The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-05
VALLEY ROAD PROGRESS,
|. r. Wilbur of Stockton 40
pointed Right-of-Way
Agent.
Directors Determine That Con-
structlon Shall Not Be Delayed
by ShipWreck.

The directors of the San Francisco and
San Joaquin Valley Railway met yesterday
| in weekly session, with Vice-PresidenI
Robert Watt in the chair.
The most important action taken was the
appointment of right-of-way agent II
| was found to be matter of imperative
necessity that the company should have
an agent to represent it in all things per-
tanning to rights of way since about
twenty-seven miles of the road have been
| finally surveyed and judging from the
energetic work of three engineering parties
| now in the field many more miles will soon
be ready for grading. The time has come
when rights of way must be secured
promptly to allow construction to continue
| once it is begun, so the board acted without
delay in selecting a man thoroughly COM
| petent to take charge of that important
! branch of the work.
| Wilbur. Mr.. Wilbur was formerly of the
firms of Wilbur & Paulsell and Wilbur &
| Page of Stockton. He is.a man of affairs
and prominence in Stockton mercantile
circles and has considerable influence in
| the San Joaquin Valley.
| 1t was he who undertook to build an
| overland road, in which enterprise he in
headquarters were at 314 Pine street In
| the Valley road it will be his special task
| to look after rights of way and transact all
| business that arises in that direction. AS
the landowners, merchants and capitalists
| along the route are each and every one in
favor of the Valley road, it is believed by
| the board of directors that his position
| will be really pleasant one.
| Current billsfor the month were ordered
paid. They aggregate about $500 and in
clude supplies for the surveying camps,
incidental office expenses and salaries of
| the engineering department and Office
staff
The secretary reported that about $125,-
| 600 had been paid already on the second
| installment of 10 per cent assessment.
| The telegram from Grace & Co.. agents
at Valparaiso, announcing that steamer
resembling the Washtenaw, on which were
| 200 tons of rails with spikes and fishplates
! for the Valley railway. was seen stranded
| in the Straits of Magellan, was considered
confirm the dispatch, which is extremely
| unsatisfactory.
The board, however, determined that in
| case the Washtenaw was lost the construc.
! ton and equipment. committee should be
authorized to procure 500 tons of rails from
the East as soon as they are required, SO
| that construction may not be delayed
when once begun. The rails are to come
by rail across the continent but they will
not be ordered until the committee is GER
| tain that the steamer will never reach San
| Francisco.
Chief Engineer Storey will leave here to-
morrow for Modesto, where he will meet
the surveying party under Engineer
Graham. 1t is his intention to go over
some of the ground personally with Mr..
Graham's corps, just east of Modesto, to
satisfy himself on various points regard
] ing the route. The surveying party known
! as No. has encamped at Kings River and
is operating further south.