The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-13
TIRED OF PLAY.
Captain Smith Talks of His Late
Railroad Scheme.
Life and Death Of the Pacific Construction
and Improvement Company-shriveled
Up by Cold Wave.

The purchaser of Captain Smiths stock in
the California and Nevada Railways still
in hiding, and the people of Oakland ar g
still guessing with that reckless abandon
which is amusing at least one person-Cap-
tain Smith. The Ozark man from Denver
was seen yesterday at his residence in Oak
land, and completely ruined his reputation
for reticence, which be has so severely up
held since his Identification with tine Cali
forna and Nevada Railroad Company.
OF his efforts to give California another
transcontinental road, he talked for one
hour, and with that fiuency and volubility
which is supposed to belong exclusively to
the ticket agent or the festive drummer, and
of which there is such lamentable dearth
among men who build and control railroads
His fame for being as s. silent as a sphinx"
and as dumb as mummy has been so
often recorded by the Oakland newspapers
that it was deemed obligatory to approach
him with timidity, and to handle him with
mastery diplomacy.
Il hear that you have sod your railroad,
Captain Smith?"
~ have never had the good fortune to
own railroad as yet," was the reply, "and
l don't understand why they say that have
sold the California and Nevada Railroad. l
have never made statement to that effect,
or authorized any one else to do so. l have
simply disposed of my stock In the line, but
it does not follow that the road has been
sold. You might as we'll say that John b.
Stone recently sold the Union Pacific when
he disposed Of small amount of the stock"
NO CONTROLLING INTEREST.
Dot I,e1l
terest in the road referred top
Never, and l never wish to. l could
easily have done so by pushing construction
hard cash in building the road and taking
my pay in stock. In this way 1 have ex-
pended $500, 900, so you see / had narrow
escape from holding controlling interest"
Are the Southern Pacific people the pur-
chasers of your stock?"
"GueSs again.
Probably the Atchison may have bought
you ont.
Everything in California seems to be
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe. There are
other roads in the United States. Messrs.
Dodge and Palmer of the Denver and Rio
Grande western were here about a year
since and inspected our line with a view of
purchase. This is a matter of news, for not
even the Western agent of this line knew of
their presence in San Francisco. In fact
they registered at the Galindo Hotel in Oak
land under assumed names
Since that time two officials, high in the
councils of the Burlington road, came to
look at the property, and we held several
meetings at the Palace Hotel. But they
were MT quite ready to purchase at that
time: The moment a rail is laid in Cali
fornia people say the Atchison is coming
this time sure. While l am speaking Of the
Atchison l will say that l have positive
knowledge that they are behind Wiburs
San Joaquin Valley Road"
Perhaps you could say why surveying
has been abandoned en- this line?" was sug-
gested.
Perhaps so, but had rather not"
PURCHASED BY AN AGENT.
"Will you name the person to whom you
have transferred your stock in the California
and Nevada?"
mo, will not; and ii should you would
not then know who the real purchasers are.
The man to whom have transferred my
stock /. simply an agent. and, upon honor, l
do not know In whose interest lie is acting.
Lave had an offer for my interest in the
Pacific improvement and Construction Com
pany, and shall in all probability disi ose of
the stock within day or so. This company
was incorporated on the 22d day of last Sep
tember for the purpose OF building and OPP
Grating steam Terry between Emeryville
and San francisco.
" We had a traffic arrangement with the
California and Nevada road, and everything
seemed propitious for time; but the
scheme gradually sank into innocuous
desuetude, and to-day seems beyond resur-
rection. We needed 100000 to commence
with and were assured that Oakland and
San francisco capitalists wanted TO see the
enterprise go through. In fact. many OF
them promised us support and we at once
sent out subscription papers.
ABOUT onc-lhlrd OF the required amount
was obtained when cold wave struck the
project and palsied the hands that were
reaching for coin necessary to the life of the
promised us their assistance crawled. when
the time came for action, in their shells, say
Ing, We are afraid
CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
81 went 10 a wealthy man of Oakland
who is called by his associates enterprising
and who had promised to take 1000 shares at
$40 per share. l said, Mr.. b, why have
Don't you think it a good investmentP .Ex-
ceilent,' he replied. The stock will nlti-
mateiy pay large dividends on the par value
We really need another ferry line and a
competing road. But my interestsare such
that l cannot touch your stock l am 70
years.of age and this Is my second attemr t
to retire from business. / have disposed of
my stock in the road and expect to follow
suit with my ferry stock, and then l am
done with work"
I'D you lntenu 10 return TO DenverT
Not at present l like Oakland pretty
well. The people here do not grow wild
over improvements, and are contented to let
well enough alone. But before / close [
want to say word for that man Kye, who
was chased out Of the county last summer
and died little later in st. Louis. The
true history of this case will never be
known. kye was not an lmpostor. He was
packed by strong corporation. This may
seem strange. but know whereof speak,
AS A MATTER OF HISTORY.
Simply as matter Of history that may be
refreshing the following is offered: The
Calf rnia and Nevada Railway Company
was organized about ten years ago, with j.
S. Emery as President. 1t secured charter
to build and operate a railroad from San
Francisco Bay at point where the present
town of Emeryville stands to the Nevada
State line. Several rough surveys were made
and eventually narrow-gauge track was
extended to San Pablo-about ten miles from
Oakland. Some difficulties arose among the
projectors and the alleged road lay in silent
repose. Then came Captain J. w. Smith. a
Denver capitalist, who TOOK the contract for
extending the road, and agreed to take his
payment in stock of the company and the
a.