The morning call., 1895-02-12
Los ANGELES is In Line.
Plans for the Construction Of the Com.
peting Railroad.


building a competing line of railroad from
| this city to San Francisco is receiving much
attention here at present. Nothing of an
absolutely definite nature has yet been
determined upon at this end of the State,
| but it is thought that the agitation will
result in decided move soon. Thus far
the prospective promoters of such an enter
prise here have contented themselves with
| watching the movements of northern
capitalists. All agree that a new line of
road would prove advantageous to this
section of the country for many reasons,
chief among which would be reduction
in freight rates to San Francisco.
Among the local business men who have
taken a lively interest in the matter OF a
new road is A. P. McGinnis, manager OF
the Pacific Land Company. This company
is connected with the Southern California
Railway Company, Santa Fe system, but
McGinnis' interest in the new railroad
project is an entirely personal matter.
About four months ago party of Scotch
capitalists passed through the city on a
tour of observation, being engaged in look
ing out for some enterprise in which
money might be invested to advantage.
They went to McGinnis for advice and that
gentleman recommended the building of a
new line of road to San Francisco. The
capitalists left the matter in McGinnis'
hands, with instructions to investigate it
thoroughly and advise them further as to
the feasibility of such work being under
taken. McGinnis has been East for some
time, but he returned home to-day and
I o.c off Off oJ
by the CALL correspondent.
eyes" said McGinnis in answer to the
query as to whether or not he was working
on the railroad matter, 81 have been giving
the project of building competing line of
road from here to San Francisco some
thought About four months ago a party
of Scotch capitalists came here and asked
me to recommend some good investment.
They had been out to examine the Bear
Valley properties with a view of buying
them, but they abandoned that idea and
came on here. Then it was that spoke
of a scheme of building line of railroad
to San Francisco. The only objection
raised by them was, as they said, that rail :
road bonds usually came out of the market
heavily loaded, that is from $4,000 to
up 10000 mile, and l wrote to a promi-
nent member OF the Board of Trade of
Visalia to see what encouragement we
could get. | found that the people there
were all anxious to see such a project
started, but beyond that l failed to get
much assistance. / made no further move
in the matter at that time. Then the
Traffic Association scheme was broached
for the building of a road through the San
Joaquin Valley, and l have since been
waiting to see what would be done in that
direction before proceeding.
ssThe Scotchmen returned to Glasgow,
where they are at present. l am in COM
munication with them still. / told them
that the building of road would be a
good scheme, and they agreed that it
would be. They are willing, as 1 said be-
fore, to put up about $4,000 a mile to
build a road, and on that basis l think
there would be no difficulty in. getting
them to take hold of the matter. 1t is a
good scheme yet, and the Scotchmen are
still willing to put money into it. In case
the San Francisco men fail in their plan I
will probably continue work on my
scheme At present [ am watching the
efforts of the latter. The proposed road, if
built by the foreign capitalists, would not
have any connection with the Santa Fe
system, but would be an entirely separate
and distinct enterprise.
This was all Mr.. McGinnis had to say
about the matter. He spoke, however, in a
confident manner and seemed of the opinion
that the building of a competing line OF
railroad from Los Angeles to San Fran
cisco was project of by no means future
uncertainty,