The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-12-04
THE LITTLE SANPETE
This Unfortunate Railway Ceased
Operations Yesterday.
MELANCHOLY REcoRDoFILL-LUCK
History of the Road-The New Freight Rates
in Force Tomorrow-Railway Informa-
ton from All Points.

The S2upete Valley railway went into
winter quarters yesterday and no attempt
will be made to operate trains until the
SHOWS Of winter are melted away and the
sun again sheds its effulgent rays with
spring time vigor.
The orders went forth that owing 10 the
bad condition OF the track the company had
concluded TO quit operating the road for
the present. The engines Cor rather the
engine) was driven into the shed and the
fires put out and the windows Of the ticket
Offices along the line were nailed down,
ana BY the lime that the eyelids of night
had closed over the valley there was not a
sound TO be heard in al the land.
The san Pete Valley is not much Of q
road, and perhaps two stresks Of rust and
q mortgage" would come near describing
the thirty miles OF narrow-gusge that
once united Nephi TO Chester with bands
OF iron.
HISTORY OF TIE sANPETE.
But this road is not without q history
and represented il It's day the energy OF
broaQ-minded men and an inviting field for
speculation. II was built by Simon BAN
berger in 1882 for the Central Pacific Coal
and Coke company, British corporation,
which advanced the money for its con
strucrion and which now holds q mort
gage OF esq, 600 on the property. The road
had q hard struggle from the start. IL
was built with the presumption that a
large and valuable coal bed existed Ell
Wales, but after developing the mine it
was discovered 10 DO too newly made TO
compete with the older and better grades
that abound at Castle Gate and Coalville.
The large receipts that were expected TO
accrue from this source never materialized
aud the road, left on its own resources OF
the meagre local freight aud passenger
traffic il could PICK up failed to meet its
operating expenses and the company was
plunged
DEEPER AND DEEPER N DEBT.
In 1888 Theodore Brubeck became inter
ested in the road and is the largest of the
local stockholders. He WAS elected presi-
dent and general manager Of tue Sgnpete
Valley railway company aud at once went
10 Europe to induce the English bondhold-
ers 10 make a new loan for the purpose OF.
extending the line down the Sanpete valley
and thus increase its earnings. he sue
ceeded in negotiating for the money. and
just as he was about 10 prepare for the ex-
tension he WAS thwarted by advances from
the Union Pacific company. Charles Fran
els Adams, the president, secured an option
on the property and the extension scheme
fell through. The proposition to
SELL TO THE UNION PACIFIC
met with favor by the English syndicate,
as by that arrangement they could
get back their money on what
had proved q worthless inves tment
just at the time the sale was
10 be cOnsummated Adams retired and
Gcald's retrencnment scheme upset the
deal and the road went back to the old
company.
IN the meantime the Rio Grande Western
built its San Pete branch and the British
srs, seeing that there was opposition IN the
field. refused to advance the mOuey.
The road struggled along with q heavy
burden OF accruing interest on its large
bonded Indebtedness and Its me2ger earn
ines were not sufficient to meet its oper-
aung expenses. The roadbed was ne
elected until the track became SO diilapi-
dated that II was unsafe to run trains
during ths winter season.
TO Ruthen ticste the report that the road
had closed down HERALD reporter awaited
on Theodore Brubeck VINO, with his family.
is making the Walker his headquarters.
President Brubeck acknowledged that
the road had closed, but thought that ar
engagements would be made TO open II up IN
the spring. ut has not been g paying in
vestmant since the start he said, land
has had hand 10 mouth existence and can
not be made to pay until II Is extended
down 10 San Pete valley"
Will the road be placed in the hands Of
8 receiver4' asked the reporter.
mo legal proceedings have been taken
as yet"
''Who are the heaviest local creditors 2"
~ am the largest, and if anyone should
take the initiative in the matter it should
be men
"Wnat action viii be takens ~
- presume we viii close tue old mort
gage and then reorganize the company and
extend the road.''
II is understood that the road is
DELINQUENT on ITS TAXES
for $500 and has a string of other small
claims outstanding, but as 10 the aggre-
gate Mr.. Brubeck could not give the exact
figures.
Mr.. Brubeck, who took the management
Of the road when it was worthless piece
OF property, by shrewd manipulation had
Oh two occasions succeeded in lifting it out
OF the rut, and had not circumstances which
would have baffled the most sagaciols,
turned M be would have made it a paying
investment. He could not foresee the re-
tirement OF Adams nor Goulds smashing
his option after money had been paid
down, neither could he have anticipated
that while the road was tied up by al
option the Rio GraIde Western would
build into the valley.