The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1903-04-18
ELKo FARMERS INSTITUTE.
The Changers Addressed by j. M.
Fulton, Agent Of the Southern
PsciHc-Nsture Has Disseminated
Against Nevada, Hut the People
Are Not wrOnged ON Commodities
shipped Into the state For the
Purpose OF Agriculture, Mining or
Household Use
From the Elko Free Press Of April IL.

ptoschI WeTo uuen pleaseu WlIn Tue Au-
dresses Of the University professors.
During the evening session Mr.. ]. M.
Fulton, district freight and passenger
agent Of the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company, was called upon and, among
other things, said:
Mr.. Fulton said that an audience such
as was assembled here, showing an inter-
est in agriculture, dairying and stock
raising, seemed to him to mean much for
the State. He said that while mining
was Of great importance it did not build
up the State permanently. He called at
tention to the great fortunes made in
mining at Virginia City, alluded to the
fact that Mr.. Sharon. Messrs. Mackay,
Fair, Flood and others had left the State
as soon as the mines were exhausted.
Mr.. Fulton called attention to the fact
that in 1860 the railroad company in
making their surveys. found but three
white men between. Reno, Nevada, and
Corinne, Utah. Nearly the entire popu-
lstion came from Agriculture. Notwith-
standing the fact that Nevada was far
from the great markets the railroad had
given rates on wheat, hay, barley, live
stock and other commodities that per-
mitted the agriculturists of Nevada to
be as prosperous as people engaged in
similar pursuits in other States.
assert that the rates to market on
commodities produced in this State are
low, and that the people of Nevada are
not wronged on commodities shipped into
the State for the purpose Of agriculture,
mining or household use.
believe many men, even members OF
the Legislature, think Nevada is the only
State in the Union that must pay freight
from terminal point to the towns along
the line in the interior. In this they are
mistaken, and will try and make plain
to you that they are.
Elko is 566 miles from San Francisco
your first-class freight rate from San Fran
cisco to Elko is $1.72I per 100 pounds.
The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe first
class rate on freight returning to Peach
Springs, AZ miles. is 81 .3S per 100 pounds.
The Great Northern Railway with ter
minus on Puget sound, charge back rates
to Montana, Idaho and Washington
points from the terminals. The Northern
Pacific makes like charges.
The Southern Pacific Company's first
class rate from San Francisco to Reno,
244 miles, is 81 .46 per 100 pounds. The
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe's first -cass
rate back to Siam, Cal, 246 miles, is $1.7l
per 100 pounds. Thus the Southern Pa
cifc rates from terminals to Nevada are
much less than other roads charge for
similar service. San Bernardino, Fresno
and Bakersfield, all of which have the
Southern Pacific and Santa Fe lines, but
no water competition, pay back freight
from terminal points.
Let me try to explain the necessity of
terminal rates and right here l want to
say that there are no "fair" rates but are
unfair rates, and If the railroads attempt
ed to handle all business at those rates
they would soon be bankrupt. There is
much difference between man putting
fifty thousand dollars in a sailing ship
and employing twelve or fifteen men to
handle the ship, load it with freight and
sail to San Francisco. The ship route
has no track to build and maintain, nor
the thousand other expenses that a rail-
road must bear. The vessels can carry
freight at one quarter the rate railroad
would have to charge these points, pro-
vided it depended entirely upon such
business for its Income. But 80 long as
the road is built and must be maintained,
there is little money made by loading
cars back with such business, and with
out it the local rates would have to be
higher than they now are.
Is it injurious to this State that the
company employs large number of shop
or train men that they would not employ ?
Is it injurious to the people of Nevada
that the company bids for freight to load
its cars back from the east that go there
loaded with wool, dried fruit, etc., from
California and with merchandise from
China and Japan? Bear in mind, If this
business was charged fair rate the COM
pany would never handle 1t; you would
then pay higher rate than now. do
not believe you will say it is detrimental
to this State that the company seeks and
secures some of this business away from
clipper ships.
New York, Philadelphia and Boston
have been made great cities by the COM
manding commercial positions the ocean
gives them. San Francisco, Seattle, Ia
coma and Los Angeles will for the same
reason become great cities. God has
given them the ocean, He has given Ne
yads other blessings. Our deserts are