The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1907-09-21

About 40 years ago when the old Cen
,r.l Pacific Railroad constructed its line
.cross the State Of Nevada, and shortly
.f,sr when the Virginia & Trucket
road from Virginia City to Reno wai
built for the purpose Of carrying ores
and supplies for the Comstock mines
the Nevada Legislature. at the dicta'
tou of G. p. Huntington. passed law
fixing maximum freight rates at q
cents per ton per mile, and passenger
fares at 10 cents per mile.
Until less than one month ago that
statute remained In force in Nevada
without so much as the slightest altera.
tiou or amendment. Legislature after
legislature was elected upon sacred
promises made to the people to grant
them relief, but every wish Of the op-
pressed inhabitants of the battle. born
state was cast aside or trod upon by
the men who were herded in the little
stone capitol at Carson City by the
railway bribe givers and slave drivers.
Until within the last three years but
one trans-continental railway entered
the boundaries Of the State and competi-
tiop-there was none. Nevada people
were fond Of reading about places
where the railways paralleled each
other and narratives Of how competi-
ton was never real, but they were iD
that state Of mind of wanting to try il
lust once. Reasons were plenty. The
spirit Of the Interstate Commerce law
was lodged and the rates charged so
high that those TO the California sea
board beyond were Insignificant in
comparison.
Within the State the Central Pacific.
or its successor the Southern Pacific.
never established terminal point nor
granted terminal rates. All freight
from the East was charged for to Sac.
ramento, CAL. and the local rate back.
For many years pretense of carrying
the freight through was made. but IL
never was actually in practice and
when that was exposed the pretense
was abandoned. The through rate
from Missouri river points to Sacra-
msnto in car lots averages 50 cents per
hundred weight. But the local rate
back to various Nevada points runs
from twice to four times that amount
Thus. TO ship a car of merchandise to
Sacramento the charges amount 10
about $40; but to have the car stopped
and taken down the $50 mile side line
to Tonopah or Goldheld the figures
swell mp in yeast-like fashion to $3.50 TO
tl2oO.
The attempts to enact railway legis-
lation were grotesque. Once or twice
within 20 years bills to force the railway
to establish Nevada terminal. were iu-
troduced. One or two made il felony
for a railway company to carry ship
ments beyond the points to which they
were billed or to pretend or charge for
such service. II was plainly obtaining
money by false pretenses. but done by q
sacred aud dignified railway company
that could do no evil"
The city of Reno by its geographical
location has always been regarded as
the place for a terminal, and the men,
bers OF the Legislature from that
county who should have taken the lead
In the premises and fought it out were
anything but steadfast. Most of them
were merchants and the easiest prey
Tor the railways. While not necessari
" OF the class Of bribe takers who
would accept cash for their votes. they
were amenable to the sort of influence
that would be beneficial to them in y
business way, by the granting of re-
oates, or special concessions Of this or
mat nature,and their guns were spiked.
Inc people Of the whole State have had
70 bear the burdens OF their trausgres-
aons. Twice have railway bills passed
tne Assembly only to be referred to a
senate railroad committee having q
railway lawyer for chairman. Such
olis never were reported back and
died In committee.
The influence Of the Southern Paci
ao In politics was so potent that neither
political party dared ignoreit. Instead,
.ney sought alliance with the railway 's
forces and the one that was more solid
senerally got what it wanted at the
capitol II not at the polls. The Repub'
hcan party Of the State Is notorious for
"s many years of illicit relationship
with the Southern Pacific, and rather
yuan attempt to conceal the fact. it was
saoJect for boasting by the men who
a'a the manipulating of money and
's'ors. Likewise has the Democratic
party been a tool. and in reality il has
0sen a case of "heads win aud tails
s0a iose." Both have proven traitors
.ao promise breakers. They have
'1a1eniy scoffed at their promises to the
ps0pie and done the bidding of their
tMIUrHti0u afa~a Uk~ekar Re.