262 PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS , CONVENTION. 



this valley really had a realization of what the welfare of that company 

 means to them, no other railway in this section would receive a dollar 

 from the local business. 



It is a well-known fact that the transportation problem in the Sacra- 

 mento Valley has vexed the people more than any other, except per- 

 haps that relating to drainage. They have needed better facilities than 

 those existing up to date, and they are beginning to materialize. We 

 have made a good beginning, and only a beginning. Our service, both 

 freight and passenger, is not at all what we wish or intend it to be, but 

 we confidently expect that within a reasonable time it may be much 

 improved. I am not so optimistic as to suppose that the service we or 

 any other railway company can give will be entirely satisfactory to the 

 public, because it is the privilege of the public not to be satisfied with 

 the performance of a public utility company, and they generally exer- 

 cise that privilege pretty freely; nevertheless, we shall do the best we 

 can and that will be better than anything we now offer. Our main 

 difficulty lies in rinding good men. Since our line opened in September 

 we have hired something over three hundred men in our operating 

 department and discharged fully two hundred and fifty for inefficiency. 

 We are gradually getting a good force, however, and when we are 

 finally organized most of the present inadequacies will disappear. We 

 have some fine men in our service, as good as there are in the Union, 

 and these have operated right along with the incapables without 

 trouble or accident. 



There is one thing that comforts me in the many troubles I have had 

 in connection with this railway, and those troubles are legion. I refer 

 to the absolute knowledge that none of those nuisances that made my 

 life as an orchardist so miserable are connected with a railway. Rail- 

 ways don't have codling-moth, nor pear blight, nor scale; and I think 

 most of you will agree with me when I say that any business that is 

 free from those pests need not be considered hopeless. 



We are sailing now in troublous waters at the mercy of adverse 

 winds, and are suffering from the same troubles that are affecting the 

 whole business community owing to the scarcity of money; but please 

 bear in mind that the Northern Electric Railway once built is bound to 

 remain an important factor in the community. Men may come and 

 men may go, but the railway will continue doing business at the old 

 stand and must now be considered in all plans connected with the 

 country; its integrity will not be obliterated; and although circum- 

 stances might arise to curtail its extension for the present, ultimately its 

 mission will be to branch out in all directions, affording facilities for 

 interchange of help, for shipment of merchandise and products to and 

 fro, and performing all the great public functions of a servant of the 

 people. When these extensions are all completed, the conveniences 



