The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-27
STROKE OF THE PEN THAT SETS CALIFORNIA FREE

Santa Clara County sent up several of
her most prominent citizens yesterday to
meet the board of trustees of the valley
road and give those gentlemen substantial
indications of the great interest with which
the new road is viewed by residents of the
county named and their willingness to aid
1t by the liberal investment of their means
and an equally liberal donation Of rights
OF way, depot facilities, etc.
In the speeches which were made there
was noticeable lack of even the most re-
mote suggestion of antagonism to Stockton
or the interests of that city connected with
the proposed line. A spirit of harmony
pervaded the utterances of Santa Clara's
representatives, and they bore voluntary
testimony to desire to see Stockton sue
cessful m her efforts to secure the line.
The delegation was composed of: P. P.
Austin, Mayor of San Jose, who acted as
chairman; ]. H. Henry, president of the
San Jose and Santa Clara Railroad; w. c.
Andrews, president of the Farmers Union
and also of the Board of Trade; c. NJ.
Wooster, secretary of the last-named body,
and C. NJ. Shortridge proprietor of the
CALL. Besides these gentlemen Hon. P.
W. Murphy of San Luis Obispo was also
present and gave loyal assistance to the
delegation in voicing the merits of Santa
Clara County as profitable and inviting
field for the new road.
These gentlemen came to this city pre-
pared to make a general proposition to the
directors, which in itself shows that splen-
did work has been &C complished. They
stand ready, so they said, to guara ntee the
road $500, 900 in subscriptions to stock and
valuable rights of way through the
county.
The enthusiastic earnestness of the visit
ors had a very favorable effect upon tn e
directors, and they were instructed, after
all remarks had been concluded, to return
to San Jose and ascertain just W hat rights
ofway could be secured, outline course
through the county and city, and prepare
maps which would intelligently give this
information.
The gentlemen from San Jose were well
pleased with the reception accorded them
by the board. and expressed themselves as
satisfied that a favorable impression had
been created toward the proposition sus-
tanned by them that branch, at least, of
the new road sh ould by all means be built
through the great valley of which San
Jose is the fitting and favore d metropolis.
The first speaker was Hon. P P. Austin,
Mayor of San Jose and chairman of the
committee. who said:
propose presenting to you some facts and
statistics which will incline your board to
build line of railroad from San Francisco
through San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
The committee, of which have the honor TO
be chairman, has been quite industrious in cir
culating subscription lists and inviting SUBJ
scriptions from our people. The result, up to
date, is $14S, 900 in bona-fide subscriptions,
every dollar of which will be paid upon call by
this honorable board
The committee feels safe in assuring the pro-
jectors of this road an aggregate subscription
of not less than $500, 900. In addition to this,
while we are not able at this time to guarantee
q right of way, we desire TO assure you that our
people are fully awakened to the great i'm
portance of this proposed road, and that they
will give rights of way and terminal facilities
in San Jose fully up to the expectations of this
board as indicated by conversations with va
rious members thereof.
Numerous large property-owners have guar
anteed to the committee rights of way which,
il added together, would reach, think, from
San Francisco to Holli ster. But, naturally
enough, not knowing on which side of the val
ley your road might be built, the committee
has not been in position to accept definite
propo ition. However, If you viii indicate to
US the portion of the valley which you think
would be best to build through 1 feel safe in
saying that at least rs per cent of the entire
right of way will be donated by our people.
also call your attention to the fact that we
are large shipping community, as shown by
statistics collated by our secretary, and which
] here present to you.