Arizona weekly miner., 1876-05-05
RAILROAD MATTERS.
COUPON, CAL, April 25. 1876.

zuua are anxious about that which is to be done in the matter of rapid transit, will write up the situation of railroads that are being built towards the Territory.
 Gov Stanford frequently said, last sum- mer, that he intended to water his engines at the Colorado river on or before July 4th of the present year; but Gov. Stanford can't control the elements, although 1t is charged that, to a great extent, he controls the legis- lature of California.
 In June and July last, the Southern Pa cifc Company employed large force of men at Tehachape and San Fernando; in the former place there were sixteen tunnels and large number of heavy cuts and fills :; this heavy work was carried on with dispatch until the rains set in, when the ground be- gan to slip and slide, and it was next to inn possible to make any headway; men were killed and crippled nearly every day, and the continuous rains made it impracticable to work at shallow grading, and now, after careful inspection of the work, the Compa- nv find that it will take until about the first of July to get to the summit of Tehachape Pass. The San Fernando tunnel, one and one-quarter miles long, would, in years past, have been considered job that would last for many years, but the late inventions in ex- plosive materials. together with the Burley drill, make job of this kind but years work, and it is quite certain that this great undertaking will be completed by the first of July, as before stated. Then, the desert stretch between Tehachape and San Fernan- do will be finished in about one month; yet the company will not promise to run through trains before September 1st, of the present year.
 In regard to that part of the road stretch ing out toward the Colorado river, east of this place, the company was desirous of making road that would last lifetime, and to do this they procured steel rails, and ties from the California redwoods, cut in the winter months. But the great rains set in and the country where redwood grew was soft and it was quite impossible to get teams into the woods then when the ties were shipped, as fate would have it, a number of vessels were lost by being blown ashore; but, finally, supply of ties and material was had and track-laying commenced in earnest on the 10th inst. and yesterday large gangs of men went to the front, and agents of the Company tell me that they expect to get the track layed to Dos Palmas by May 2Oth or June 1st at longest time.
 While conversing with Mir. Crocker, few days since, was told by that gentleman that the Company expected to commence laying track toward the Needles, on the A. and P. branch, as soon as they get the track layed to the summit of Tehachape. They have come to the conclusion that they will get no more favors from Congress, and that the whole line of road must be finished by July 1st, 1878, or they will forfeit the whole land grant given to them. The Company will not be allowed to change locations but are compelled to follow the first surveys, ac cording to maps now on file in the different land offices along the route.
 The track will not be layed beyond Dos Palmas this summer, and the Company make no promises further than the work above named, but say that much depends upon what Col Scott and Congress does. At present they know not what day may bring forth.
 At the present time, and for weeks past, large lots of merchandise, marked for Pres colt merchants, have passed here and are be- ing loaded on wagons at Whitewater; but by about the 10th of May goods will be loaded at Indian Wells, thus saving 40 miles of sandy road; and then stages can make a halliday better time and freight teams at least six or eight days better time. II.