The San Francisco call., 1895-10-08
WORK BEING DELAYED,
One Strip of Land All That
Keeps the Construction
Trains Idle.
1T WILL BE BOUGHT AT ONCE.
Citizens of the San Joaquin Metrop-
oils Put Their Shoulders
to the Wheel.

STOCKTON, GAL, Oct. 7.-Vice- Presi-
dent Watt, Chief Engineer Storey and
Directors Sloss and Payson of the San
Joaquin Valley Railroad were present at
a meeting of the Commercial Association
this evening.
President Buell. presided and there was
fairly good attendance, but had the i'm
portance of the gathering been better
known there would have been few public
spirited citizens absent.
Of late some people, prompted by
motives known only to themselves, have
been criticising the progress on the Valley
road and claiming that those at the San
Francisco headquarters were not pushing
the work as it should be, in order to redeem
the promises of speedy construction made
just after the great enterprise passed the
stage of inception.
Vtce-President Watt tonight told the
members that all that was retarding the
prosecution of work on even a greater
scale than at present was the
speedy redemption of the associations s
promises in regard to the donation of GER
tain blocks of land near Mormon Channel.
He sifted the matter thoroughly, and said
that the Simpson and Gray block, bounded
by Center and FL Dorado, Taylor and Scott
streets, must be had at once. The
pressing necessity arose from the
fact that a short section of the track from
the Taylor-street line to the material yard
must be put down in order that the ties
and rails may be moved by the already
made-up construction train to the
grade outside the city limits. Mr.
Watt said that he had hesitated to
speak of the matter, but as it had reached
point where the progress of the enter
prise was involved he spoke plainly. He
appreciated the fact that times
were hard, and that a few Stockton
to hold up their end, but waiving all these
considerations he would have to ask the
association to put the road in possession of
this strip of land at once, as the company
wished to push construction work with all
the speed possible.
Chief Engineer Storey supplemented
Mr.. Watts remarks and called the atten-
ton of the citizens to the fact that winter
was approaching and the materials must
be moved in order that the line to the
river be completed before winter.
Hugh Corcoran in explanation stated
that the association felt embarrassed on
having to be reminded of the mat
ter, but there were mitigating circum-
stances arising through the preva-
lence of the monetary stringency; and
that the association, being informed of the
pressing necessity of the block, its pur-
chase would be consummated at once, but
he thought the citizens of Stockton had
done their share in the mstter, considering
everything.
Vice-President Watt in replying to Mr..
Corcoran said that Stockton would reap
benefits far greater in proportion than any
other place through the building of the
road, and could well afford to exert herself
in the present matter.
1t was explained to the directors that
the Simpson & Gray block was veritabIe
hoodoo to the association. The railway
track cuts across one corner of tract
only, and yet the owners refused
to allow the road to cross unless the en-
tire block was purchased. For this they
demanded $4,000 in cash before giving a
deed. Of this amount the association had
one-half on hand.
Mr.. Watt suggested that the association
borrow the balance of the amount needed
from bank. D. S. Rosenbaum, a local
banker who was present, was appealed to,
but said his bank would loan the money
only on the personal notes of those present.
After the officials had made their wants
plainly known they retired in order to give
the members a chance to talk matters
over. 1t was agreed that the rail-
road must have the block in question
at once, even though heroic measures had
to be resorted to in obtaining it. They
realized that if this was not done they
would appear in the light of obstruc-
tionists of the Valley road, and that
position they did not want to oc-
cupy. President Buell., Colonel Shaw and
others agreed to take their coats off
and see that the block was Sc
cured. These gentlemen with others
have already given more than their
share of time and money to the
cause, but they now propose to wipe out
the ''sin of omission" placed to the credit
of the association by the tardiness of less
progressive men. As soon as this is ac-
complished the little piece of track will be
put down and the construction train will
begin to move.
Mr.. Watt and his associates have been
backward in pushing the association, and
no one realizes it more than this little
band of workers. The majority of the
members first became aware of the asso-
ciation's position tonight, and with Mr..
Watts stirring words ringing in their ears
they can neither slumber nor sleep until
the association redeems itself.
TKEPEGTED THE DnAD