The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-08

gentleman's appointment would be con
tirmed at the next meeting of the board
In speaking of the probable route of the
road Mr.. Spreckels only reiterated his ex-
pressions in the past relative thereto
'That question is sticker," said he,
"and we can't say when it will be definitely
settled
There yet remains to be filled probably
the most important position in the COM
pany, aside from that of president, and it
is that of general manager
While the question has never been
brought before the board it has been the
subject of a good deal of thought and some
discussion on the part of some of the men,
bers OF that body. There are at present
Jour persons whose names are mentioned
in connection with the Office, and they are
John d. Spreckels, Robert Watt, Captain
Payson and J. B. Stetson
1t is generally conceded that John D.
Spreckels could have the position if he de-
sired 1t, but it is claimed by some that he
is already so burdened with other business
affairs that he would find it impossible to
give the office that attention which it will
require.
Both Robert Watt and Captain Payson
are practical engineers, the former being
brother-in-law of Mr.. de Guigne, who is
one of the heaviest subscribers to the stock
OF the company. Both men are looked
upon as capable in every respect, and
either one may be selected without Great
ing surprise among the members of the
board.
j. B. Stetson, the last of the quartet men
toned. is already the president of one
railroad company, and this fact might
have some bearing upon his selection to
manage the affairs of another similar cor
poration. 1t is not thought by some of
a HIrnntnrc hat 1n1,
other company is of necessity bar to
his taking position under the present
corporation, but Mr.. Stetson NAV have
reasons himself which would cause him to
decline such an offer.
The whole matter is, however, simply
one of conjecture, based upon the remarks
of one of the directors yesterday.
Discussing the question of route yester-
day another director said that in all the
meetings of the board this subject had
never been formally presented.
There is unquestionably a wide diver
sity of opinion among the members of the
board regarding this very important mat
ter" said he, "but these differences may
be easily adjusted when we have to take
the matter up in a regular manner. Most
OF US have opinions which are founded
merely upon little positive knowledg e
and good deal of Intangible evidence.
When we get together and have all the
facts before us we will then be able to in
diligently pass upon the merits of the
different localities and to take such action
thereon as promises the best for the road /"
Another suggestion made in regard to
the general managership is that there may
be no official of that title selected at ali.
The idea of at least one of the directors is
that an executive committee should be
appointed, the duties of which would be
similar to that of general manager, and
that this body should employ a practical
railroad man to act as superintendent.
Bids will be sent out for rails and ties
within very few days. The rails will, as
stated yesterday, be purchased in the East,
while the ties will be procured in this State.
Ten thousand tons of rails will be adver-
tised for at first, and it will be required
that all bids be sent in by the 10Th inst. A
provision of the bids will be that the sue
cessful parties must be prepared to furnish
the rails within thirty days after the con-
tract has been awarded. The estimates are
that it will require about $4,000 tons of
rails to complete the road.
Regarding the material which is to be
purchased for the road director said
yesterday that although it was extremely
desirable to secure everything possible in
the West, it would, in his opinion, be found
impossible to buy but little of the material
for either equipment or construction here.
The locomotives and rails would certainly
have to be bought in the East, as no firm
on this coast could successfully compete
with the Eastern manufacturers for the
sale of the same.