The morning call., 1893-08-11
He Figures in Oakland
Combinations.
ABOUT RAILROAD DEALS.
F. M. Smith Said to Be a South
err Pacific Man.
NE is ALLOWED SPECIAL RATES
4 Report That He Will Turn the
Oakland Consolidated Over to the
Grasping Monopoly.

For three or four days Oakland has been
puzzled and at a loss to understand certain
deals and combinations. Yesterday llght
commanded to dawn and last night II was
boldly asserted that F. NJ. Smith, the
Borax King, was shocking his personality
and STANDING forth as an agent OF the
Southern Pacific Railroad. 1t has been
said In Oakland that Boston syndicate
was back OF ais Mr.. Smith; then another
syndicate was named. and so it has gone.
for his elmos wonderful deals have seemed
more than one man unaided by some COM
pary could carry on. Now it is said it is
the Southern Pacitic Company that is back
of him. Il hss not repaired great acute
ness to ascertain this.
Not long agO a retired banker learned
that r. n. Smith had secured rate OF 80
cents over the Southern Pacific Railroad
for all the boTax he wanted to snip. while
other persons were paying from 60 cents
to 81. The knowledge caused great sur
prise and showed close affinity between
the bora miner and the railroad. A few
days ago Mr.. Smiths Twelfth-street rail-
road line began issuing transfers to South
ern Pacific reads, and another bond of
sympathy was made public. Now comes
the latest move and one that will probably
be eliminated today or tomorrow.
Ostenslbly Dir. Smith is the principal
owner of the Oakland Consolidated Rail
way. which has four branch lines, and is
supposed to b. one Of the most profitable
In the city. has been supposed that he
was making L lney out of this road, and it
was eonsidertd a good investment. But
on the contrsTy. the road has been allowed
to run down. For month the employees
have not been paid. and yesterday $1,000
note went To protest. "Why is ths?" is
asked. The answer is that Mr.. Smith.
who, as yet. has invested very little money
Ia the Oakland Consolidated, has allowed
it to run down, so that the Southern Pa
cife can gebble it up for small sum.
Those posted say the entire system will
be in Soutbera Pacific hands within three
days. AS to the Twelfth-street line it is
impossible &c say whethe Mr.. Smith really
owns controlling interest or whether the
Southern Pacific does, but it is fact that
perfect harmony exists.
But how about Mr.. Smiths ferry?
That is emily a blind. Go down to the
pier and see for yourself. A few piles
have been placed. but they are Tot capped,
and work there ceased three weeks ago.
Mr. Smith still keeps up his heavy pur-
chases Of real estate. and it is now no.
ticeable that his selections of land are in
localities where the Southern Pacific will
be benefited Some have thought that his
purchase OF the California and Nevada
Railroad. that twelve-mie zigzag course.
wss 10 the interest of the Atchison,
Topeka aud Santa Fe, but in the light of
recent developments it seems that the
monopoly has hand in this as we'll.
Through T. M. Smith, therefore, the
Southern Pacific is said to be seeking the
control Of the street-car service of Oak
land and the ownership of every advanta-
geous point of land.