The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-17
ENGINEERS MOVING OUT.
Valley Road Surveyors on the
Highway Through San
Joaquin.
Co0LIE LABOR NOT WANTED.
Californian Mechanics and Labor
erS Will Be Given the
Work.

Chief Engineer Storey of the San Joaquin
Valley railway received letter from MS
chief assistant in the field at Stockton yes
terday, informing him that the engineer
ing corps had finished their work IN and
around Stockton and would move out yes
terday to Collegeville.
81 am informed" said the engineer yes
terday, THAT the surveying party will
strike camp some time to-day near Col
legeville, a distance of nine or ten miles
from Stockton on the Mariposa road, In
the direction of the Stanislaus River.
Now that they are fairly started in the
field they will make from three to five
miles day, and at that rate should reach
the Stanislaus River in a week easily.
Once they get to the river they will return
to Stockton and make a second survey,
using the first for base line, while they
decide upon more feasible way, avoiding
houses or distractions of any kind that
can be got around"
He was asked about the kind OF bridges
that will be built over the rivers.
1--WE have practically concluded to use
truss bridges, composed of wood and iron
and resting upon piers" said he. ''They
are just as strong as steel bridges, which
we might use had we more time at our dis
posal. But steel bridges cannot be made
SO quickly as wooden ones to suit our
purpose"
John Kelso, contractor, called on the
engineer regarding the grading and bal
lasting of the line down the valley. He
has 300 men at work in different places
and could answer from experience all
questions on the subject of labor. A
Chinese and japanese labor contractor
had applied to the engineer to contract for
f]xr
struction work.
"And what are you going to do about
it?" was asked.
'That is matter we have hardly con-
sidered yet" replied Mr.. Storey. "We
will leave that to the contractors"
There is no need for Chinese or Japan
csc now on the road" Mr.. Kelso added.
and it is as cheap if not cheaper in the end
than Chinese. You can get all the men
you need for the work at satisfactory rates,
and for my part | would not have a Chi
nese on the work. Two white men can
keep up with three average Chinese COO
lies, so where is the difference in expense?
The valley road is the peoples road, and l
guess it can be built by the people,"
So far as the directors are concerned,
they will give Californian mechanics and
laborers chance to make and build every
thing needed in constructing and equip
ping the line. Ii, however, locomotives
and other supplies cannot be made here,
the only alternative will be to buy in the
East.
The directors have been so deeply en-
crossed in starting the road that their at
tention was diverted from subscriptions
for some days past, but once the line is
safely under the engineers CONTROL efforts
will be made in the direction OF finances.
The money that is yet to come in will be
required only for further extensions, as for
the present there is enough subscribed to
meet all expenses for year to come. Sew
eral of the promoters predict that at the
end of 1895 shares in the valley road will
be selling at premium.