The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1876-10-21
SATURDAY. OCT. 81, 1876
FOR DELEGATE TO CONGRESS,
HIRAM S. STEVENS
THE s. P. RAILROAD.

approaching railroad Is OF ueep
interest to the people of Arizona
just now, we copy the following
article from Halls Land Journal,
paper published in San Fran
cisco. What this enterprising
company has done for California
is eloquentIy described, and it
will do the same for Arizona.
The increased prosperity that it
has given to Los Angeles it will
give to Yuma, where the cars and
steamers will meet, and new
towns and prosperous settlements
will spring up all along the route t:
The recent completion of the
Southern Pacific Railroad between
San Francisco and Los Angeles,
may will be considered the lead
ing event of the year in California,
as it opens up what is sure to be-
come in the future the most fertile
and productive portion of the
State. AS most of our readers are
aware, the track is now laid to
within almost one hundred miles
of Fort Yuma, and before the year
1877, it will be fully completed to
that point, thus connecting San
Francisco and Arizona. Wherev-
er the road has penetrated beauti-
full towns have sprung up and flour
ishing settlements appear on
every side. All through the San
Joaquin Valley, land has increas-
ed in value at least 100 per cent.
Though the railroad had compa-
ratively easy grading through the
valley, it was fully made up to
them by the difficult route from
Tehachepi Pass to the other side
of the San Fernando mountains.
The longest tunnel on the coast is
the San Fernando Tunnel, which
is 6,997 feet in length. The total
length of the tunnels between Ca
liente and Los Angeles is about
10, 240 feet. The work at San Fer
nando was commenced March
9th, 1875, the headers met July
18th, 1876, and the timbering Was
completed August 9th, 1876.
From the tunnel to Los Angeles
the road passes through varied
country, much of it very pictur.
esque, the distance is about TWEEN.
ty miles. That Los Angeles will
receive the lions share of the be.
nefit of the road, is apparent tC
all. 1t is the railroad center of all
Southern California, five roads
having been constructed east
west, north and south. The wide
spread fame of this beautiful city
has brought strangers and tourists
from all parts of the world, who
have been charmed with hel
scenery, delighted with her eli
mate, and who see in her natura
resources, unbounded opportuni
ties for wealth. The Southern
Pacific Railway winds its Way
through the beautiful Los Angeles
valley, passing many thriving vii
lagos on to San Bernardino cOun
ty, which equals in size the grea
state of Massachusetts. The city
of San BernardinO can be diml.
seen from the railroad car, will
its lofty church spires and hand
some court house. This city viii
no doubt build a branch road t,
the Southern Pacific, which i
about four miles from the town
Should this be done it will yer.
materially add to the prOsperit.
of this thriving town. From her
the road passes through man,
miles of dry plains, until it reaCh
es the San Gorgonio Pass, from
which it hastens on to the grea
desert. The Company have al
ready let the contract for building
the bridge over the Colorado rive
at Fort Yuma. They will thel
not only have the rich trade Q
Arizona and New Mexico, bu
also being on the border Of tn
old Mexican States of Sonora an
Sinaloa, will of a necessity fin
that their commerce will pas
over this road. 1t is probable tina
in a few years a branch railrOa'
will penetrate even to the Capita
of Mexico. All that has thus ia
been done, we owe to few enter
prising, public spirited men, who
without the prospect of immediat
gain. have built this road, which
is destined to make Californi
rich and prosperous twenty year
earlier than she would otherwis
have been. Should they Obtail
the grant which has been cedet
by Congress to Scott we do no
doubt they will push On to Texa
and finish the road within two o
three years. Thus far they hav
been successful, and their enter
prise has been an honor to tn
State of California.
The coast counties also nov
have an easy access to the mai
branch of the Southern Pacifi
Railroad, and we shall be great,
disappointed if the thriving town
of Santa Barbara and san Buena
vanfIIra do not snepdilV take u