Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-18
SEEKING A RAILROAD ROUTE.
Colonel Crocker's Trip Through the
Southern Counties,

10. r. Call.
Colonel Fred. Crocker. Vice President of
the Southern Pacific Company, late on
Saturday night, returned from a ten-days'
tour OF inspection of the country throueb
which the proposed railroad connecting
Soledad with the Southern Pacific near
Los Angeles will run. The Colonel left
this city on the 9th inst, and went down
by rail to San Fernando. where he was
| Joined by Chief Engineer Hood, who has
charge OF the survey of the proposed route.
Together they Travelled in a wagon from
San Fernando back to Soledad. making n
general inspection OF the country with a
view OF determining the most suitable
route Tor the railroad to pursue. Survey
ing parties will be organized in the conrse
OF few days by Engineer Hood, and de-
tailed to make profile maps of several nos
sibe routes, from which a choice subse-
quently may be made The route from
Newhall to San Buenaventura has already
been completed. A party has lust finished n
line through the Lime Pass, and parties are
now at work IN the San Fernando and
Santa Clara valleys. Two new parties will
be htted out, one to run a line over the
Gavlota PasS, crossing the Santa Inez
Mountains, which lie between Santa Rar-
bara and the Santa Inez valley. in Santa
Barbara county, and the other to locate a
route through the Moro Pass. living no.
tween San Miguel and San Luis Obispo. in
Monterey county. Colonel Crocl1er and
Engineer Hood, after leaving San Fer
nando, rode through Simi Pass. STAGE
road was at one time operated, but has
long been abandoned, and they were
obliged TO strike out over the rough conn
try. They went almost to the summit of
the mountains lying between Simi Pass
and the Santa G.G~a valley. and thence
down through the Ceneio Pass. After
making cursory inspection of the Santa
Clara and Hueneme valleys, they reached
San Buenaventura by way of Santa Paulo,
and thence along the coast to Santa Bar
bara, and later to Gaviota Pass. From
the summit of the Santa Cruz Mount
aims they descended into the valley
of the river of the same name nv
the way OF the Noioisqui creek Leaving
Santa Inez Mission upon the banks of the
river they assembled the Zaca creek nearly
to its source, and crossing the divide.
reached the headwaters of the Cisouo river.
which empties into the Santa Maria river
This region is il reality the upper portion
OF the Santa Maria river Their route from
this point followed the banks of the river
almost to the ocean. The river forms the
boundary line between Santa Barbara and
San Luis Obispo counties. Colonel Crocker
is enthusiastic in the description of its
fertile lands and the atmosphere of pros
perlty which pervades it. They crossed
the existing railroad of the Pacific Coast
Steamship Company at Central City. From
the valley of the Santa Maria, few miles
from the ocean beach, they struck across
the country in an almost direct line to San
Luis Obispo, and thence TO San Miguel bv
way of Moro Pass
Colonel Crocker, in speaking of bis trim
to Cal reporter yesterday, expressed deem
satisfaction with the wonderful! resources of
the county. He said
cannot yet state definitely the exact
route of the railroad. OF course we rode
over the line that seemed most suitable, but
nothing can be known until the several
surveying parties prepare profiles of the
country. We will then determine the route
taking into consideration in our selection
the cost OF construction and the resources
and character of the sections to be devel-
oped. All that l can now say is that the
road will pass through San Buenaventura
Santa Barbara and through the Gaviota
Pass to San Luis Obispo."
You cannot'yet decide upon the con-
Meeting point with the Southern Pacific ~
No. Newhall and San Fernando both
otIer advantages. Santa Maria is also under
consideration. If this should be selected
it would pass through Conejo Pass at the
headwatcrs of the Trinmfo creek"
Work has been commenced on the ex-
tension line from Soledad to San Miguel ?''
Nes, the work is progressing finely.
About 500 men are now at work, and
others will soon be sent down. The track
is already laid two miles, but is now de-
layed by the trestling Of an arroyo. The
first twelve miles is the most difficult of the
entire line. The remaining portion OF the
Ionte lies over comparatively level country
on off OH aoIa 30
ing. The entire road to San Miguel will
be complesed during the summer :,