The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-04-11
DON'T BE IN A HURRY.
TIE HERALD,
Salt Lake City, Utah.

struction .of railways between till
CITY and Los Angeles-the extension o
the Utah Central, the Salt Lake u Los
Angeles and the San Pedro, Los Angeles
e. Utah. Behind each of these project;
there are men of enterprise and capital
Thew are not what are known as paper
schemes all having more or less merit
and there being a certain determination
on the part of each to build. But that
discrimination is conditional. during
the past year there has been a good deal
of talk concerning these proposed enter
prlses, The projects have been
doomed" in the newspapers, and the
public was inspired with the belief that
actual work-the throwing OF dirt-on
the lines was to begin instanter. Asthe
weeks and months have passed, and the
people heard only talk, seeing no grade
piling up, no ties and rails
being laid and no locomo-
tiyes running, enthusiasm mas
subsidized, and confidence in the projects
one and all-has gradually waned, and
to-day the mention of the probable
construction of the southwest railway Is
liable to bring forth the tinkle OF the
chestnut hell.
In a certain sense, the people are
honestly in possession OF their doubts
They have bsen too much "enthused" >
and were too ready to accept as genuine
without due consideration the roseate
pictures presented to their eyes. On the
other hand a little honest and intel
ligent reflection will convince anyone
that he is wrong in concluding that the
roads will not be built, and much more
so in assuming that the schemes were
all wildcat from the start. BulIolng
railroads is not thing to be undertaken
without thought or consideration.
Men do not look on map moment
make up their minds within an hour
that a railroad between two designated
points will prove profitable investment,
and the next day advertise for graders
ties, rails and cars, and proceed TO
work on the line. That is not
the way railroads have been
constructed, and noue will be
built in this way. Is takes money to
build and stock railways, and men VINO
have money are not quite as enthusl-
astic and rushing" in the matter OF in
yesting it, as are those who give birth
to schemes and projects. The capitalist
is a conservative being, and his money
is extremely cautious. 1t is not enough
to say to him that an enterprise VIII be
profitable; he wants to be convinced OF
the fact, and it requires something more
than the unsupported word OF another
to convince him. Now, We all are salts
fed that the very best territory for
railroad in the United States is that be-
between Salt Lake and Los Angeles. 1t
is a country rich in natural undeveloped
resources, and at either end of the pro-
posed line is fertile, productive region,
populated by thrifty, industrious peo-
pie. We all believe that one or two
railroads would pay handsome interest
on the money they would cost. We
have all believed this for years; but the
difficulty has been and is to bring the
capitalist 10 the belief. He hesn't
been brought to that point yet
as TO either of the projected
lines; though we are glad to
know. that he is nearer there than
ever before, and there is fairly en-
couraging prospect that il the course
of time the nervousness and caution OF
the man of money will be overcome and
satisfied, and two of the proposed roads
be built.
But people should net permit their
eagerness to get the better of their judg
ment, and conclude that because the
whistle of the locomotive is not heard
the day after the project has been
formulated the scheme will be aban-
doned and the road never be built. 1t
NAV be here stated as q fact that very
great progress has been made during
the D6Sb Eluo 41O1tIo III thO VI
a railroad to Los Angeles. The advance
has been as rapid as any one with in
telligence could have expected. One
company has corps of engineers in the
field, designating a line; another is far
advanced in its financial nego-
tiations, and the third is little
behind the others. There is real
announcement in ali the schemes
and fair promise of success. When We
reflect that ths projects involve an ex-
penditure of fully $50, 600, 900 each. and
that all the money must be obtained
from the conservative, cautious, hard
to-convince men who have it. nobody
has a right to complain of the delay,
and all should he pleased that SO much
progress has bsen made.
Matters have reached point where
vs. feel safe in saying that, in the