The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-21
RESIDENTS OF THE VALLEY AT A
MONSTER MEETING AT
SAN JOSE.
ALL ARE ENTHUSIASTIC.
RESOURCES OF A FERTILE REGION
DEMAND BETTER MEANS OF
TRANSPORTATION.

SAN JOSE, Feb. 20.-From Palo Alto on
the north to Gilroy on the south and from
Mount Hamilton on the east, where the
great Lick telescope scans the heavens, to
the westerly limits, Santa Clara sent her
representatives from every quarter to San
Jose tonight to help formulate some plan
by which the benefits to be derived from
the new valley railroad may be secured to
this unrivaled section of the State.
Most of these men were acquainted with
only the bare outlines of the railroad
propositions; they had yet to learn the de-
tails of organization. the ideas of its pro-
iectors. but the bare suggestion of another
railroad, received hearty reception, and
the only qualification placed upon the in
dorsement of the road thus freely given
was a remark: "All we ask is a satisfactory
assurance that the line will remain a COM
peting ONE
There were many inquiries for informa-
ton upon this point, and papers from San
Francisco were eagerly sought for in an
ticipation that the pooling plan which Sec
rotary Preston has been preparing for
some time past would be found in the re-
ports of the stockholders meeting. The
people of San Jose are not lacking in faith
in the integrity of the men of San Fran
cisco who are back of this enterprise, but
they want to read with their own eyes the
precautionary measures to be adopted
which will keep the new road free from the
tentacles of the Southern Pacific.
The manner in which San Jose inaugu-
rated the move for the railroad tonight
reminded one of the tactics of a political
campaign. AT o'clock the booming of a
cannon near the Courthouse shook the
dishes on the dinner tables of residences
in that neighborhood and startled the in
mates. Just before the meeting opened
Palo Altos delegation, about 200 strong,
put in an appearance, headed by brass
band and Illuminating the line of march
through the city by red, green and blue fire.
TranSparencies were noticeable feature
in the parade, and bore the following mot
toes: 'Palo Alto wants the new road and
is in line for improvement" "Palo Alto
will give a right of way, depot site and
depot, "Spreckels is broad gauge and so
is Palo Alto.' Each member of the dele
CATION wore a red badge bearing the in
scription: "Palo Alto Competing Rail-
road"
When Chairman Delmas opened his re-
marks he faced splendid audience, filling
the broad street opposite the courthouse
and sidewalk, and running back into the
park beyond. Probably 5000 people were
in the crowd.
Mr.. Delmas began by saying that it was
fit and proper that this occasion should be
ushered in by the boom of cannon and the
sound of music, because there was proba-
bility that it would mark the beginning of
new era of independence of the people of
California. Duty, he said, devolves upon
the people of Santa Clara and adjoining
counties to inaugurate and sustain this
work.
Mr.. Delmas eloquently set forth the adj
vantages of the proposed road, and re-
marked that the character of the result
depended upon the generous manner in
which the people responded to the call for
assistance. Claus Spreckels came in for a
handsome eulogy from the speaker.
"Mr. Spreckels told me-" said he,
"that he was willing to devote the re-
manning few years of his life to assuring
the success of this movement, and, if need
be, he would build the road himself"
S. n. Grifiths of Fresno made similarly
favorable impression upon the people of
San Jose that he had already made in San
IIduClSCO Wy Ills lOICclul uIbcIduCtS III
favor of the road and he was followed in
like strain by Hon. B. D. Murphy, W.
D. Nicholas of Palo Alto, W. J. Martin of
South San Francisco, Judge Fitzpatrick O,
Redwood City, Mr.. Hutchinson of Palo
Alto, Colonel Philo Hersey, n. Bowden
and John A. Richards of San Jose.
In closing the meeting Chairman Delmas
read the following resolution, which was
adopted with hearty good will:
WHEREAS 1t is for the mutual benefit
of the city of San Francisco and the coun-
ties OF San Mateo, Santa Clara San Benito
and Fresno that a competing railroad
should be constructed and operated from
said city OF San Francisco and through
said counties to a terminus at the city of
Fresno, or at some other point interesting
the proposed San Francisco and San
Joaquin Railroad in San Joaquin Valley,
now therefore be it
"ReSoiued, That we, the citizens and rep
resentatives of the counties of San Mateo,
Santa Clara, San Benito and Fresno, do
hereby pledge ourselves to effect organ
ization in our respective counties to pro-
cure the necessary rights of way and all
possible subscriptions to the capital stock
of the San Francisco and San Joaquin
Valley Railroad in order to promote the
building of said railroad through said
Counties