The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-12

Der ~ commerce uSE1nd FRESNO 70 seitb
delegates 10 attend meeting January
f7th, to discuss the San Joaquin Valley
raitroaa proposition
The supervisors wiH appoint delegates at
their session tomorrow A number Of
leading men aud capitalists hare already
volunteered TO go.
Having disc used the question as to whether
another valley railroad is necessary, and hav-
ing come to the conclusion that such a line is
the crying necessity OF the hour for freight
shippers between Los Angeles and Fresno. and
that its construction would mean the salvation
of the overburdened middle counties of the
san joaquin valley, it entirely apropos
at this time to consider whether the
availab routes with easy grades for the new
road, or whether the Southern Pacific has
monopoized even all of natures resources in
this direction. The Los Angeles Porcupine
points out that there are several prac
ticable routes than that chosenby the existing
railroad. On this score 1t says:
"The plan is not only feasible but we ha YEA
most eligible route for the location and build
ing of a railroad from Fresno to Los Angeles.
In the first place, it should skirt the foothills
on the west OF the great Tulare valley until
the TETON pass is reached. That pass is so far
superior to the Tehachepi mountain for the
passage of railroad that there is no compari-
son. The Tehachepi is not pass, while the
TETON is one which will require neither loops
nor tunnels and very little grading, and the
pass is so nearly straight that the curves will
be trihing. Coming through the TETON the
road will sweep around the western foothills
of Antelope valley until it reaches Elizabeth
lake and then there are two ways to reach the
Santa Cruz valley. one by the Casteca canon,
the other by the San Francisquito canon,
either far prefera BILE to the route of the South
ern Pacific through the Soleiad canon. The
Casteca route will bring the road into the
Santa Clara valley opposite the Newhall ranch
houses, about 10 miles west of the
Southern Pacific road at Saugus.
Now, pessimists, ask how are you
going to get through the San Fernando
mountains, the southernPacifc having the two
passes the San Fernando and the Santa SUI
zana?
'We answer that Notwithstanding this is
true, there are still two ways to come from the
Newhall ranch houses into the San Fernando
valley, and both better than either now held
by the Southern Pacific. The new road can
skirt the western base of the San Fernando
mountains to point about four miles north
of Santa Suzana and pass is found, now tray
ersed by wagons over natural grade far
better than the Santa Suzana-far less precip-
ttous If that don't suit, then pass by the
western outlet of the Santa suzana, and the
Escorpon pass is found, better than either.
Now we are in the San Fernando valley, and
we will run around the western and southern
foothills of the San Fernando valley to the Ca
huenga pass, and thence to Los Angeles.
1t takes money to build railroads. Well, our
people have money, and no better enterprise
has been offered for investment.
1.-THE HERALD is to be commended for its
great enterprise in this behalf.
"The length of road from Fresno to Los Ange-
les with its curves, meanderings and sinuos-
titles, would be less than 800 miles Tires
hundred thousand dollars would grade and
lay the rails; and the rolling stock could be
hired from some other road, in case the money
was not forthcoming to pay for it on delivery.
We believe THE HERALD's estimate OF the con-
struction and equipment of that road is 49,
100000. This seems high enough, and who
would put up money? In our opinion every
body would take according to their ability.
Capitalists, merchants. farmers, tradespeople
of all kinds, and even our mechanics and
working people would put their small savings
into this benefaction, this emancipatory public
movement If Senator Mathews amend
ment should pass the two houses and become
9 law. 1t would involve long delay, as it can
only be submitted to the people to be voted on
in November 1896 and then another legisla-
ture would have to enact a law for the procur,-
ment of right of way, building. equippng and
providing ways and means. ETC., which would
carry us into the twentieth century before the
people could have a competing road. Let the
Fresno road be built first and then If the state
should build, our road could be made part OF
the grand whole"
The Porcupine man is clearly level h faded
on this question Charley Bell-that's his
name-evdently knows what he is talking
about and knows how to say it, too.
The frantic efforts of the Traffic association
in making final appeal to the real estate own
ers of San Francisco, seems to be more eloquent
than any avowal could be OF the fact that the
merchants and consignees OF the bay district
will certainly not advance the necessary fund.
The real estate men are only inc.dently inter-
ested in the movement They have no freight
to ship. Possibly their patriotism. their local
PRIDE their far-sightedness, may be mo OF Q
power than the self-interest of the wealthy
memters of the Traffic association-possibly, it
may-but the state press doesn't seem to be-
lieve it. This is the way the matter strikes the
Oroville Mercury. ff
"The spirit OF progress is not dead in Los An
geles," says the Suffer Independent. That
city is whooping up two railroads: one to
Fresno and one to Salt Lake. San Francisco il
still Begging somebody to subscribe to $780,
900 fund TO a competing road to San Joaquin
valley. The conservatism of San francisco 10
incubus upon Northern and Central Cali
fornia."
The Fallbrook Observer says with Fresno.
Tulare Kings and Kern counties in favor of
union with Southern California and state di-
vision, the formation of new state opght to
be accomplished, and Los Angeles will soon
outrival San Francisco IN popula ton and
wealth." ,-s+s.,
There were wo witty paragraph in the San
Diego sun recently. One of them sayss..'Los
Angeles is getting that another railroad fever
pretty bad. That's all right. Perhaps she will
begin TO und rstan how it is he self The
other: "San Francisco thinks she wants
Lexow committee. But what she really needs
is big injection of the Brown-Ssquard elixir
of life or other stimulant"
Gr1"dv -poration,
Chipapo Hern -.