The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-11
LATEST OAKLAND NEWS,
\
Capitalists Planning a New
Railroad in Sonoma
County.
SANTA ROSA TO PETALUMA
Cyclists Frame a New Ordinance,
The Merchants Exchange
Election.

focus, will result in the building of one of
the most important short lines in the
State.
The project of constructing a rapid-tran-
sit line from Petaluma to Santa Rosa, with
water connections to San Francisco, was
conceived some time ago, and for month
past competent civil engineer has been
looking over the ground.
In consequence of his report the follow
ing letter, signed by James w. Keys, the
" San Francisco attorney who represents the
capitalists, was forwarded to B. NJ. Spencer
of Santa Rosa and H. P Brainard of Peta-
luna yesterday:
SAN Francisco, May 4, 1895.
-, Dear Sir: notice that with few exceptions
= towns and cities in this State are anxious for q
competing railroad, and there is no longer any
doubt bat what number OF them will be
blessed with whatever competition in the rail-
road line brings with it,
So far, however, / have not been informed
that the people have been advised of what the
rates will be, and not few may be disap-
pointed.
:. Santa Rosa already has competition, but itmay
:. be able TO stand more, and then again suppose
IT'S people are always ready to consider any
e. reasonable proposition, therefore my reason
for addressing this communication, that you
may submit is contents TO the people with
view OF giving me an early reply.
am authorized 10 say that railroad will be
built between Petaluma and Santa Rosa OF a
30 or 40 inch gauge, steam TO be used until
such time as electricity may be found so that
it can be depended on to rapidly transport
passengers and satisfactorily handle freight,
when it viii be substituted.
The road to make no less than one round
trip every two hours, between Petaluma and
= Santa Rosa, from A. NJ. to IL P. NJ. and in less
time than fifty minutes. The maximum rate
-'Of fare shall not exceed 40 cents one way or IS
cents for the round trip. A reduction in
freight rates between Santa Rosa and San Fran
Ill h. 6V1sar aarafI acc
than the present tariff rates of the San Fran
cisco and North Pacific Railway
The proposed route has been carefully exam
.fned by one OF the best railroad engineers in
this state and for over month the matter has
been under careful consideration.
Rates and facilities being equal, the mer-
chants of Santa Rosa and the farmers of the
surrounding country will be asked to rive US
their business after our reduction, which, as
nearly as I can learn of, III per cent will
effect saving to Santa Rosa of over $4,000
per year.
The proposition is conditional upon Santa
Rosa taking SO, 900 and Petaluma sos, 900 of
$4,000 tfteen-year first mortgage, e per
cent gold bond issue, interest payable at Santa
Rosa semi-annually. The money to be paid to
kle company at the rate of $500 per mile on
We completion OF each mile of track. and bal
ance when road is completed. You will note
that the road and sidings will be eighteen
miles long, OF Whereabouts, and that the bond
issue is $4,000 per mile, which is from one-third
; TO one-eighth Of what it generally is.
Your efforts would, as a matter of course, be
asked TO secure passenger terminal in the
heart OF the city, as the road will do a great
amount OF good by bringing people from along
its line, and it viii be as much of streetcar
line, except the service being extremely rapid,
as anything else.
Your attention is called to the fact that the
subscribers to the san joaquin Railway are
subscribing over $4,000 per mile to the road,
with no guarantee that rates will be reduced,
and practically getting free right OF way.
Should you accept OF my proposition the
road viii be completed within six months from
your acceptance OF this offer.
Should Santa Rosa and Petaluma accept
the offer and the road be built it is said
that another line connecting Santa Rosa,
Napa, Vallejo and Oakland may be con-
structod.
The names of those who are backing the
road are kept secret for the present, but
will be made public shortly.
Smiths Friends Are Angry.
The mem ers of the st. Andrews Soci-
ETY. Of Oakland are very indignant at the
reports published in San Francisco morn
ing paper that Sidney Smith, a member of
their organization, who died recently at
Rawlins Wyo., was an ex-convict.
They say that Smith was never in Amer
lea before he started from Scotland, about
two months ago, and that the story that
he was ever in an American penitentiary
: IS absurd.
\ An Omaha paper, through similarity
tractor who was sent to prison from that
place for Incorporating other peoples
money and wrote the story accordingly.
The local correspondent did not investi-
gate the case and published sensational
report, in which Smith name was handled
in a manner very displeasing to his friends.
The members of the society have never
had any doubt as to the identity of the body
that was shipped to this city, nor has Cor
oner. Baldwin. They are merely suspicious
of the circumstances of his death in view
of the fact that Union Pacific Railroad
official telegraphed that he had been killed
by one of the corporations trains and that
subsequent dispatches and the death GER
tiicate stated just as positively that he had
committed suicide in jail. They are
anxiously awaiting fresh news from Raw
Inns to clear up the mystery surrounding
his demise.
New Bicycle Ordinance.
An ordinance of much interest to the
wheelmen and local authorities of Oakland
was formulated yesterday at a meeting of
the cycle-dealers OF the city.
At a previous meeting, which was at
tended by City Attorney Peirsol, it was
found that it would be perfectly feasible to
abolish sidewalk riding and also the regu-
lation requiring the carrying oflamps, and
Nbe new measure was drawn on these lines.
The old ordinance was so amended as to
a eliminate the PERMISSION ACCORDED cyclSLS
.ef riding on the sidewalks between A. NJ.
and 6 P. NJ. and in future cyclists will have
to keep to the streets entirely. The Sec
=, ton OF the ordinance relating to the carry
ing of lanterns was also eliminated, leaving
1t to the discretion of the riders themselves
whether or not to carry lanterns after dark.
The work of drafting the measure in legal
form was left to Prosecuting Attorney
Mullln Of the Police Court.
The amended ordinance will be pre-
scented to the Council at its next meeting
and little doubt is entertained by those
interested that it will be speedily passed.
George A. Faulkner, the author of the
movement against the sidewalk-riding and
lamp clauses, said yesterday that he hoped
the trials wheelmen would have to undergo
riding on the poor streets of the city
would open their eyes to the Importance
of the work of the Good Roads Association
and that many of them would take more
interest in the matter than they have
hitherto done.
VIII Rebuild Their House.
The boating association of the Uni
versltY OF California has decided to re-
build its clubhouse at Sessions basin,
which was recently totally destroyed by
tre, and the work will be begun as soon as