The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-25
LATEST OAKLAND NEWS,
EnterpriSing Capitalists Plan
ming a New Competing
Railroad.
SAN JOSE TO HOLSTER
Federated Trades Report on the
Sunday Closing OF
Saloons.

Oakland capitalists have caught the COM
petlng railroad fever with vengeance and
In addition to the proposed line between
Santa Rosa and Petaluma have planned a
new line which, if their calculations come
to anything, will be an important factor in
the freight and passenger traffic of some Of
the interior counties.
Louis Gottshall is doing the booming fol
those interested and is now in San Benito
County looking over the ground and work.
ing the people of that section up to the
proper pitch of enthusiasm. The present
e plans are to build narrow gauge road
between San Jose and Hollister to be in
direct competition with the Southern
Pacific. The line will be about ffty-fi
miles long, and the route which has been
selected carries it through one of the most
prosperous and productive sections OF the
State, insuring large amount OF patron
age for the company.
The fact that there are no difficult grades
to be overcome or expensive bridges to
build Will make the cost of building the
road light, and it is calculated that $3.50, 900
judiciously expended will place the line in
running order. The road will be equipped
with the most modern appliances and best
rolling stock obtainable. The projectors
believe that the patronage of the people
along the route will be easily obtainable, as
a reduction of % to So per cent in freight
and passenger rates will be the policy of
the new company.
Mr.. Gottshall is now sounding the large
, shippers of San Benito and Santa Clara
counties regarding their ideas of competing
roads, and finding out what inducements
will be offered the projectors to go ahead
and build. In case arrangements are salts
factory surveys will be made at once, and
the company will agree to have the line
completed and in running order within
eight months from the time ground is
broken.
Though the names of those who are
backing the enterprise are not definitely
known, it is stated on reliable authority
that Alvinza Hayward and Francis K
Shattuck, president of the Commerce
Bank, are among those who will furnish
the sinews of war, and that in case the
money to extend the line south and build
feeders from different points.
Previous to his departure for Hollister
Mr.. Gottshall, who was largely instru
mental in promoting the building OF the
Oakland and Berkeley electric line anC
the road connecting East and West Berke
ley, talked freely of the prospects OF the
projected line.
1.-The people of San Jose and Hollister
as well as many of the large interior towns
south of those points, are alive to the bene
fits to be derived from a genuine compel
ing road he said, "and l have no doub
that when have placed the matter thor
oughly before them they will give us al
the encouragement we ask in the matter O.
rights Of way, depot facilities and finan
cial assistance.
1.-The men behind the road ere amply able
to build without dollar OF outside money
but should the well-to-do people OF Santa
Clara and San Benito counties subscribe to
q portion OF the stock it viii seem more
like local concern, and they will take
more interest in its welfare.
Competition is the watchword these
days, and it is possible that the line will
not stop at HOLSTER, but will go on south
and eventually become an important sys.
tenn