The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1900-08-23
Thursday, August %, 1900.
THE RAILROADS CHANGE OF
POLICY.

The appointment of james A. YER
ington by the Southern Pacific COM
pany to inquire into the mineral and
agricultural resources OF this State,
with view to arranging for their prof
liable transportation would indicate
that the railroad people have at last
come to the conclusion that Nevada is
something besides bridge between
California and Utah. II is another
manifestation of the change of policy
on the part of the company towards the
line of the Central Pacific and the coun-
try tributary thereto, already indicated
by the great improvements in the road
bed that are now in progress within
the confines OF this State. Millions are
being expended in shortening curves,
lowering grades and laying the heaviest
kind of steel rails, while corresponding
improvements are also being made in
the rolling stock.
The reason for this sudden activity
Is uOb ndTu W Huu dnd bne Change u
policy was predicted by us in these
columns. 1t began with the defeat OF
the Funding Bill in Congress about
two years ago. For years it had been
the policy of Coils p. Huntington and
his associates to make the Central Pa
ciiie road as unproductive as possible.
Every pound of freight and every pas.
senger that could be brought over their
southern line was routed that way.
Their object in bankrupting the Cen
trail Pacific was to avoid the payment
of the enormous debt of the road to
the Government amounting with prin
cipal and interest to S5S, 900, 600 and to
swindle the English stockholders and
bondholders. When the Government
bonds and mortgage came due, the
company asked for moro time. Its at
torneys in Congress and powerful
lobby exerted themselves to the utmost
to have the day of payment deferred
for twenty-five years. 1t was argued
that the road was unpfoductive, that
foreclosure proceedings would cause
loss to company and the Government
alike, all manner of specious arguments
were employed, but in vain. Be it said
to the credit of Francis G. Newlands.
that he both voted and spoke against
the railroad s bill. He was true to the
interests of the people of Nevada and
the opposition OF the railroad to his re-
election to Congress, secretly two years
ago and openly this year, is thereby
explained.
When it became evident that the
Government must be paid or its mort
gage would be foreclosed, Huntington
made terms with the European stock
holders, reorganized the company and
paid off the debt. That was little over
a year ago, and from that time dates
the change in policy. The excuse for
wrecking was gone. There was traffic
enough for both the Central aud South
ern line and to-day three trains are
passing over the Central Pacific where
there was one two years ago. The bust
ness of the road is now being stimulated
instead of repressed. 1t is only natural
therefore, that the company should
seek to increase its local as well as its
through business. 1t has taken the
first step in the appointment of Mr..
Yerington. The second will be to grant
to Nevada a terminal point and to so
reduce its freight and passenger rates
that Nevada industries can live and
grow. We hope that such step will
be taken and believe that it would re-
suit in mutual advantage to both rail-
road and people