The morning call., 1890-08-28
ALONG THE RAIL.
The Trainmen's Grievance Com.
mittee Disbanded.
Captain smith's Road Heading for Walnut
Creek Thought to Be Aided by the Atch-
ison, Topeka and Santa Fe.

The efforts of Southern Pacific trainmen
to equalize the pay on different divisions OF
the system by readjusting the methods now
in vogue with the company seem to have
proved abortive. The whole case can be
told in few words.
1t is the same old lesson that corporations
have been trying to teach labor organiza-
tons for many harmony In coun-
Gill; unity of action" concentration of
effort"
The Southern Pacific Company refused to
treat with the Grievance Committee for the
simple reason that they we're requested not
to do so by employees of the company. No
sooner had tile intentions of the committee
been made known to all the employees on the
system than the officials received notice
from the orders not represented, requesting
the officials TO ignore the demands Of those
who appeared before them and claiming
that they were not authorized to act.
IN THEIR OWN SNARE.
The men have been caught in snare of
their own setting, and the story of their
failure is written in two words. internal
discussion"
They quarreled among themselves, and
the result is apparent.
The Superintendents of the various di-
visions who were summoned here as wit
nesses have returned to their stations. The
council hall on Mission street where the
men met in futile endeavors to patch up
the aft air. has been deserted, and the mis-
led trainmen have returned to their brakes.
All is peace, and, if organized labor has not
been taught lesson, it is not the fault of
the Southern Pacific Company.
RAILROAD SCHEMES.
The soil and climate of Contra Costa
County seem conducive to the development
of great railroad projects. This county is
a veritdble hot-bed of railroad schemes.
The Southern Pacific Company COM
menced surveying in this section as early as
1879 and each season have constructed
paper highways for the isolated ranchcrs.
The people of Martinez, San Ramon Valley,
Walnut Creek and other towns of this rail-
way scheme prCducing belt seem to have
entirely deserted other branches of industry
and are holding themselves in readiness to
meet at the call of the Chair for the pur-
pose of granting rights of way, and raising
subsidies to induce railway construction.
Here the illustrious aud much mourned
Kye camped and grew sleek on the credul-
ity of the natives, WHO seem TO be thorough
ly imbued with great passion for railroad
ing and railroad men.
kye faded from view one morning, and
few days later faded from earth in st.
Louis With his demise dissolved the beau
tiful railroad mirage with which he had
amused the people for months. But the peo-
pie did not disperse. Before the grass had
commenced to sprout on Kye's grave in the
East they were holding meetings and offer
ing the Southern Pacific Company right of
way through the San Ramon Valley to
Livermore.
The Southern Pacific Company began to
consider these offers, and at last accounts
are still considering.
TOWARD WALNUT CREEK.
In the meantime inducements have been
offered by the residents TO Captain j. W.
Smith, the builder and ostensible owner OF
the California and Nevada road, strong
enough to warrant him in heading toward
Walnut Creek. Whether the direction
which the road is taking is due wholly to
these inducements or to others from the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe is not
known.
The present terminus is at Bear Creek,
about half mile from Orinda Park.
At this point the construction camp is
located, and force Of men are engaged in
building high bridge over The creek.
The bridge is the most extensive on the
line, and with the approaches is about 100
feet In length. Beyond the bridge the track
is graded and ready for the rails.
FORCE AT WORK.
About two miles west a large force Of
men, mules, scrapers and graders tools
have been accumulated. These are to he
employed by Grant Brothers, who did
large amount of construction for the Santa
Fe system in Southern California and have
contract for the grading for the extension
OF the California and Nevada to Charles
Hill tunnel, distance of about three and Il
half miles. Here tunnel will be required
between $50 and SEQ feet in length, and from
the tunnel to Walnut Creek is compare
lively easy railroad building. A bonus Of
$4,000 has been subscribed, payable upon
the completion of the road to Walnut
Creek, one-fOurth when the road is within
four miles, one-fOurth tor each mile COM
pleted thereafter until Walnut Creek is
reached.
The Grant brothers, it will be remembered,
were interested with Williamson, one OF
the large stockholders Of the Atlantic and
Pacific Railroad Company, in the purchase
of $4,000 acres of the Moraga Ranch from
w. III. Carpenter.
A FERRY.
Captain Smith is now engaged in an effort
to establish ferry from the terminus of
the line at Emcryvlle. \ wharf was started
here some years ago, but temporarily
abandoned. 1t is now proposed to org snize
company, build a pier and operate fast
l6TIS Iluc 10 San TIduClSCU II IS PSlllldtCu
that $500, COO will lie required for this pur-
pose. and that $500, COO has already been
subscribed and the articles Of Incorporation
are being prepared.
CARBON HILL MINES.
Concerning the closing of the Southern
Pacifc'S coal mines at Carbon HILL Wash,
an official Of the company said yesterday:
do not believe we shall he obliged IT,
shut down. Some time ago we got notice
to quit washing our coal in the Carbonate
River. The notice was not an injunction,
as has been stated, but merely letter from
the Fish Commissioners. We replied that
we could not continue to work the mine
unless allowed to wash the coal in this
stream, and further that we would not shut
down unless ordered to do so properly. This
is ell we know about it. We are still taking
out coal aud shall continue to do SO until
restrained by an injunction. Such injunc-
ton is not at all likely to be served, as the
people of Washington realize that an in
dustry employing 800 or 600 men is more
desirable than the presence OF few dudes
who make annual pilgrimages to this stream
Cor fish.
"There can be no doubt that washing
this coal in the river destroys some of the
fish, but without this water privilege the
coal is entirely worthless, and it remains
for the people to choose between an in
dustry which has developed formerly
inaccessible section Of country and few
| fish,"
SPECIAL TRAINS.
| The San Francisco and North Pacific
| Railroad Company is running special
| trains for the accommodation Of those who
| desire to visit the fair now being held in
| Petaluma. A special train leaves this city
| daily at 900 o'clock in the morning. and
returning leaves Petaluma at 5 30 o'clock in
the evening. Rates have been reduced to
| ST. 80 for the round trip, good throughout
| the week.
Chief Engineer Hood reports work on
the Oakdale extension progressing rapidly.
The grading is ready for the rails as far as
! Amsterdam, n distance OF ten miles. The
graders camp has been moved to the
| Schaffer ranch, on the MERGED River, four
miles beyond Amsterdam. The construc-
ton train is out several miles from Ell Capt.
| tan, and the rails are now laid for dis
| lance of seven miles. 1t is quite probable
that force will soon be put at work on the
| Oakdale end, as the company is very anxi-
Gus to have the road in running order by
December 1st. Work on the bridges cross
ing the Tuolumne and MERGED rivers will
necessarily have to be inished by that date.
!