144 ANNALS OF STATE GKANGE OF CALIFORNIA. 



its construction, by furnishing funds, from having any voice in the 

 management of it. Then giving this ring the power to build and 

 equip the road at a fictitious cost, the profits of which go into their 

 own pockets, and farther permitting them, in order to have large 

 dividends, to compel the producer, consumer and traveler to pay 

 excessive fare and freight on such road. 



2d. In permitting the consolidation of what should be rival lines 

 in our State, inasmuch as such action is contrary to public policy in 

 building strong monopolies which defy competition, facilitates the 

 charging of exorbitant rates and discriminates unjustly in favor of 

 or against localities, and enables such monopolies to attain their ob 

 jects, by introducing in our legislative and judicial halls, and by the 

 use of our safeguards for their own selfish ends, to carry out a policy 

 which builds up the carrier at the expense of the producer or consumer. 

 Farmers should encourage the opening and establishing of new 

 routes, under proper restrictions, and retain controlling interest in 

 them. Canals from interior points to communicate with our naviga 

 ble streams should be constructed; narrow-gauge railways, so much 

 cheaper in construction and operation than the present broad-gauge, 

 are well adapted to cheap transportation, and would help meet the 

 exigencies required. All farmers, as well as Patrons of Husbandry, 

 should unite in an effort to secure a reduction of freight and fare 

 and charges on inland as well as ocean routes, and withhold their 

 voice, their votes and subscription from all transporting corpora 

 tions which will not agree that such uniform, equitable rates shall 

 be fixed by the State authorities as will afford a fair remuneration to 

 them, and, at the same time, will not be an oppressive burden to the 

 producer and consumer. 



Another and true way to correct and alleviate the present trouble 

 and assist the producer of this State, w r ould be to create a home 

 consumption for our products by encouraging and drawing to us 

 manufactories. These, by affording us consumers at home, w r ould 

 do away with all need of transportation of much that is now surplus. 

 If a moiety of the subsidies, by farmers to railroads in this State, 

 had been invested in manufactories, our population would have 

 been so increased that the home market for produce would be 

 double what it is now. If the demand for transportation was cur 

 tailed this much, the surplus we have to spare would find a ready 

 market at compensating rates. 



The subject of oceanic and internal transportation is of such a 

 varied nature and of such vast importance, that your committee have 

 approached it with reluctance. Especially as the whole subject is 

 now in the hands of the special committee of the United States Sen 

 ate, who, with a great deal of care and considerable expense, are 

 now gathering facts and statistics to make a report which will, no 

 doubt, be made public in time to enable us to derive as much or 

 more real information and benefit therefrom, than from any report 

 your committee, with the limited means at their command, could 

 possibly make. 



The agriculturists of this as well as other States, may justly com 

 plain of the unequal burdens imposed upon them for the support of 

 State and Federal governments, while they receive no more, and in 

 many cases not near so much, care and protection from the Govern- 



