Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-19
THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS.
Reports OF Engineers ON the Feasi-
bflfty of a Road

The Committee on Commerce of the
Chamber OF Commerce, met yesterday
afternoon. The following letter from G.
F. Smurr to Secretary Higgins was
read:
DEAR SIR-Referring to the joint inter
view with your good self and Mr.. Taylor,
few days ago, relative to rates from
Liverpool to Los Angeles or San Fran
cisco, since then have conversed with
General Freight Agent Gray on the sub
ject of these west bound European rates.
We do not seem to be able to harmonic
with the impression Mr.. Taylor has re-
ceived regarding the tariff referred to-.
The best rate we know of on dry goods
from Liverpool to San Francisco or Los
Angeles is 100 shillings. Enclosed find
two copies each of current LIVERPOOL
tariffs and Havre tariffs.
As far as the Southern Pacific Com
papy are concerned you can rely on this,
that we are prepared TO join the in same
rates on Los Angeles business as we do
on San Francisco business, and will use
onr best endeovors with the Harrison
line to bring about as favorable rates for
Los Angeles business as for San Francis
CO business.
Will you kindly have Mr.. Taylor pro-
vide us with some detailed information ;
that is, names of the parties with whom
he discussed the matter of dry goods
rates to San Francisco and Los Angeles,
and who gave him rs shilling quotation
to San Francisco, and 400 shillings to Los
Angeles. We will, on receipt of this in
formation. take the matter up with the
teamship line and try to straighten it
out and have it SO understood that in
future there will be no question as to
what rates are proper to be applied on
either point. Yours truly,
CT. sMuRR,
Asst Gen. Pass. and Freight Agent.
The following is the report Of the COM
mittee on the feasibility of building a
railroad through the Sierra Madre Noun
tains:
GENTLEMEN-YourC Committee on Com
merce herewith submit to you informa-
tion received as to the feasibility of max
ing railroad through the Sierra Madre
mountains, north of Los Angeles city.
The reported grade to Cajon Pass is 152
feet to the mile in grade, while the pro-
posed route through the Arroyo Seco is
Ouly LOU loob W tllo uullo at lu0 nedVlebC
grade, with much shorter distance. In
case the local authorities of Los Angeles
and Pasadena would subsidize a company
to construct this line, your committee
believe that at le ast three main systems
of transcontinental lines would build to
a connection with this ninety-seven miles
of railroad, and that such ninety seven
miles OF road would, for its stockholders,
be a paying investment, and of immense
advantage to the city of Los Angeles.
We herewith submit communications
received from MIR. Fred Eaton and Thos.
J. Rssk, @. E., the latter OF which, &C.
companied by general map, is specially
worthy of study. Your committee urge
as the most important work to be done
for this city that local company be
organized to build a competing line to
the Pacific Ocean, near Wilmington, and
establish depot grounds at Los Angeles
for general terminal facilities for use at
reasonable rental in common by any and
all railroads hereafter reaching Los An
geles city. Respectfully submitted,
M. l.. VICES,
d. MCFARLAND.