Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-30
Work Begins Today on the
Rapid Transit.
1t Will Be at Once Extended
to Duarte.
The Approaching Meeting of the
TranscOntinental Association.
More Talk AbOnt the Temecula Canon
Route to San Diego-Notes and
Personal Gossip.


yesterday from San Francisco, where he
had been to sell some surplus rolling
stock.
This morning Mr. Jewett will, at the
present terminus OF the road at Mon
rovia, commence the construction OF
5000 feet of track which, will take the line
to the Bradley property in Duarte, thus
securing large proportion OF the bus-
ness of that locality for the road. This
extension will be built with standard
gauge ties, SO that the change to that
measure can readily be made.
This work will be done today and to-
morrow to prevent interference by in
junction. Today being legal holiday
and the courts being closed on Sunday
no papers can be issued stopping the
work. There are some Monrovians who
objected to the plan, though the council
granted the necessary franchise.
TRANscoNTINENTAL ASSOCIATION MEETING.
good deal of interest is being felt in
the coming meetings of the Transconti-
mental association, announced to take
place in Chicago on June Sth and 18th,
respectively, says the San Francisco
Call. Several important propositions
will be discussed-matters in which
large number of people outside of the
railway profession is interested. There
has been widespread dissatisfaction
among shippers of canned goods, dried
fruits, raisins, etc., with the advance in
rates made by the association at it's
meeting on January 22d. At the meet
ing referred to the rate on canned goods
was advanced from 81 to $1.10, and on
dried fruits and raisins from $l.40 TO
$l.55.
Shippers do not consider this just
increase, and many petitions have been
addressed to the association asking a
restoration of former rates, where
fore it is safe prediction that
the revision asked will be grant
ed. The question of passenger rates
will also come up for consideration, and
while the tendency for increasing this
class of charges is strong, it is not thought
probable that the next California rate
sheet will show any increase in first or
second-class rates, in view of the recent
heavy advance quoted by the association
in its issue for April and May. Excur-
sion business as now conducted is not at
all satisfactory to the association.
1t will not be surprising if this method
of handling overland travel is abolished
altogether. The system in vogue of
sending out weekly excursions is consid-
cred losing proposition, inasmuch as
the cars on the return trip are brought
in empty. Again, the weekly excursion
absorbs the travel which, it is thought,
should flow to the lines steadily. The
talked of, but the proposition is gener-
ally looked upon in railway circles as a
dead one, and consolidation, as lar as
ticket agencies is concerned, will proba-
bly, receive an obituary notice at the
hands of the association.
TEMEcULA CANON TO BE ABANDONED.
"There is no longer any doubt. about
the determination OF the Santa Fe COM
pany to abandon its track through the
Temecula cafion and build to connec-
ton with the coast line over new route,
says the Escondido Times. This is now
an open secret at railroad headquarters
in Los Angeles. Judging from what we
hear, and our information comes
straight, the intention is to pass the
head OF the caflon this side of the town
of Temecula, come down over the up
lands east of Fallbrook, reach and cross
the San Luis Rey river near Mount Fair
view, and then pass up Gopher and an
other small canon and across the divide
to connection with the Escondido di-
vision line at Vista. In that manner
the main line can be regained near
Oceanside as before, with much less
track, and 70-foot to the mile grade
and over route that will not have to be
rebuilt every season. The ultimate in
tention is to extend the Escondido divis-
ion on to San Diego through Bernardo
and Poway, over one of the surveys
made by the Southern Pacific; in which
event a large portion of the through
business of the surf line will pass this
way. This would enable the company
to avoid the Soledad grade and the
Rose cafion, which like the Temecula
.caf1on are so expensive for the company
to keep in repair. The strongest grade
between Temecula and San Diego over
this proposed line would not exceed sew
enty feet to the mile, and the route
would be practically free from washouts
in the winter"
The impression given at the general
office in this city is that the abandon
ment of the canon has been decided
upon, but that no connecting line be-
tween Temecula and the Escondido di-
vision will be built.
Train agents have been put on the
line to Portland by the Southern Pacific
company, and their efficiency will be
tested by the cash returns they turn in
on the entire Pacific system of the
Southern Pacific company.
A special daily freight service has
been established between this city and
1 San Francisco which makes the trip, in
about thirty-six hours. There is no
transfer made en- route.
L. M. Cheshire, travelling freight
agent of the Union Pacific, who has
been here during the orange season,
leaves tomorrow for the east. Mr..
: Cheshire states that $500 cars OF oranges
have been shipped this season, and that
about 500 remain. He will go to the
Sacramento valley to look after small
fruit shipments. He estimates that
Northern California will furnish 5000
cars of fruit this season. Mr.. Cheshire
won many friends for his road during
the winter, and will always be welcomed
back by shippers.