The record-union., 1893-06-06

haIlrOau commissioner Beckman has
filed with the board the following re-
ports upon two very unique railroad sys-
TENS in this State:
SACRAMENTO, May 25, 1893.
To the Honorable Board Of Railroad
Commissioners Of California = GENTLE
MEN: Since our last meeting, l have
Travelled over the Nevada, California and
oregon Railway, the terminal point
being Reno, New, running through the
State OF Nevada for twenty-eight miles,
and through Honey Lake and Lake Val
legs, in California, for titty-two miles, to
Amedee. | find that this road has never
been self-sustaining institution. 1t is
owned by the Moran Brothers of New
York, bankers. This property, as above
stated, IS owned by individuals. 1t is a
curio among railroads, owing to the fact
that 1t has no debt of any description,
pays cash for everything, has no bonds
or stock, asks no credit, pays no interest
and demands cash for any service it
gives. The property is managed by +.
Gest. The policy of this gentleman is to
well equipped, and to keep everything at
high standard, with view, after first
cost, OF being able TO operate al a mini
mum OF expense. The road uses the
steam shovel and gravel train constantly.
They are digging out all cuts to width
VI 4oIty -AouI leet, widening the HIS
where needed, and filling up every
trestlework with earth. They have, so
far, filled up three very large ones, two
of which were 800 feet long and forty four
feet wide.
Wherever they have culverts, 1 find
that they are of either steel pipe, or II
inch terra Gotta pipe. Where water
troubles the banks, stone culverts and
stone ripraps are used. BY inquiry, |
tOupG thaV mt in IN DDl nav tiaS J,1ripo
the year 1897. l was also informed that
1t required about the same number for
the year 1893. The first thirty miles of
the road from Reno north was formerly
laid with iron rails. which has, in the last
two years, been replaced with steel rails.
| found, in many places, the old line had
been abandoned and a new one built,
thereby lessening curvature, distance
and grades. The buildings Of the road
are good. The road owns ample lands
for terminal facilities for properly
operating the road but none other, con
filming their business entirely TO trans
portation, and having no interest in dams
or reservoirs which are being constructed
in Honey Lake Valley, whicn will. in
course OF time, develop the country, and
will be an inducement for settlers to cul-
tivate the soil. and thereby increase pop
ulation and business for the railroad.
l was really surprised to find such a
WeII-conStructed and equipped railroad
in a country so sparsely settled. l heard
no complaint regarding the road; on the
contrary, it is doing all that can be done
to develop the country by its low rates
and assisting to market its products |
made inquiry of J. NJ. Fulton, Master of
Transportation, about extending the road.
Mr.. Fulton was non-committal, but in
formed me that. if it had not been for the
California Legislature of 1893 they would
now be building north unto Modoc
County, California, and lake County,
Oregon, which, he says, is the best terri
tory that he knows of without railroad.
This road is a three-foot gauge, has only
two stations in California, and l am really
in hopes that the owners of this road will
see their way clear to build it into Ore
gon, as that would be the means of de.
veloping great agricultural country, be-
sides furnishing accommodations for car
rying out livestock, instead of being
driven long distance to a railroad. Re-
specially, VIM. BECKMAN,
Railroad Commissioner First District,
California.