The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-01
RAILROAD SCHEMES.
Behind The Scenes in Southern Pacific
Projects.
Various Proposals to the Cali" aud Bulletin
ProprietoTs-HOw San Francisco Escaped
an Issue Of Bends.
Written for TIE MORNING CALL

IdlIodQ CUuutCliuE bDlo COdSb Will INC AZ
lantic. a feeling prevailed in the Eastern
States that there was enough Of the South
ern element here to carry California off
with the South, but there never was any
real prospect Of that. The State was over
whelmingly against the South from the first.
The feeling of the East as a measure of
precaution being in favor Of building rail-
road, California cordially supported the
idea and Influence was brought to bear upon
Congress. Every effort was made on this
coast to aid the project, and this was done
by all parties Stanford, Huntington, Hop
kins ana Croker, who got the enterprise
Into their hands, had no opposition to en-
counter Assistance was asked ID TINS
State and elsewhere. aud the people were
exceedingly liberal in granting that assist
auce, THE CALL and Bulletin neglected
no opportunity of urging generous CO.
operation. The construction OF the road
went forward from Sacramento to
Ogden much better than was expected, 1t
being supposed that the task was very Diff
cult The promoters assumed at nrSt that
the profits would mostly come from the SUD
sides and land grants, and that II would De
2 long time before the frame would pay
running EXPENSES But when the road TO
Ogden was opened, instead of being unable
TO paw running expenses the traffic 10 ceT-
tain extent proved profitable from TIE out
set The business Of transportation had
been underestimate, both as to California
itself and as TO Salt Lake City and other
places. The mining interest became very
r. impOrtant feeder of traffic. Deposits OF
coal were discovered, and much Of the land
was found to be more valuable Tor grazing
and other purposes than had been estl-
mated. This city gave its subsidies to the
Central Pacific and ultimately released its
claim TO those subsidies. IN every quarter
the company found encouragement and
had no experience of opposition.
THE GOAT ISLAND SCHEME.
This happy position Of things continued
until 1872. The Central Pacific had OBJ
tanned possession of submerged lands north
of Goat Island and also of the flats In front
of Oakland, and it now began a,erusade to
get possession of Goat Island. Stanford
and his associates said that San Francisco
was on the wrong side of the bay, and that
1T would have TO do something 10 nave the
terminus on this side. IL II did not move
. the terminus would be on the other side.
They wanted more money to bridge across
the bay to Goat Island. and there was much
talk about bridging the whole bay. Up to
this time the GAIL and Bulletin had been
assisting the railroad in every possible way
TO develop the interests of the State. but.
they felt bound TO resist the projects now
entertained by the company. When the
excitement got Roadway about the acqulsl-
tiou Of Goat Island, property became de-
messed at once throughout the city and
values we're seriously affected. Maps were
published indicating that the company
were going to use part OF the water
front Of Oakland for business and set
mp a tawD in fact, and that they
would establish warehouses on Goat
Island. When this was going on ana
the company were pressing for more money,
the Bulletin. aud CALL tried TO allay the
excitement ard to obtain pledges from the
managers Of the railroad to abandon the
Goat Island scheme, but they would hot give
any promise. Stanford declined TO give any
guarantee. Huntington had been on Visit
q the coast some time before this, and when
il was proposed TO construct a bridge at
Ravens wood he expressed his opinion against
that course. lie said they would always
have TO come into San Francisco, and there
was no trouble in letting this city have the
same advantages as if the railway terml-
mated on this side Huntington went of
East AS no pledges could be got from
Stanford TO drop the Goat Island scheme,
the Bulletin and CALL did all they could to
assist the citizens IN Offering reSls tanco 10
it. Then Huntington returned from the
East. and paid a visit 20 the Bulletin Office
.: accompanied by D. o. Mills
A Personal INTERVIEW.
Mr.. Pickering expressed pleasure at see
Ing Mr.. Huntington and hoped that the
controversy between the city aud the rail-
turned TO California. MI Huntington had
always been frank in his utteTanceS and he
was frank in this instance. He immedi-
ateiy said: I have been against the Goat
Island agitation, but my partners have gone
for il, and l cannot help It." And he added
emphsticallv that they would get it. Mr..
Pickering told him that he was very sorry
that this was to be the policy, because II
was injurlng the city, aud II was utterly
impossible that the Bulletin and CALL
could assist the company in that respect
MI Huntington went away Win the 1Ull
knowledge that the plans Of the railroad
would be firmly opposed, and by the COM
mittee Of citizens sending agents to Wash
ingtOn aud maintaining hostile agitation
the project was defeated.
The next move on the part Of the railroad
-- company was when eX-Judge Hager was
sent 10 the Senate from this State. The
company then pT0fessed 10 have given up
all idea of getting Goat Island, but they
were trying to make a connection to extend
.: their road from this city across by short
cut to so up the San Joaquin Valley via
San Jose. They had a grant Of land down
south OF San Jose, and they wanted TO Oh
tain IN addition grant OF land which would
take them into the San Joaquin Valley.
Ex-Judge Hager wrote TO the propriet0rs Of.
the Bulletin and CALL and wanted 10 know
il there was any objection to that. The
pTOprietOrs replied that there was no OBJ
lection; that il was perfectly proper that
they should construct the road and they
were willing TO aid them in the work. Pre-
sumably eX-Judge Hager gave his assist
ance in carrying out the plans.
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC.
In the meantime General David Cotton
had become connected with the Central
Pacific Railroad. In conversation several
times with the prODrietOrs OF the Bulletin
and The CALL Cotton said there was
project on the part OF the company TO try
TO sell their lands which were not available
in the Humboldt Valley to the Government
and he wanted to know If the Bulletin and
CALL would oppose the movement The
pTOpTietOTs told him they would not 1t
was understood afterward that the com pany
did endeavOr to sell these lands 70 tie
Government, but did not succeed. Another
scheme was preached by GepeTal Cotton.
This was the construction of the Southern
Pacific Railroad to the Gulf Of Mexico via
the COlOradO-an enterprise which the peo-
pie desired to see carried out. He asked
the pTopTietOrs of the Bulletin and
CALL If they would support that
project. They said they would. They
agreed with Cotton that it would be
better TO make two roads connecting with
the East, and that if this southern road
could be built and carried through to New
Orleans or other points on the Gulf of
Mexico ii would open an outlet for cur prod
Uce. Stanford was enthusiastic 10 the be-
lief that a good deal Of grain could be
shipped that way and sent direct from New
Orleans TO Europe. The Bulletin and CALL
had no opposition TO offer TO this proposal.
After a while Cotton announced to the pro-
prietors another project on the part OF the
railroad company. The suggested route, it
was said, would not turn out favoraby in
the financial sense for great while, and he
wanted to know if there could not be some
arrangement come to by which the railroad
should obtain assistance from the city.
BONDS WANTED FROM SAN FRANCISCO. -.
The city was to indorse the bonds for the
road. Cotton said it was absolutely neces-
sary, If the city wanted tbe road IN he bnilt:
thatit should help it in every possible way.
He talked with Mr.. Pickering on the subject
first, and the latter expressed himself against
10. Cotton urged him 10 have an In terview
with the PARTIES cOnp6rned and aekad