The San Francisco call., 1899-05-09

unless the citizens of my county rally
10 your support.
distinguished ability and great power in
this land should deem il necessary TO be
vail the ordinary conditions which have
been ever present in the launching of
great enterprises. You fain express
surprise that there seems to be some
difficulty in obtaining the right of way
between Surf and Santa Barbara and
you add, Il very much regret it, as l have
had great trouble in getting this work
started"
With a nonchalance that is delightful,
YOU think: 1T seems so strange .
that We should find our progress hindered
by opposition to our getting the right of
way through properties that lie in the
line Of our route and in that charming
tOnshed at this condition when, as
everybody ought to be able TO see, the
completing of this important gap will be
very much more to the interest of the
people along the line of our road than it
can be to the owners and builders of the
road. We do not expect TO get even fair
returns for the investment we are max
ing in building this new road for years to
come. You also add in your letter the
self-eVident truth, which has long been
apparent TO every intelligent citizen Of
this State, Undoubtedly considerable
business which viii so over the new coast
line VIII be business actually taken from
the old line up the valley. as the new line
other"
After unburdening yourself with these
prellnlnaries. the real purpose Of your
letter is announced in the following eau
tious but fOrceful language: "Unless we
can get the right of way secured to US
within reasonable time THE WORK
WILL BE STOPPED" the capitals are
my own. and l shall be in favor myself
Of putting the matter forthwith into the
courts in order to obtain the required
rights Of way You then covertly intro
duce the ''bogie man" and endeaVor to
terrorize the good citizens of Santa Bar
bara with an attempt to portray the
agonizing wait that will be inflicted upon
this community by the laws delay. and
kindly add: Il wish to say here that if
your people want this road you should be-
stir yourselves at once and see that all
obstacles 10 its construction are removed
as rapidly as they well can be.
With that Christian magnanimity which
has always characterized your public as
well as private life, you close your letter
with the following generous statement:
We should be willing to pay SOME
THING again / am forced TO capitalize
this significant Anglo-SaXon noun) for
the right Of way, although, as have indi-
Gated before, every man who owns land
which the road viii need to traverse will
in my opinion be benefited by the pres
ence Of the road tenfOld what the build
ers and owners of the road will be
through their outlay in completing it.
Now, Mr.. Huntington, do you honestly
believe to be true a tithe of what you
have stated? Next, do you imagine for
one moment that. situated as this delight
full and charming region has so long been,
isolated from the great arteries of trade
and travel that the inhabitants and citi-
zens thereof are as grasslike verdant as
the beautiful hills which surround Santa
Barbara are at the end Of the rainy sea-
SON.? Do you imagine that we believe that
you are building this railroad for our
benefit at the Sacrifice Of your vast
wealth? Do you think for moment that
we imagine that you have assumed for
the nonce the white mans burden and
are attempting TO bring into our midst
the arts and blessings Of civilization? Are
you bestowing upon US a gratuitous bless
ing for which we must feel forever CRATE
full?
Having some personal knowledge Of the
conduct and history Of the corporation
which you represent in Its dealings with