The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-15
CHINA BASIN
is THE PLACE. :"
WHAT PROMINENT CITIZENS SAY
OF THE VALLEY ROAD
TERMINAL.
LET THE WORK BEGIN SOON
A SUGGESTION THAT ONLY CALI
FoRNIA LABOR BE EMPLOYED
IN CONSTRUCTION.

first spike in the valley railroad will
arouse an echo that will be heard through
out the State. 1t will be one that the peo-
pie generally will hail with rejoicing, for
while heralding the beginning of new
and noble enterprise it will also be the
death knell of railroad monopoly through
our mountains and valleys.
Now that the grand obstacle has been
overcome, the main question for San Fran
cisco to consider is the terminal.
From interviews made by CALL represen-
tives yesterday, the consensus of opinion
was favorable to China Basin as an advan-
tageous point. The cogent reasons are
given by leading representatives of all the
| industries of the State If it were put
to vote the basin would win by large
majority.
Relative to the construction of the road,
those who know most about it say that
there are -laborers enough in the State al
ready to do the work, and that it would be
bad policy to invite an influx of men from
the East with the expectation of getting
| employment.
From the following interviews it will be
| seen that the matter has been thoroughly
| discussed in all its phases
| O. T. Won Rhein of o. F. Won Rhein &
| Co., 513 California street, real estate, said:
| I think the railroad should be a San Fran
cisco enterprise, and that its terminal should
| be in San Francisco. That is about all that
would care to say about the matter at the
present time.
| C. C. Bemis, real estate, 324 Montgomery
! street, said:
| If we get the China Basin as the terminal
point for the road we have got the cream of the
| whole business. As it lies between Second and
| Fourth streets it is convenient IN every par
| ticular. OF course the company will have to
build bridges and make the proper extensions,
| which Will cost money; but there is plenty of
| rock on Rincon Hill easy OF access with which
| to do that at q minimum cost. 1t viii give the
company an opportunity to land their freight
| as cheaply as though the road went to San
Jose, Oakland or Alameda. That part of it
| would make no difference to San Francisco.
| That location, in my opinion, is the key to the
| situation for US and will place us on equal
| terms with the Southern Pacific Company. 1t
| is indefinitely superior to any landing that
on this side OF the bay. 1t will also give equal
facilities for using the Lombard-street dock
and the union railroad, as well as in crossing
the bay. At the present time could not guess
| whether the road is going to San Jose from the
basin or across the bay.
Behrend Joost, the president of the San
Francisco and San Mateo Electric Railroad
Company, said:
have no hesitancy in giving my opinion of
the matter, from the simple fact that have in
| Those
interests, | know, are IN common with the in
| terests OF the people of the State at large. The
| geographical position, as it were, of the China
Basin renders it the most available locality for
the terminus of the new road IT is close TO
Mission Greek and deep water, and is sheltered
from the heavy northern storms of the winter.
| At that point American and foreign ships
could take grain directly from the cars and
! thus save the expense OF double handling. 1t
would also be handy landing from San Mateo
or San Jose The road itself viii not be only O.
San Joaquin Valley road, but road for San
Mateo, Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties.
believe in the greatest good to the greatest
number. Ny interests, OF course, are in San
Francisco and San Mateo counties but I be-
lieye that l am unselfsh in what am saving
In speaking of the benefits along the line, 1 re-
fer TO what may be done in branch lines or
feeders. These feeders l would propose to be
composed of a series of electric lines that
would run by the house of nearly every farmer
| conveying produce and passengers to the main
line The motive power would be cheaper than
! steam and the system would save hauling and
| develop the country rapidly.
Alexander T. Vogelsang, attorney-at-
law in the Mills building, said:
The workshops and freight terminal of the
new road will have to be south of Channel
street, of course, but the passenger traffic must
be handled from the foot of Market street.
How viii it get there? Why they cannot stop
it. The public will demand it. that's all If
passengers are landed south of Market street
the people will have to ride into town on the
street cars OF the Southern Pacific Company,
right here that by all means 1 want the road to
go through stockton.
Frederick kaufman, grocer and real
estate man at the southeast corner of Mis-
sion and Fifth streets, said:
My interests are at both ends of the road, you
| might say; that is to say, in this city and
| Fresno. am so glad that we are going to
have the road that l never thought of ter
minals until saw the map in the CALL this
morning. That convinced, me that China
| Basin was far and beyond anything else that
could be suggested. am looking forward to
an era of prosperity now which has never be-
fore visited the people of this State. This road
is simply a part OF the grand forward move
ment, and only hope that no mistake will DO
made in the beginning of this enterprise.
James B. Allen, the halter, who came
very near defeating McGlynn for City
Recorder, said:
As long as the road gets in San Francisco
it suits me- The competing proposition is
what we want. 1t would certainly make a
great difference to me in freights.
NJ. McGlynn, president of the Labor
Council, said:
The construction of the road would give
| labor to the unemployed, and that is what
pleases me most The working classes say:
"Let us have the road They are the workers,
as well as the voters, and why should not their
interests be subserved as well as others?
Robert Trewin, the steward of the Re-
ceiving Hospital, was one of the first men
to pitch a tent at the present site of Fresno
during the building of the Southern Pa
cifc from MERGED south. He was employed
as a carpenter, but afterward located at
Bakersfield, and was the originator of the
Pioneer canal, now known as the Carr &
Haggin irrlgatlng ditch. He says:
| 1 believe the new road will be a good thing
| for the State and San Francisco. lived a num-
Der OF years in the San Joaquin Valley and
| know the facilities of that section. They are
| practically undeveloped, but the new road will
| do it. 1t looks TO me- but of course am not
| railroad man, as though the line proposed
| would be built down through San Mateo, Santa
| Clara and San Benito counties and reach the
valley through Pacheeo Pass. In this way it
| could secure connection with the Monterey and
| Fresno road, which might, under the circum-
| stances, become branch of the valley road.
| About the terminal? Well. / don't know It
! win be good thing for San Francisco and the
State, but just whether those lands should be
| given or leased by the Legislature cannot say.
w. W.. Jones, manager of the Fruit
Auction Company at Battery and Jackson
streets, said:
have been civil engineer good portion
of my life and consequently favor railroad
| building. believe railroads should have all
the facilities they require for terminals. I
| think no valley road will hapaft tho cto+a OF