The herald., 1895-02-20

DdkersHelu. III seems 10 us tnaJ tne cndr
acter of the outlay, on account of the
mountainous region to be traversed, woult
| represent so an enormous a sum that i
could not possibly be brought to a sue
cessful completion, and if by any chance
1t could be consummated it would be {
| particularly improbable venture on ac
| count of the nature of the country it woulo
cover; besides, the benefit to Los Angelo:
would be of the smallest possible charac
ter, and would add no competition in rail
road matters. On first thought we would
not favor the proposition.
Charles Forrnan
Charles Forman, miner and capitalist
when asked for an opinion on the subject
of the San Joaquin Valley Railroad, said
he had not given the subject enough at
tention to be able to talk much about it,
He stated in a general way, however, that
it may be depended on that the Sprecllels
line will not stop at Bakersfield. What
Spreckels d Sons are after is cheaper
rates for their sugars to the East. They
will not stop at any point in the San
Joaquin Valley but will build to
connection with the Atlantic and
"ii' Nltii tAlc Fult la ht
road which will surely be built, and thus
secure several routes East Independent
OF the Southern Pacific In money they
would save in the consequent reduction in
freight rates, which would soon equal
the amount they have subscribed toward
the building of the road. 1t was a plain
business proposition with them and the
road would undoubtedly be built so as to
secure to San Francisco at least one COM
peting line east
As to extending the line from Bakers
field or some other point in the San
Joaquin valley to Los Angeles, Mr.. For
man thought that would depend entirely
upon the cost and the chance of securing
enough traffic to make it a paying invest
ment. He was not well enough posted on
the topography of the country to venture
an opinion as to the feasibility of such
line. Los Angeles did not need a road to
the San Joaquin valley So badly as to Salt
Lake. The latter was sure to be built
as soon as Utah became Il state, and if
the Spreckles line connected with it or
with the Santa Fe, it would practically
give Los Angeles competing route
north, though not very direct one.
Mr.. Formdn is emphatically opposed to
bonding the city or county for the promo
tion of railroad schemes. He does not
approve of the so-called Cincinnati plan
as proposed to be applied to Los Angeles
w. l.. Packard
W. l.. Packard, grocer, in an informal
interview, said he was very much in favor
OF more railroads A road to Salt Lake
was first to be desired and after that a
competing line to the San Joaquin Valley.
As to Los Angeles furnishing the money
To build it, that was another question.
Los Angeles business men were more pub
lic-spirited than San Francisco capitalists,
but they did not possess SO much idle
money. 1t was an easy matter for
Spreckels and other millonares to SUBJ
scribe enough to build a road to Bakers
field, but it would be a big undertaking
for Los Angeles to try to raise money
to build from Bakersfield to this city.
w. c. Patterson
Mr. Patterson, the president of the
Chamber OF Commerce, stated that he had
not considered the matter sufficiently in
detail to express an opinion in this mat
ter.
II may say, however," he continued.
that consider it very desirable to make
the connection for a competing road.
have no faith in a road being built
through an act of the Legislature by bond
ing counties, Any effort in that direction
is a waste of energy, in my opinion. be-
lieve that the cheapest way to build a road
would be across the Antelope Valley to
connect at llesperia cannot say
how much | will subscribe toward a road,
but my name will be on the list"
A. M. Ozman
Mr.. Ozman of the Columbia Savings
Bank, was out duck hunting, but Warren
Glllien, OF the Broadway Bank, was at
home and said. while | have great
faith in the Valley road and think it
would be Il great benefit to the city, still
am not prepared to say it would be a
paying investment and do not feel like
saying what if anything, | would do to
help build it. We need more railroads but
a pocketful of men should not be called
upon to build it. Let all the people con-
tribute. | favor that idea most heartily" "
Thomas l.. Duque
Mr.. Duque of the Main Street Savings
Bank was not prepared to say whether he
would personally aid the valley road or
not In his talk he decidedly opposed
the idea of attempting to build road
from here to Bakersfield by subscriptions
The idea is not good one, " he said
1T is true we need the road, but under
present conditions | doubt if it would
benefit Los Angeles much. As to what |
would personally do to help build the
line would depend entirely upon how it
was to be built and who was building it.
We have had our fingers burned down
here until we dread the fire -
l.. N. Breed
Mr.. l.. \. Breed president of the
Southern California National Bank. talked
freely. Il doubt the advisablity of at
tempting to build line from this CITY to
Bakersfield unless we have outside aid by
taxation or otherwise. | rather favor |
road to Salt Lake, but, personally. | am
willing to give my share as have ALWAYS
done or tried to do, to the Valley Rail |
road, if there is any chance of building
it, but honestly, | think it is out of the
question. You cannot interest the neces |
sary capital
n. j. WooIlacott .
The president of the State Loan and |
Trust Company, II. J. Woollacott said.
In my opinion the San Joaquin Valley. |
as an investment, would be a loss. |
would not buy its stock, but might give