The San Francisco call., 1895-05-22
ANOTHER OVERLAND LINE,
The Union Pacific Will Soon
Reach the Bay of San
Francisco.
BREAKING MoNoPoLYs BACK.
Road 1t Secures a Terminus
at Tiburon.

Within a very few months another
transcontinental railroad, the Union
Pacific system, will have terminal on the
bay of San Francisco. This will break a
railroad monopoly that has held this City
in an iron grip ever since the first railroad
reached this section of the Pacific Coast.
After years of patient efforts and many
disappointments the Union Pacific system
has effected an arrangement by which it
can reach San Francisco Bay. Tiburon
will be its terminal. and an increased ferry
service between this City and that point
will be one of the benefits to this part of
the State.
This magnificent stride in railroad
achievement will be accomplished by con-
Meeting link, the Overland Pacific Rail-
way, uniting the Union with the San
Francisco and North Pacific Railway, COM
monty called the Donahue broad-gauge
line. The latter is to extend its line from
Ukiah TO Covelo.
The Union Pacific line now extends to
Corvallis and Yaquina Bay, Or.
The connecting road will follow down
the coast and join the Donahue system.
Its interests are identical with those of the
systems at each terminal. In all prob
ability before another eighteen months
pass by this City will be in direct connec-
tion with all of the large cities OF the
East, Northwest and North by the new
line of railroad.
For many years past the Union Pacific
has aimed to extend its system from its
present terminus in North western Oregon
TO San Francisco, but without success
A short line, poorly equipped and of
equally poor service was run through the
mountains from Portland and Corvallis to
ha 80 O+,
making many improvements upon this
line, although the pass through the
mountains and the grades are good. This
short line is now part of the Union
Pacific system.
As long ago as 1888 parties of railroad
surveyors were seen in the Coast Range
Mountains running lines on the east and
west side of the range and taking particu-
lar note of all the low passes. AT last
they reached Coos Bay. Oregon, and from
there they struck out in an easterly direc-
ton through the heavy forests toward
Roseburg. "tip" was given out that a
new railway would be constructed through
that section, but only a few favored ones
had any idea of who was in the project.
Among the favored, it is believed, are the
Oregon Railway and Navigation Company
people, for In that year they surveyed and
laid out eighty acres of land in town lots
at Empire City. Town lots were laid out
also in the town of Marshfield, across the
peninsula, ten miles from Empire City,
The excitement quieted down until about
year ago, when the coal mines at Coos
Bay were solo to a company of local mer-
chants.
Meanwhile the surveyors We're steadily
pursuing their way measuring distances
and driving stakes along the foothills of
the Coast Range Mountains.
The next move was made at this end of
the route, and 1t became known that the
San Francisco and North Pacific Coast
people had decided to extend their road
from Ukiah north to Covelo and tap the
coal mines in that part of Mendocino
County, about forty miles northeast of
Fort Bragg. The coal mines of Round
Valley and Eel River are among the rich
est south of Puget Sound, for in that Sec
tion is the Flood and Mackay coal mine so
well known to commerce. The only draw
back was the difficulty of getting this fuel
TO market. The move of the Donahue
people into this coal belt was construed
generally as an enterprise to open a new
field of industry and secure freight and
cheaper coal for the road.
only few insiders knew the real mean
ing OF the survey from Ukiah to Round
Valley. Outsiders regarded it as piece of
enterprise and spoke encouragingly of the
large business hauling coal, lum ber min
erals, etc., the Donahue road would have
from Mendocino County.
The real intentions have at last leaked
out and soon the Union Pacific and the
Donahue systems will be united by the
Overland Pacific. The route of the latter
has been laid out, but careful survey fol
the roadbed has not been made. In gen
eral the route will begin at Corvallis, run
to 1aqulna, thence along the coast touch
ing Coos Bay. From that point it will
proceed to Roseburg and extend south or
the east side of the mountains and proceed
in a southerly direction, recrossing the
mountains into Humboldt County, Cal
and join the Donahue road in Round Val
ley.
Whether it will touch Eureka, Hum.
boldt County, is not known, but thai
thriving little town will not be left out in
the cold, for it has a railroad that runs
eastward into the country to the coal anC
gold mines and lumber mills, and at some
point the two roads will be sure to cross
Superintendent g. w. Hunt of the
Oregon Construction Company will arrive
in this City to-day. He is coming on busi
ness connected with the construction o.
the railroad that will be extended from
Ukiah to Covelo and on north to Yaquina
His first work will be to engage severa
hundred San Francisco laborers, who viii
be given employment grading and build
ing the new road
1t is believed that a similar gang will bs
put to work on the northern end of the
route. From all that can be learned thes,
laborers will be set to work at once on the
Donahue extension.
In constructing the new road some grea
feats of engineering will be performed
Tunnels will be cut, bridges thrown across
deep gulches and ravines and forests
opened. The road will be through coun
try rich in minerals of all kinds, timber O
the best varieties, coal of good quality, ant
IN Oregon, east of the mountains, agricul
tural lands unsurpassed upon the coast.