The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-31
THE STOCKTON ROUTE.

THE STOCKTON ROUTE.
The prompt decision of the directors of
the San Joaquin Valley Railroad to select
Stockton as the point for beginning the
road shows that no dallying or delay of
any kind is to be INDUCED in. Within
sixty days the actual construction will be
begun, as by that time the rails and other
supplies which have been ordered will have
been delivered. Proposals for supplying
additional material will soon be called for,
and the rapidity with which the line will
be pushed southwark over the level plains
will surprise the State. The necessary ini-
tial steps having now been taken, the next
cry will be, "On to Bakersfield!'
The condition of the peoples road now
is this: General subscriptions to stock,
$2,600,O0O; Stockton's subscription, $1O0, 600
for stock and 100000 in land, and the right
of way through the city and for consid-
cradle distance beyond; terminal facilities
at San Francisco and land at Martinez for
grain warehouses. In addition, contracts
have been let for furnishing building ma
terial for the first section of the road.
All this has been accomplished SO quickly
that the people have hardly had time tC
realize the magnitude of the achievement.
The selection of the route was the last of
the great initial acts nece ssary to complete
the outlines of the plan, and now that it is
out of the way the pluck and enterprise of
the people will undoubtedly respond read
lily and generously to the call of the direc-
tors for further subscriptions. The esti-
mated total amount required is $6,000,000.
Nearly half of it has been already secured.
The directors have already accomplished
wonderful results; all that is needed now
is general exhibition of energy, prompt
ness and patriotism equal to theirs.
Stockton has acquitted herself nobly.
No sooner had the directors stated their
terms than the Stockton Commercial AS
ISOLATION, promptly and without word of
haggling or hesitation or a single dissent
ing voice, accepted them and proceeded at
once to make their pledges effective. This
shows what Californians, and particularly
those who already have made so beautiful
city as Stockton, will do whenever given
an opportunity.
The route south from Stockton has not
been exactly determined, but it will ira
verse the most fertile part of the San
Joaquin Valley, and Immediately after
leaving Stockton will tap rich tract of
100000 acres, which are being brought
under irrigation. Last year Stockton re-
ceived 324, 100000 pounds of freight from
the region lying between it and Bakers
field and sent out 203, 900, 600 pounds into
the same territory. If all this freight, to
say nothing of the passenger traffic, should
be turned over to the new road the profits
: hot fro~
shares would be apparent; and it is mani
testify the duty of the shippers to pledge
themselves at once to patronize the new
road exclusively. Such pledge would be
the natural consequence of subscriptions
to the stock, and it would be clearly in the
interest of every shipper to acquire shares
in the company.
The plans of the company with regard to
rail connection with San Francisco will
probably be formulated and put into opera
ton before the principal part of the road is
completed. Meanwhile, the landowners in
the San Joaquin Valley have an eminent
duty to perform. A right of way through
the valley must be secured at once, and it
is earnestly hoped that no grasping dis
position will manifest itself. OF course,
the new company can enforce the right of
eminent domain, and thus secure a right
of way upon the payment of such damages
as the courts may award, but its policy will
be to rely as far as possible on the fairness
and patriotism of the people. This road is
to be operated for the benefit of the farm
ers, and to that end facilities will be ex-
tended to them such as have been unknown
heretofore in the history of railroad opera
lions in California. 1t will be to their
interest to meet it half way and be as re-
gardful of its prosperity as it will be of
theirs. Not only should they offer the
right of way and be glad to receive the
benefits which the presence of railroad on
their farms would bring, but they should
also acquire financial interest in the line
by taking shares.
The San Jose part of the enterprise is by
no means dead. The selection of the Stock
ton route will serve merely to spur up the
people of San Mateo and Santa Clara coun-
ties to greater efforts. Those who know
the earnestness of the people residing on
that route, and the great advantages which
would accrue to them from the presence of
a line to intersect the Stockton line in the
San Joaquin Valley, are confident that no
great time will elapse before they also have
a line of the peoples road.