Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-04
AS WAS EXPECTED.
The Union Pacific is Backing
the Salt Lake Road.
A WE'LL WORKED-UP SCHEME
Mayor Bryson Signs the Franchise
on Hearing the
News.

1
News.
Mayor Bryson yesterday afternoon die
what will in all probability be one of the
most important strokes of work he will
be called upon to do during his incum.
bency, when he signed the franchise
granting a right-of-way through the city
to the Los Angeles, Salt Lake and Allan
tic railroad. The HERALD is in a posi-
ton this morning to be able to state that
the Union Pacific Company is backing
the project and also to give the history
of the affair from its inception. The
facts are as follows: For many years
past the directors Of the Union Pacific
railroad have been aware that it was
necessary that they should have an
outlet on the Pacific Coast, and
thus become independent of the Central
Pacific, but how the desired result was
to be brought about was difficult to de-
termine. Surveyors were sent out in
every direction and lines were located to
the northwest, west and southwest. The
sudden growth of Southern California,
which comm enced about 1884, attracted
their attention more forcibly toward the
southwestern route, and when Los An
geles blossomed from q little hamlet into
big and constantly increasing city, they
decided to send their road here. A good
deal of diplomacy was necessary, how
ever, for when the Union Pacific makes
its own connection with the Pacific
Ocean marks the beginning of time of
diminished receipts to the Central Pacific,
which now handles all of the U. P.'s
Western business. The company did
not, therefore, do anything openly.
They appointed as their agents in the
matter several gentlemen whom no one
would ever have imagined to be acting
for the Union Pacific, among them being
Mr.. i. F. Scott, of this city. These
gentlemen we're instructed to 60 ahead
and form a company with local name
and under local conditions, and then to
locate routes and obtain rights-of-way,
strict directions being given, however,
to keep the Union Pacifc's name out Of
the business, so that the Southern Pacific
could not get wind of who was at the
back of the affair and attempt to head it
off. The instructions given were fully
carried out, Mr.. L. F. Scott
acting for corporation titled
the Salt Lake road obtained an option on
Rattlesnake island and thus got the key
note to the situation, passage-way to
the ocean. Mr.. James Campbell, another
gentleman who under the guise OF local
speculation was really working for the
Union Pacific, obtained a right of way
from nc Apra1no fo In o,,I CT, hca-
quently on through Long Beach to the
ing a through route from the southern
city limits of Los Angeles to the ocean.
Then came the tug-of-war-how to get
through Los Angeles City without letting
the cat out of the bag. Colonel Mar
BILE, of Van Vert, Ohio, appeared
on the scene and it was given
out that the Salt Lake road
about which go much had been heard,
was at last to be built. Application was
made to the City Council for a franchise
to pass through the city ON the east side
of the river, the petition further asking
for the grant of about sixty acres of city
lands, in return for which the river would
be leveed all along the east side. The
Council passed the petition and it went
into the hands of the Mayor and there it
stuck. Mr.. Bryson foreseeing what p,wer
it would be giving to the company if the
were granted. insisted on proof
being given that the road would really be
built and was not merely a speculative
project involving big real estate deal.
The gentlemen who represented on paper
the Salt Lake road did all in their
power to assure the Mayor that the line
would be constructed, but as they dared
not say that they were simply agents for
the Union Pacific, they found it hard
work to produce the necessary financial
guarantees. And so the fifteen days
rolled on, during which it was necessary
that the franchise should be signed, or
else it would become void. Mr.. Bryson
remained obdurate, and fearful that the
petition would fall through, the Union
Pacific dispatched in hot haste to the
city a gentleman named Upham, to
whom they gave full powers to use their
name, or do anything in his power to get
the franchise granted if the scheme
of getting the road through under
the colors of local organization
failed. Mr.. Upham did all in his
power to help the Scott Marble people to
gain their point, but it became evident
yesterday that the true condition of affairs
would have to be made known or else the
franchise would be lost. Accordingly
Mr.. Upham, Colonel Marble and Mr.
Scott waited on Mayor Bryson and ex-
planned to him privately the whole
thing. They gave the reasons why the
Union Pacific had desired and still
wished to keep its name out of the mat
ter, and Mr.. Upham presented his
credentials as the Union Pacific's repre-
sentative and satisfied Mr.. Bryson that
that road was backing the scheme.
He also offered to deposit al
IS 900 cash security that the road
would be built, and accepting this
condition, Mayor Bryson took up his
pen and signed the franchise. Colonel
Marble then gave 5000 guarantee
toward the expense of building the
bridges, Mr.. Uphsm handed over his
$5 900 and the deal was over.
THE ROUTE OF THE ROAD.
The exact route which the road will
follow from Los Angeles to the ocean is
as follows: Through the city on the east
side OF the river to the southern city
boundaries, where slight turn is made
to the east, the line passing to the west
side of the Nadeau winery. Thence on
by the river, which it crosses this side Of
Clearwater, and reaches the Alamitos
pooI uyhinh ~vvo I,ro ro,,kL -