The San Francisco call., 1896-03-26
Declares the Vanderbilt Party
Is Not Inspecting the
Central Pacific.
POLITICS AND FUNDING BILL,
Morton the Probable Choice of His
Party-The Pacific Roads
Situation.

special train bearing Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Chauncey M. Depew, John Hone. New
York banker, and George R. Fearing OF
Newport, R. l., pulled into the Southern
Pacifc's Arcade depot at 7:45 o'clock this
evening, and after brief stop proceeded
to Santa Monica, where the party will
spend the night. A small party of rail-
road men, few personal friends of DR..
hand to greet the visitors. The first and
only one to alight from the train was Mr..
Depew, who was soon surrounded by lit
tie group of admirers, whom he proceeded
to entertain in his inimitable and original
manner. The frequent bursts of laughter
which reverberated through the depot
showed that Chauncey was loaded as usual
with good stories and was regaling his
hearers with the witticisms for which he
is so famous. "Well, you have the call
on me" said he to THE CALLS representa-
tive, land suppose I'll have to talk, al
though Mr.. Vanderbilt wants to keep out
of the newspapers as much as possible. In
fact, there is no need of much being said
of our trip, as we are simply here for recre-
alton and our visit has no business signifi-
CdhOC db dill CACCpt sum oo may 1CoQIb
from the broadening of our knowledge of
this great country.
"Neither Mr.. Vanderbilt nor myself has
ever been in California before. You know
we New Workers are so well satisfied with
ourselves and our local habits that we do
not travel about much. You in the West
here have come to look upon US as lot of
selfish millionaires, bloated bondholders
and rapacious goldbugs. This view of US
has become so pronounced that we have
almost begun TO think it is true and that
we are the only people and part of the
country worth concerning ourselves
about. But Mr.. Vanderbilt and l finally
came to the conclusion that we would
break through our crust of exclusivenesss
and see California for ourselves, believing
that in doing so we would get into closer
touch with the people of this great State,
learn to appreciate your more wonderful
resources and possibilities and go back to
our work invigorated both in body and
mind"
"But, doctor. you do not appear to be
in need of any lnvigoration," was sug-
gested.
THAT is true so far as my physical man
is concerned, for l manage to keep my
youth despite an accumulation of years.
honestly think that / perform more
work than any half-dozen other men in
the country, but am able to do it because
my habits are regular and l sleep much
and well. Still 1 get tired OF work some-
times, and l already feel refreshed by this
trip.
Here we are three days out from New
Orleans, and the whole journey has been
constant delight and revelation. By the
way, the Southern Pacific Sunset route is
a magnificent line. The roadbed is solid
and smooth and everything indicates that
the road is managed by competent hands.
We enjoyed our ride over it very much.
We had our view of Southern California
farms and orchards this afternoon, and to
say that we are delighted is putting it
mildly. We are enchanted. We expect
to remain about ten days in the State.
After visiting all the principal points of
interest in Southern California we will
proceed to San Francisco. which l suppose
you Westerners think is at least the hub
of the solar system. taking it for granted
that Boston can make good her claim of
being the hub Of the universe. under
stand that Los Angeles lays claim to being
somew of hub herself. / will be bet
ter able to Judge as to that after l see the
town tomorrow.
s'No, our visit has nothing to do with
the prospective ownership or control of
the Central Pacific. We have been offered
lots of things for ssle since we struck
the West. Ranches, mines and railroads
galore are showed at us, each with the as
time to make fortune, but we are not on
the buy. The Vanderbilt system reaches
as far west as Salt Lake City, and may
some day tap the coast. but we are not fig
uring on extensions now. We have a
traffic agreement with the Union and Gen.
tral Pacific that is quite satisfactory to us,
and our only interest at present is to see
those roads we'll and safely managed, SO
that we can route our coast traffic over
them to advantage to ourselves and our
patrons.
Personally think the proper solution
of the Pacific roads question is some sort
of refunding act. I have not kept well
informed on the bills now before Congress,
but dare say that some bill which would
secure to the Government the money it
has loaned the roads would be better for
the Government and better for the people
than foreclosure and Government owner
ship. l do not believe in Government
ownership. A Government road would
be badly run, for politicians would run it
and it would be run at a loss. Congress
would have to make up the deficit, and
then the New England States, in fact all
the States of the East and South, would
raise protest because like sums were not
spent to aid transportation enterprises in
them. Eastern Congressman would re-
fuse to vote appropriations to ay Pacific
roads debts and the result can easily be
imagined. Owing to the poor service
which Government road would give,
places reached by competing lines would
give their trade to them and places served
only by a Government road would find
their trade paralyzed."
Mr.. Depew cited South America as an
example. There Government ownership
was tried and found wanting. As to the
excellent railway system of Germany
49, ~