Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-01-21
The Railroad Meeting.


with the Southern Utah railroad and
the Union Pacific railroad.
Col. J. J.Warner called the meeting
to order, stated its objects aud asked
Mr. Barrows if he had report to
make.
Mr.. Barrows responded in effect as
follows: Chairman and neighbors-lt
devolves on me to make a formal re-
port of the action of our committee.
Mayor Beaudry, Mr.. Lips and myself
were first appointed, but the other
members could not go, so Col. Craw-
ford and Judge Widney were substi-
tuted and we went to San Francisco.
We saw Col. Jackson, Senator Jones'
representatives. and also the latter gem
teman. With them we had several
free and agreeable talks. We were
pleased with Senator Jones, who had
clear business notions and who gave
us the strongest assurances on thi
subject. He satisfied us that his no.
tions on the proposed road conceded
with ours. The present road he had
built and paid for. 1t now stands on
strong ground, and he wants to
prosecute the building of the future
road in the same manner. Col. jack
son and SenatorJones appreciated the
good feeling of Los Angeles. They
were touched 10y the sentiment of
which they had received so many evil
dences. We assured them that the
feeling was spontaneous. We assured
them that the feeling in Los Angeles
was almost unanimously in favor of
the proposed undertaking. Senator
Jones indicated his intention to prose-
cute the road further, so that no citi-
zen of Los Angeles can criticise here
after He would soon propose n plan
by which the good feeling can be in
creased 1t shall never be said if he is
drawn down that any citizen OF Los
Angeles was drawn down with him.
AS he intimated, the road will proba-
bly, take this shape: Bonds, secured on
the road and wharf, will be issued, and
those desiring to aid him should take
these bonds and with the proceeds he
would push ahead the road. If misfor-
| tune occurred to him the bonds would
be secured. Senator Jones, as soon as
he got East, would negotiate with par
ties there to build road to this coast.
1t may be necessary to have some of
the prominent citizens go East to as
sist in those negotiations. The COM
mittee had also seen GoOdall, Nelson
& Perkins about having all their steam
ers stop at Santa Monica. In an inter-
view with the firm they had raised
many objections to the proposal, but
finally said they were between two
fires. The committee intimated to
them that the people of Los Angeles
were in earnest about this outlet and
were determined to avail themselves
of it. On this point the committee got
no satisfaction, and the interview
closed by an offer to the committee of
free transportation home on their
steamer, which was politely declined.
Judge Widney being called made an
| interesting address, stating that Sena-
tor Jones did not propose Immediately
to take hold Of the construction of the
Utah connection, as it would take too
much of his time. 1t was a big job,
and, being enthusiastic in his efforts
10 benefit the human race, heproposes
to negotiate with other parties when
East. At the present time we have
only faint idea of the Importance of
this question. or the people would be
here by hundreds, instead of the few
present. Any interior city that can
connect itself with great system of
railroads, is in fair way to prosperi-
ty. Every trans-oontinental railroad
betweed the Union Pacific and the
Southern Pacific must cross this rail-
road to Salt Lake. Nowif we capture
all these system of railroads we will
have the finest commercial position
on the Pacific coast. He found that
the best men in San Francisco took
this view. He didn't hesitate to state
in San Francisco that the people of
Los Angeles would subscribe four, five
or six hundred thousand dollars if nec-
essary to secure the Utah connection.
The people in San Francisco all said
when you get that Salt Lake c0nnec-
ton you deal San Francisco the heav-
lest blow she has yet received. Sew
eral capitalists said it was their inten-
ton to leave San francisco and come
down to Los Angeles with their
means. 1t is not necessary to be on
the beach to become commercial
centre. London is forty miles from
the sea, Paris one hundred and Moscow
six hundred. We will soon see ves-
sells loading at our ports for an parts of
the world as cheap as at San Francis
co. The real business life OF Los An
geles commenced in 1868, and when
she is as old as San Francisco she will
have over 100000 people.
They had seen Goodall, Nelson &
Perkins and they finally told the true
cause why steamers did not stop at
Santa Monica, viz: That if they did
SO the Southern Pacific Railroad
would not give them up freight. We
told them that the citizens would start
an opposition line &c. In fact, arti-
cles of incorporation are already sign
ed and the scheme is only wanting
the settlement of some preliminaries.
He hoped the people would hold them
selves in readiness to co. operate with
Senator Jones in building this road.
Mr.. Fisher, of Santa Monica, being
called on said he thought the last
speech sufficiently expressed his views
Mr.. BarroYs said that notwithstand'
ing the malignant stabs of o certain
newspaper unfriendly to Santa Mon
lea, Senator Jones had no intention
of selling the road and no assessment:
would be called for.
Gen. Howard said that the people o
Los Angeles could build and control
the entire road to Panamint. The
control of the Southern Pacific ovel
the steamers must be broken up. Tht
people muse have an independent line
ofsteamers to San Francisco. Any o
these old tubs now in use was liable t.
sink any trip,