The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-03-31
RAILROAD EXTENSION.
Prospect of New Roads in YoIo,
Lake and Humboldt.
Mendocino County Also Likely to
Have Railroad Commune
cation Soon.

Woodland Daily Democrat, March 25th1
Interviews with most of the leading
business men of Woodland have satisfied
us that with practical unanimity they are
heartily in sympathy with the project to
induce Mr.. Huntington to build road
from Woodland that will connect with
the Vaca Valley and Clear Lake Railway
at Madison. Sympathy is all well enough
so far it goes, but something more is
necessary at this particular time. II is not
enough that we express our approval o.
the enterprise. At this juncture, when
the people seem to be willing to engage
in any progressive movement, any pub.
lie enterprise that gives reasonable as
surance of success, it is of the creates
importance that we make prompt an6
diligent inquiry concerning what is to be
done, and, having ascertained, do 1t with
all the energy at our command.
a city's enterprise and energy cannot
be separated from the enterprise ano
energy of its citizens. Both go to give
character and direction to the general
course toward success or failure. In ar
emergency like the present one, it is not
expected that the faint-hearted, the pes
simist, the chronic grumbler or the man
will contribute materially TO the success
of an enterprise which is of such vital
importance. But the earnest and hearty
cooperation of all the public-spirited,
wide-awake citizens whose interests are
identical with those of Woodland, and
who are willing to work with brains and
hands, can do much toward bringing
about the result we all so earnestly de-
sire.
Within the next two years, If at all,
Woodland must make her impress upon
California. No ordinary degree of silu-
rianism can retard its growth and pros
perity or prevent it from growing in
wealth and population and developing
into what, by reason of its peculiar adj
vantages and surroundings, the wealth
of soil that surrounds it and the natural
resources upon which it is dependent,
nature intended it should be, the wealth.
est and most prosperous and possibly the
most populouS inland city in California.
Mr.. Huntington will arrive in Califor-
MIA duling the early part of April. just
how he feels about this enterprise nobody
IS authorized to say, but of one thing we
can rest assured. He is q shrewd bust
ness man. He will at a glance see the
necessity of shortening the route to ac-
commodate the immense fruit shipments
from Capay Valley to the East. The
amount is estimated at 400 carloads for
one-tifth OF the orchards are old enough
TO bear. lie will understand that it will
be great saving in time and material i:
the distance from Capay Valley to Sacra-
mento can be shortened twenty-five
miles by constructing a link of ten miles
over perfectly level country. If we can
convince him that the investment will be
profitable; that such road is of mutual
interest to Holo Comfy and the railroad
company, he will build it. If we do not
succeed in convincing him on that point
he viii construct the road on some other
route, for the railroad engineer has
already Semi-officially expressed an
opinion that the route will be shortened.
Men who understand the policy of Mr..
Huntington are of the opinion that he
viii extend his roads and push new lines
INTO undeveloped sections wherever
there Is any assurance that the enter
prises will eventually pay reasonable
rate of interest on the investment 1t is
also noticeable that in all his recent rail-
road operations in this State he has con-
sidered the right of way a sufficient in
ducement to build roads where there
seemed to be a reasonable prospect of de-
Veloping moderate freight and fare
traffic.
There seems to be no doubt that a rail-
road will, at no distant day, be con-
structed into Lake, MeEdocino and Hum
boldt Counties. The first named is one
of the greatest Sanitariums in the world.
and as summer resort it has a world
vide reputation, and there is no doubt
that the travel over such road would be
great source of revenue. The oil and
lumb Der products of Mendocino and Hum
boldt would insure an immense freie ht
traffic. Whenever the time comes to tap
these counties, it will be done by eX-
tending the Naca Valley and Clear Lake
Railway, as the Cache Creek route is the
most practicable and feasible that has vet
been surveyed. Men of the practical ex-
perience and general information of w.
II. Mills rarely ever make mistakes
about such matters. AS has already been
noted in the Democrat, he has expressed
an opinion that the road would be ex-
tended from Rumsey.
The business men of Woodland ought
to realize how important it is that this
city should be on the line of road that
will transport thousands of visitors
tourists, health seekers, homes seekers
and business men TO and from Lake
County, and the hundreds upon hundreds
of carloads of lumber, wool, oil and other
products that will be shipped to Califor-
MIA and Eastern markets, when railroad
facilities are sufficient to make it profit
able to do so.
If it is decided to construct the connect
ing link, as soon as it is completed it will
CEASE 10 De Il DrdncD, Dut IL VIII be a par
of the main line, for it will only be q
question of time when the bulk of the
travel and freight traffic to and from the
western part of the county, and whatever
new territory the extension may pene-
trate, will be via Woodland.
Necessarily, Woodland will become the
great distributing point for that vast
region of country. 1t will be to Wood
land that the lumber, oil, coal and agri.
cultural products of the new country are
shipped before they are started over the
various arteries OF transportation to points
wherever there may be demand for them
That means vastly improved transporta-
ton facilities, sawmills, plaining-mi Ills
box factories, canneries and many other
other industries that will furnish employ
ment 10 large number Of men. women.
boys and girls. These new industries
will attract population, increase the de-
mand for real estate, build up new homes
and IN many ways contribute to the
wealth and prosperity of Woodland.
is not the prize worth an effort? Every
Yoloite is in duty bound to devote his
best energies TO the endeavor to BRING
money, enterprise and new blood to this
county. These things are what we need
10 develop our resources and make the
county more prosperous and populous,
If our people act promptly, intelligently
and harmoniously, the effect on our con-
tidence at home and reputation and credit
abroad will be felt at once.