The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1911-07-08
CALIFORNIA PROGRESS FROM
AN EASTERNER' VIEWPOINT

"The possibilities of the Pacific
slope cannot fail to impress one with
the fact that California is destined to
be one of the great states of the
Union,' says Samuel Rea, first vice.
president of the Pennsylvania rail
road, who was at the Fairmont hotel in
San Francisco recently, after having
visited a number of places of import
ance in California and other Pacific
coast states. Rea is taking a vacation
and he said that he mad selected Cali
forna, because since his last visit
ere ten years ago, he had always had
desire to return.
was out here in California in
1901, and the progress you have made
since that time is simply beyond be
lief. Although much has been accom-.
plished there still remains a great deal
to do in the way of development.
Rea discussed the railroad situation
at great length. He is an ardent believ
er in publicity of railroad matters. He
feels that the people of the country
should learn the railroad business and
that the press is the natural teacher.
~ find much of which the people
of California should be proud - he
said when questioned about the rail-.
roads of the state. There has been
a marked change generally in the AT
titude toward the railroads which in
dicates very clearly that the people
are coming TO realize that the rail
roads are an indissoluble part of the
commercial and industrial growth of
the nation. The people and the rail
Dads are now working together, and
the result must be beneficial to all.
There is an earnest desire all over the
country on tAe part of the railroads
to make service TO the people their
slogan. The greatest service cannot
be accomplished without the hearty co
operation of the people. The people
must learn the railroad business, and
the press of the country is the natural
teacher. | am a strong believer in pub
licity and regulation. No more timely
service can be rendered by the various
railroad commissions than by being in
fact, as well as in name, commissions
for the railroads as well as for the
people.
California Is railroads are second to
none in the United States, is anothe'
opinion of Rea IS. He advises the peo-
ple not to be in too much of a hurry
tor large improvements.
s'The physical conditions OF your
railroads are maintained at high
standard, and, commensurate with the
afiie, are second to none in this coun
trv. The people should encourage the
present trunk lines to make extensions.
~ needed, rather than to encourage
ip1ependent short roads. The old es
taSlished trunk lines with their excel
lent terminal facilities are in a better
nos 'tion to aid in the development of
the state in that way than to put ad-
ditional new capital into terminals
y advance OF their necessity.
However. the fact should be borne IN
n,ia,, that extensions require large
= of capiial and it is absolutely
essential that there be hearty coopefa
On the part OF the people ana
e ~ support in the continuance OF
reasonable rates.
81 have noticed with regret, IN Ger
,ain parts of the state, that there mas
cen a tendency to demand large ana
~ ncns've terminal facilities without
being willing at the same time 10 grant
franchises for the construction OF these
terminals which will make IT possible
to acquire money for these improve
merits on a proper business hfsis' ~
the time we contemplated tAe exteh
sion of the Pennsylvania into New
York CITY, the laws were such as 20
prohibit the extension of a trunk rail-
road with its vast expenditures ON
limited franchise. We could not con
template the possibility of difmember-
ment in future years and therefore ap-
pealed to the legislature OF tAat sta'e
which promptly amended the law so
as to grant perpetual chartef.,
s'There is another thing 70 be con
sidered in this connection. TIE peonle
should not be impatient, beef use the
country is stll new and your cities are
growing very rapidly. 1t is impossible
to tell just exactly what will be tac
requirements even ten years from
now; therefore railroads necessarily
have to exercise great care in making