The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-31
A DAY FOR THE VALLEY RAIL
ROAD PEOPLE ENDS WITH A
DERAILED ENGINE.
LOST HOURS AT MIDWAY.
SURVEYORS WILL BE SENT TO
STOCKTON IN A FEW DAYS TO
BEGIN WORK.

On Friday night, following the arrange
ment by which it was agreed that the San
joaquin railroad should start from Stock
ton, it was decided to give the directors of
that road a journey down the river by
steamer. The Leader, one of the steamers
of the California Navigation and Improve
ment Company, was placed at the service
of the Commercial Association of Stockton,
and at 7:20 o'clock yesterday morning the
start by boat was made. All of the direct
ors, except Thomas Magee, who was called
suddenly to the city, took passage on the
steamer. In addition, P. a. Buell.. G. NJ.
Weber, Orrin Henderson and Arthur L.
Eevinsfzy or Stockton, and Engineer w. B.
Storey, were on the boat, which was in
charge of II. J. Corcoran, manager of the
California Navigation and Improvement
Company.
1--WE will make the landing in time to
catch the train which arrives in San Fran
cisco at ) 40 P. NJ, =" said Mr.. Corcoran, cor
we will burst boiler"
Mr.. Corcoran did not quite keep his
word. This was due to a change OF pro-
gramme. Originally it had been intended
to proceed by boat to Antioch and there
take the train. On the way down the plan
was changed and it was decided to go to
Mohrs Landing and walk across country
TO Bethany to take the train there. This
change was done for purpose. 1t was to
give the directors and engineer, W. B.
Storey, who accompanied them, chance
TO inspect a short cut across the islands
and the tules to the Contra Costra shore,
for a railroad out of Stockton, to run to
San Francisco with a mileage much less
than that of the Southern Pacific Com
pany's tracks.
The boiler of the Leader did not burst.
The directors and their escort missed the
train by few moments, and there fol-
lowed an interesting series of adventures.
AS the steamer pulled out from the dock
at Stockton and made its way down the
channel the long series of manufacturing
establishments were pointed out, and when
Tule street was reached good view was
obtained of the straight avenue upon
which. the tracks of the San Joaquin Rail-
road will reach the neck of land lying be-
tween Stockton and Mormon channel,
where the terminal site is to be, having a
f3ontage on two navigable waterways adj
isining the great hourmills and reaching
down to and including the point where the
two channels unite.
Quick time was made in steaming down
to the junction of the San Joaquin River.
The lands under the levee, their rich crops
and fruit trees attracted much attention
and favorable comment: from members OF
the party.
The Leader steamed up the San Joaquin
River to the drawbridge. The river is
quite narrow here and exceptional skill is
required to make the turn and come back
down stream. When the steamer was
swung around Claus Spreckels created a
little amusement by offering to wager that
the turn would not be made. The steamer
turned half around and stuck in the bank.
Then it was swung around the other way
and made the complete turn, heading
downstream.
What do you think of that?" asked Mr..
Corcoran. "You would have lost your
wager"
mo" insisted Mr.. Spreckels; 81 said
you would not make the turn the first time,
and you did not. 1t took two trials to
do it,
The voyage down the river was an inter
esting one. Rough and Ready Island was