Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-11
THE RAILROADS.
Prosperity Predicted by Col.
C. E. CrOcker.
A Large Increase in East-BOund
Freight Shipments.
Proposed Extension of the Terminal
Road to Westminster.
a Rosy Prophecy by Southern Pacific
Ofcial = Westminster Wants
Road = Other Interesting
News Notes.

etOur traffic reports indicate very
clearly that period of great prosperity
is Just beginning on this coast" said
Vice-P President c.. F. Crocker, of the
Southern Pacific company, on Thursday
to a San Francisco Chronicle reporter.
''This is particularly true of California"
he added. "Grain is moving in large
quantities over our lines to tide water,
the shipments being far greater than at
any other corresponding period in former
years. This is the result of good prices.
At this time last year there was a
tendency to hold wheat in the ware
house, and the farmers had anything
but bright outlook. Now, however,
the conditions have all changed.
''It is generally an easy matter to
gauge the prosperity of state when its
balance OF trade is on the right side, or
is even. In former years the shipments
from the east to California by rail were
much larger than those from this state
east-bound. We used to haul many
empty cars to the east in order to secure
the east and bound shipments is
about even, and the cars that come in
loaded 90 back loaded. This is the
direct result of the change of the char
acter of the products of California.
Cereals have been supplanted by the
more valuable product of deciduous and
citrus fruits and other crops, the move
ment of which has equalized that of the
manufactured goods coming here by rail
from the east. The fruit shipments
have been very heavy this year. You
may get the figures in the freight de-
partment, and you will see that great
gain has been made, but the prices re-
allied have not been wholly satisfactory
to the growers.
81 have no fear that the construction
of the new overland lines into the north
west or into Southern California will
greatly injure San Francisco. To be sure,
much trade has been diverted from our
city, but the increase of population is
bringing it all back again. We are trying
to introduce a system to enable CONNER
cial travellers from this city to enjoy more
privileges il the matter of railroad travel,
in order that our merchants may be ben
Gifted. This system is not yet in con-
dition to talk about, but we hope to per-
feet it before long. | feel certain that
when the producers get returns from
their crops and the money begins to
move about, trade in this city will be
greatly stimulated.
San Francisco, as a manufacturing
center, is laboring under great disadvan-
tages in the matter of securing cheap coal
and iron. Another thing that initiates
against our manufactures is the high
scale of wages. l am glad that wages are
high, but do not look for any great
advance in our city as manufacturing
center until we can get coal and iron in
here at lower prices. Persons or
dering from the rolling mills rails
for electric lines and for the short
lumber railroads IN the mountains have
had to wait for months for the arrival
of English ships with steel blooms
to be rolled into rails. New railroad
enterprises have languished because
they have been obliged to suspend work
while waiting for iron. We have also
had to shut down our shops at Sacra
mento from time to time because of the
difficulty in getting coal supplies. l
look for changes in the unfavorabe con-
ditinns, however, and that very soon."
The reporter was provided with some
figures from the Office of General Freight
Agent Smurr, which tell the story OF the
increase in eastbound shipments over
land.
Up to yesterday 2075 carloads of green
fruit had been shipped over the South
K ern Pacific to the east, against 1850 car
loads last year. 1t is estimated that at
least 1900 carloads of raisins will be
shipped out of the state this year, judg
ing from the good crops everywhere in
California, or an increase of $50 carloads
over last year, the total shipments for
1890 being 1880 carloads or 29,000,000
pounds. The wine shipments will be
in excess of last years shipments OF
prune shipments by rail will equal last
years, which were 10000, 900 pounds, or
600 carloads. There has been a slight
falling off in canned goods shipments,
but they will doubtless exceed 1000 car
loads. 1t will thus be seen that the
rail shipments of California's leading
products, aside from cereals, will amount
to about IL, 1000 carloads.
TERMINAL ROAD EXTENSION.
An enthusiastic railroad meeting was
held at Westminster last night, says the
Anaheim Gazette OF Thursday, for the
purpose of taking steps to secure the
entry of the Terminal road into that sec
ton, through Anaheim and Garden
Grove. The Westminster people want
a railroad, and are trying hard to get
one. They ask the cooperation of the
people of Anaheim. and it should be
given. We should have the trade of the
combined section to the south of US, and
this railroad will be the surest means of
getting it. Let us lend helping hand
and see if we cannot induce the Termi-
nal people to come this way.
THE SANTA FE ELECTION.
The annual stockholders meeting of
the Santa Fe company occurs next
month. The officers OF the company in
this city are somewhat exercised over
the possibility of change in the exec
utive management of the road. There
are two or three VINO seem to think
that there is a strong likelihood of ex-
President Strong being reinstated, this
opinion being based on the rumors that
jay Gould has purchased a controlling
interest in the company. Railroad men
generally, however, do not think there
will be any change, as they hold that
Mr.. Manvel's record has been such as
to insure his retention.
NOTES.