The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-05-06
W. N. OF INTEREST
TO CALIFORNIA

| Under the heading, 90 Northern Cali
fornia' S Vital Interest, the Stockton
Record Of April % has the following to
say with regard to the Western Pacific
1t may be impractical for California
- undertake the requirement Of the
/ Western Pacific railroad at this time.
But Californans viii act on good judg
meat if they actively interest them
selves IN the future of the railroad. By
al means, they should seek to preserve
the Western Paeife's great possibili-
ties as assets of the state. At the
/ present time the road is in the hands
Of receivers The petition Of the bond
holders was unopposed by the company
and the appointment Of Messrs. Olnev
and Drumm was by mutual agreement
VIII the Western Pacific come out of
the reeeivership an independent Cali
fornia railroad, or will its identity be
eNtinguished by interests which fear
! itF That's the question.
TIE Western Pacific has received
less business aud returned to the state
more practical benefits than all other
compeung lines. The builders did not
come To the state begging for subsidies
2 grants They paid their way What
4 ever troubles they had IN financing the
road = construction, the builders met
every county and city and individual
Oh d liberal business basis The com
/ pletion OF the new railroad came at a
time when the depression Of '07- '0S
was greatest; and regulation by the
interstate and state commissions com.
PEELED the older companies to improve
their services and revise their rates
I There was not much new business, and
the presence Of a new transcontinental
I line IN California compelled the Older
/ lines to bid and scheme for business
/ which previously had gone to them
without right Of choice BY the people
/ With their feeders, and their latelv
arrived rolling stock and re-organized
managements, older roads were able to
prevent an expansion OF Western Pa
cihc activities. But the Western Pa.
/ cide put more enterprise, public spirit
fair play and respect for public rights
into the conduct Of the older railroads
than any man not eonversant with the
/ inner workings of railroad management
can fully appreciate.
1t was the Western Pacific which
cut down the time to Chicago and the
Atlantic seaboard for fast fTeights
and passengers. The older companies
began to run their trains faster; they
/ began TO show consideration for ship
/ pers which they would MOI even con
slider ia the old days. And, thanks K
the state s progressive railroad com
mission, the older lines are now com
PEELED to haul freight over their feed
ers for delivery TO the Western Pacific
fol overland haul, and make a reason
able division Of the charges. The
/ Western Pacific went into the Pajart
/ Valley and secured the routing of hun
/ dreds of cars Of apples TO eastern
points Not only did it put the apples
through ii a shorter time but compe
tition caused the other company tC
prodvide cars promptly, and give some
personal attention to the condition and
movement Of the ears. 1t is needless
l to revnew this phase Of the subject AT
l]ength At many points in Northern
| California the Western Pacific has
compelled consideration for shippers
/ and patrons One might go indefinitely
/ into what the presence of the Western
Pacific has wrought in the betterment
of railroad conditions IN California.
But local conditions are entirely
hopeless, aud there is vet no opportu
nsty to put the Western Pacific sys
/ tenn in condition TO share a profitable
part of California S prosperity. The
/ Old ssGould system, of which the
4 Western Pacific was a part, has gone
to pieces - As a result the Western
Pacific is in a position Of more posst
/ BE Independence than ever before. a
| .,,..s, 4 ..rs lilo mart of the bonded in
aehteaess of the road is held in Cali
fornia and western states. For some
time the influence of the bondholder'
IS going TO be more potential than thai
Of the stockholders in determining tbs
future of the Western Pacific system
If the road is thrown indiiferently OF
/ the market and its control hawke,
around Wall srteet, the organized rall
road interests viii find a way to des
trov the autonomy of the Western Pa
cife. On the contrary, if the foresight
of bondholders and big shippers ear
be touched bv a measure Of state 10
tercst and pride, IT is not Impossible
that the road can be taken ont OF re
Iceivership free from the trammel o
alien exploiters.
good line Of work would be TO
the great commercial and mercantile
bodes of the state 10 interest them
selves in the situation aud evidene'
IN intention of seeing that the West
ern Pacific got its fair share Of oas
ness and encouragement The sitnatio,
i really 3 momentous one and u WI
he grave misfortune if it Is not me
at this time.