Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-24
AMONG THE RAILROADS.
The Santa Fe's Track to Ballona
Harb0r.
An Attempt to Take Up the Track
on Sunday.
Tho BalIona Company Secures an In
functional Mile of the Track Taken,
Up-A Statement About the
Santa Monica Branch.

The Santa Fe company attempted a
bit of adroit work on Saturday night,
which, however. was not as successful
as it might have been.
1t has been rumored for some time
past that the company intended to take
up its line to Ballona and use the mate
rial to construct its branch to Santa
Monica, but as nothing was done about
the matter it ceased to be subject of
discussion.
1t seems, however, that on Saturday
night the Santa Fe people sent large
force of men to Ballona and commenced
to tear up the track. The watchman in
charge Of the Ballona Harbor company's
property at that place telegraphed to
Mr.. Mesmer what was being done, and
that gentleman at once secured q tenn
porary injunction from Judge Shaw, and
serving it on the workmen stopped their
work. They had, however, succeeded
in dismantling the turntable and in
taking up about mile of the track.
There seems to be little reason for in
sisting on the Santa Fe's maintenance
of the line, as the harbor project ap.
pears to have become too dead to revive,
and the ports of San Pedro and Santa
Monica have made such headway as to
make competition with them almost an
impossibility. In fact as far as the
public can judge the Ballona project ia
in a condition of hopeless deseutude.
But those interested in the company
claim that the Santa Fe, in taking up
the line is violating it's contract. It is
stated that the Ballona company built
the line from the city limits to Ballona,
and made gift of it to the Santa Fe,
the consideration being an agreement to
operate two trains a day over the
line. For three years past it
is stated that but one train q week
has been operated. It is evide mt that
if the Ballona company we're to recover
the road, on the claim that the consider
alton for it had not passed, that the
Santa Fe would be in an embarrassing
condition, for it is over this line as far
as Inglewood that it's trains must pass
to reach Redondo and Santa Monica.
Altogether there appears to be all the
elements of very pretty fight on both
sides, but it is to be hoped that an
equitable arrangement can be reached
satisfactory to both parties.
Judge Brunson, the company's coun-
sci, yesterday stated that there was no
question about his company's right to
remove the track, as all that their char.
ter required was that they should main
tain q terminal at Santa Monica bay.
Inasmuch as Santa Monica is as much
on that bay as Ballona, he claimed that
reaching the former point would satisfy
the requirements.
MR.. KINNEY's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Kinney made statement yester-
day regarding his action about the Santa
Fe's entrance to Santa Monica, as fol
lows:
Irresponsible parties have made state
ments regarding the affairs of the Santa
Monica Wharf and Terminal Railroad
company, over whose lands and fran
chises the Santa Fe is entering Santa
Monica. The statements in regard to
the action of Messrs. Kinney & Ryan
are without any foundation whatever.
These statements set up as facts that
the case is before Judge Mckinley, and
that this judge has taken certain unfa-
vorable action to the interests of these
parties. The case is not before Judge
Mckinley. 1t never has been be-
fore him. He has had nothing to do
with it in any way. nor has any Judge
taken the action attributed to him.
As for Messrs. Kinney & Ryan, they
are we'll pleased to see the Santa Fe
running into Santa Monica. Not a tie
nor rail has been laid that does not help
them in securing their right.