The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-09-21
FROM THE FOOTHILLS.
4 Newsy and Cosby Letter From
Niles.

Editor Morning Call: Two matters of
the greatest interest to the people of Wash
ington Township have been settled this
week in most satisfactory manner One
is the establishment of Union High School
District, composed of all but two OF the dis
tricts in the township the other the grant
ing of the electric railroad franchise, which
has been before the Board OF Supervisors
for the past three or four weeks. The cleo
ton on the high school matter was held last
Saturday afternoon. OF the twelve districts
voting eight gave various maj0rities, and
four voted largely in the negative, two cast
ing every vote against it. Niles kept up
her reputation by casting the smallest per-
centage of noes" Surely it is no easy
matter to decide which town Is the most
anxious for a high school, and such fact
should have no little weight in selecting the
site of the school.
The Board of Supervisors granted last
week franchise for an electric railroad to
run from Haywards to San Jose. The main
promoter of the road is a gentleman named
Felix Chapale;t, well-known as a successful
financier. The electric road to run from
Oakland to Haywards has already been
commenced, and work is TO be commenced
on tile Chapalett road within thirty days.
The two roads will work together, thus
making n direct electric railway system
from Oakland to San Jose, distance of
nearly thirty miles. Fares are guaranteed
to be from 20 to 80 per cent less than on the
railroad and the time about the same. Fares
are now 81 10 single trip from Oakland to
san Jose and the time is one hour and
half.
1t is curious to note the various comments
made upon the route by even some of the
papers in Alameda County. They seem to
have very limited know ledge of the eoun-
try through which the road will pass.
The valley through which it will run is
on the bay side of the hills, just the same as
is Berkeley and Oakland, the width of the
valley between the two cities varying from
three to seven miles. Without doubt it is
the most valuable valley land in the State,
and certainly is the most accessible to San
Francisco.
The variety and value of its products is
beyond comparison, aud lying between the
hills aud the bay its attractions are as varied
as It's products. There are in the valley,
from Haywards to San Jose, ten towns,
through every one OF which the road will
pass. To do so it must branch at Decoto,
one line following the hills to Niles, to Mis-
sion San Jose, to lrvington, the other going
ont into the valley through Alyarado, Union
City and Centerville, thence TO lrvingt0n
where it joins the other branch and con-
tinues down through Warm Springs and
Milptas to San Jose. There are already
in every town from Niles and Centerville
down to Oakland, gentlemen doing business
in San Francisco, who make the run back
and forth each day.
Electric or cable-cars have increased the
growth Of the suburbs of San Francisco and
Oakland marvelously within the past ten
years; and it is certainly not too much to
predict that within i've years there Will be
hundreds of homes along either line, where
now there is one. The people along the line
of the road and IN the towns feel that new
era of prosperity Will soon begin throughout
the valley. The line uutes two of the most
beautiful cities in California, breathing
places for San Francisco.
The newly organized Chautauqua will hold
its first meeting next Monday event ng at the
home of the leader, MIR. Edward Clarke
than whom no better choice could be made.
There are about sixteen members.
The young people of the ). Z. e. So eiety
are interesting themselves IN temperance
work, and with the assistance of the Ladies'
Guild will aim to reduce the number of sa-
looms now running in town, and to compel
those running to conform strictlyto the laws
governing country saloons.
The new hotel, the st. Charlie S, is by far
the handsomest building in town; it will
Soon be ready for occupation. The new
| stores being built by 5. yesterday are nearly
finished. Ii is believed that they will fill
| long felt want"
| Many of the late peaches that could have
/ been dried must be lost, as the weather will
! not permit them to be dried. The mountain
! peaches are so much better In the markets
| that it does not pay expenses 10 ship now
| PTune-dryers are finding 1t very difficult.
| too, t. handle their crops Oh account OF the
weather. Grapes are being shipped. The
several showers will start the hill crops of
| peas and potatoes, and no doubt they will
! be in the markets by Christmas.
Yties, September IS. 1851 MRS. L. L. THASE.