The record-union., 1893-05-10
RAILROAD REPORT.
Commissioner BeCkman Travels and
Reports What He Learned.
Condition of Works, Bridges, Con-
struction, Cars, Engines-Road-
BaIlasting, Etc.

On Monday Railroad Commissioner
William Beckman of this district filed
with the Secretary of the Board of Rail-
road Commissioners the following report
of his observations for the last sixty
days:
To the Honorable Board of Railroad
Commissioners Of California - GENTLE
MEN: Within the last sixty days
have travelled over nearly every mile
OF the Southern Pacific Railroad sys-
tenn. In travelling over the Coast Dl-
vision ] found about 800 men at work on
the extension between Santa Margarita
ana san Luis Obispo. l found large
number OF men at work on the bridge
crossing the Merced River, in the San
Joaquin Valley, using creosoted piling
for the foundation trestle bents, doing
the work in very substantial manner,
and, as the foreman informed me, using
about 10000 feet of lumber. \ large
number of men were also at work on the
American River Bridge, near Sacra-
mento, taking down 75-feet truss span
and substituting 150-ieet span: IhlS was
made necessary on account OF the south
ward movement of the channel OF that
stream during the recent high water.
find that in the year 1892 the southern
Pacific Company renewed wooden
bridges with wood in California at the
first crossing of the Los Angeles
River, at New San Gabriel River, IN
Los Angeles County, at Cottonwood
Creek; drawbridge No. 2, at High
street, Alameda, and drawbridges
Nos. and 4, between Newark
and Alviso. In the year of 1892
| found, by inquiry, that they used, in
the repairs OF track on California lines,
6,000,000 feet board measure OF timber.
They also used 100000 feet for renewal
OF snow-sheds. L find that they have
built very few iron bridges, as they claim
they are too expensive, as the distance is
too great from the manufactures, max
ing the price of material very high.
l find that last year they built iron
bridges on the second and fourth cross
ings of Tehachapi Creek, at the second
crossing of the Los Angeles River, at the
second crossing Of the Truckee River,
and at Butte Canyon, on the Sacramento
division. L have been informed that,
during the year 1892, by the proper
officials, that they used S79, 664 ties to re-
place old ties. L also found that they
have replaced great many miles with
new rails, weighing 10 pounds to the yard.
l also find that, during the year 1892, the
following lines have been added to the
Pacific system within the State of Cali
fornia: Redland junction to Grafton,
miles; Coils to Fresno, 10 miles; Fresno
to Pollasky, a miles; Declez to Declez-
Vile, y miles; Baden to San Bruno,
miles; Santa Monica to Santa Monica
Wharf, q miles-making a total of "a
miles.
The Southern Pacific Company has also
leased, in California, the road from San
Bernardino to Redlands (motor road,
from San Bernardino TO Motor Junction,
seven miles.
The new railroads constructed last
year were all thoroughly ballasted with
washed gravel, and, in addition to this,
Nd Aa l...lr
follows: Santa Monica branch between
University and Santa Monica, twelve
miles; San Joaquin Division between
Merced and Bakersfield, 102 miles; Ore
gon branch between Biggs and Dunham,
thirteen miles.
found the following depot buildings
that were constructed last year as fol-
lows: Western Division, brick passenger
depot at Stockton; combination passenger
and freight depot at Rodeo, Livermore
and Crows Landing; passenger depot at
Gelston; freight depot at Napa Junction;
on the Sacramento Division, com bination
passenger and freight depots at Chico and
Huba City; on the Moiave Division, COM
bination depot at Piru; on the Los Ange-
les Division, passenger depot at Carmen
ita on the Coast Division, com bination
depot at Gonzales, and union passenger
depot at Santa Cruz for Coast and Santa
Cruz divisions.
They are now building, and contem-
plate building. on the Western Division,
combination freight and passenger depot
at Elk Grove and Volta; also, freight de-
pot at French Camp; on the Sacramento
Division, combination depot at Gridley;
on the Shasta Division, freight depot at
Castle Greek; on the Los Angeles Divis-
ion, combination depot at Norwalk, and
freight depot at Declez; on Coast Divis-
ion, combination depot at Morgan Hill,
freight depot at Palo Alto, and freight de-
pot at Santa Cruz.
l was informed by one of the officers
that, during the summer, they would put
mp a combination depot at Wheatland
and Lincoln; on the Shasta Division,
passenger depot at Castle Greek; on the
Coast Division, a passenger depot at Palo