Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-09-22
EXTENSION.
Projects for Opening Up the Interior Val
leys of the State.

Is. T. Post. September 2lst.l
Ii having been limited that the presence
OF c. p. Huntington in San Francisco was
due to the intention OF the Southern Pacific
to build 6 large number Of branch lines as
feeders to the main lines, the Post sought
definite information about the proposed
extensions from Colonel Chas. f. Croker.
"The public expectation is generally
raised too high on the subject of railroad
building" said Mr.. Croker. "A knowl-
edge of the expense and difficulty OF rail
road engineering is obliterated by q re-
membrance of the triumphs already
achieved in this direction. Because a sur-
vey is made and grading started at Two
ends of q route. the interested people along
the line of survey are apt to imagine that
the work is TO be pushed TO a completion
as speedily as possible, regardless of ex-
pense and necessity. People trace the line
on their nice, plain maps and overlook the
rugged mountains and deep gorges which
clog the path of the construction force.
they fail, also, to take into consideration
the readiness OF the territory for a railroad
that could be proftably operated, and are
apt to imagine that the construction forces
of a railroad company are illimitable. Ex-
pectation is often raised so high hat disap-
pointment is inevitable, and for that reason
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projected and partially advanced to-day,
may have to be abandoned in 4 few months
because means become short or q more
favorable route presents itself. 1t has been
no secret that for some months past the
Southern Pacific Company has felt the i'm
portance of
ESTABLISHING HoR RLSCH LINES
Along the small valleys as feeders to its
main lima hut II n1rIaf not ha prarloAl-aA
that Just now its construction forces are
fully taxed. People do not seem to under
stand that the work on the California and
Oregon route is of the heaviest character,
and that a very large force of men is now
at work OF it. We have a very large force
at work, too, on the extension of the north
ern division TO Paso Robes, and another
large force at work on the Soledad end of
that route, but whether those two ends will
be connected as quickly as the work can
be pushed through involves very serious
consideration, for between the two lies q
mountain range which presents engineer
ing difficulties besides which the pass of
Tehachepi was an easy piece of work, and
the line from Colsx to Truckee compare
lively plain sailing. The amount of filling
and tunnelling to be done there is enor-
nous, and the question, as il Unsuitable
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obtrude itself in all the company's ~calcula-
tons, even though the ultimate compile
ton OF the road is never to be doubted.
The extension TO Paso Robes Will pay
working expenses as 500 as it is opened,
and at the other end there is a magnificent
valley with a soil and climate equal to Los
Angeles that cannot fail TO produce large
crops as soon as adequate transportation
facilities are provided. In q general way
I may say that there can be no doubt OF
this company's desire 10 build several
branches feeders in the great San Joaquin
valley. No special outes nave yet been
decided upon, but the advantages of several
have been discussed. There is a fine wheat
country between Modesto and Cox Ferry
that a line would open up, and it might be
practicable to extend
4 BRANCH FRO SYCAMORE CITY
Up towards the mountains, stopping when
the heavy grade was reached and waiting
until the increase Of business made the
further extension possible. Such q line we
now have from Berenda. Then. too, GER
tain extensions from the ~neighborhood of
Willows north to Mendocino and the Lake
district, with a possible future line to the
northern coast, have been suggested, but
nothing definite has been done. The adj
vsntages of various routes have been urged
by parties interested. and some surveying
work is constantly being done, but
as | said before, our construction force
is being worked up TO lis fall capacity now.
The most practical way to build such lines
as / speak of is 10 do it BY degrees. 4 line
ten miles long will open up land twice that
distance, and when settlement is extensive
beyond the terminus it is natural and easy
to build into it, while a long line which
runs through q country only a small part
of which is settled, naturally has to taxthe
settled part 10 support the line that runs
through barren land. In the lower coun-
try, I believe, there is need for more lines.
Land available to railroad commands such
high prices that there must be many ex-
pectant settlers seeking an outlet beyond
men who have means, but not enough
means to take up a farm on the land held
at $1,000 an acre. What ! desire TO guard
against, however, is that undue expecta-
tons should be raised and properly inflated
by mere talk of railroad building. which,
if not undertaken, would entail loss 70
many, and would benefit no one except
those who had tracts of land 10 dispose Of