by the
Souther Pacific at this time are simply
proffered in order that the path and
progress of the competing road now near
ing completion may be made difficult and
its operation, if possible, improbable.
"They seemingly do not realize that this
ls not one of those projects that, owing to
the lack Of capital, is likely to be bought
or controlled by Huntington & Co. They
lose sight of the fact that its head and
most enthusiastic protector is man who
has undertaken to give the people of Cali
fornia genuine competing railroad; that
he and his associates have the necessary
capital, perseverance and ability to cope
with the great monopoly, and, what is
more, have the desire and determination
to win victory in this great battle of
money, brains and principle.
"If the people of the San JOAQUIN VAL
ley make any combination with the South
ern Pacific Company that is designed to
tamper or interfere in any way with the
progress and prosperity of the San Fran
cisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway
they will simply be thwarting the efforts
of those whose interests are very closely
allied to their own, and any injury that
may result to the Valley road will be
reflected and intensified among them
selves. For the good reputation of the
valley, for its future welfare, for the well
fare of the State, should be extremely
sorry to learn that this latest scheme con-
cocted by the Southern Pacific to retain its
monopolistic grip on the richest section OF
the State is even partially successful