The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-16
ton does not want to build up this city

"OGlU ptouuCo io0ilnH OF TeClprOCltg.
Merchandise that 10 now bought from
the Wholesale dealera in San Francisco
would he purchased .here. Tho trade
conter would be transferred from San
Francisco to Los Angeles. Thoss who
vioit Monterey, Santa Cruz or other sea-
eide resortu of tho north would come to
Southern California and spend the sum.
mar montha at Rsdondo. Santa Monica,
Coronado Beach and similar PLACES. In
fact competing road would bring the
people of San Joaquin and Los Angeles
claser together. 1t is sails to say that
not thirty per cent OF the business mon
OF Bakersfield, for instance. have an
idea of the progress that Southern Cali
fornis haa made during the past five
years."
THE ROUTE OF THE PROPOSED LINE.
81, is impossible to say now what
route should be adopted for the COM
poting road" continued Mr.. Holabird.
My idea is to connect with the Santa
Fs at a point somewhere near HeSperis,
and from there crossing through Ante
lope valley into the San Joaquin val ley.
By this line the length would differ only
90 miles from the existing route of the
Central Pacific. Another line could be
run via SINH ranch, through Piru creek,
to the mountains near Fort TETON and
from there to Fort TETON paaa into San
Joaquin valley. But il order to decide
upon the most favorrbie, most sconom-
ical and most remunerstive route, pres
liminary surveys must be Tnado fret.
The coet Of constructing q railroad
from Bakersfield to Fresno would no.
exceed $4,000 per mile or $1,000 900
for the entire length. The expenditure
from Los Angeles to Bakersfield can not
be estimated That depends entirely
upon the physical possibilities. Labor
was never 90 cheap as it is today. Good
labor can be secured at IS cents and
board per day. II road ia built from
Hesperia to Fresno. that branch can
be accomplished in from 10 to IL
months.
WHAT LOS ANGELES WOULD GAIN.
Elm the event OF successful termina-
ton of this railroad proposition, ell the
wheat Of Antelope valley would be sent
to Los Angeles for milling purposes.
That wheat ia the hardest and best pros
duced on the Pacific coast and at least
400, 600 sacks would be shipped to your
city to be made into -four. The farmers
from Kern and Tulare counties who ship
their hogs to Cudahy & Company via
San Francisco, would then forward them
by the Santa Fs and in this way Lo q
Angeles would reap great advantages.
Rsisins and dried fruit would find an
eastern market via Los Angeles. in
stead of going by way OF San Fran.
cisco.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.
IT can say that the farmers and bust
mesa men OF Fresno, Kern, Tulare and
Kings counties are most eager for q
competing railroad, and l can see noth-
ing to prevent the complete organization
at the mass meeting for the construction
OF the road and its endorsement in every
part of the valley. Preparations should
be made, 30 that within 90 days an
elaborate prospectus could be published
for the purpose oil inducing capitalists to
subscribe the necessary capital. The
present time is most encouraging for
that purpose. The crops in this section
are larger than they have ever been, and
I have no doubt that the farmers. msr-
chants and capitalists will aid the
enterprise with land and money. and
that the right of way could be secured
without much difficulty"
AN INTERESTED CITIZEN.
A prominent mem Der of the chamber
of commerce. vino ia likewise a public
official and interested in q number of
business and financial enterprises in
this city, stated to HERALD represent
tative yesterday that he was deeply in
terested in the proposed railroad meet
ing at the chamber OF commerce
Thursday and WAS doing all in his power
to secure the attendance Of local CAPT.
talista and business mon. For fear of
having his motives misconstrued he did
not wish to be quoted. but he compli-
mented THE HERALD on the fight it was
making for competing line OF railroad
from Los Angeles into the San Joaquin
valley. and deprecated the attempt of
THE HERALD's leading contemporaries,
which are OF his own political persua-
sion, to throw cold water on the propo-
alton simply because THE HERALD WAS
foremost in advocating it. 1t looked to
him. he said. as though the said con-
temporaries were trying to prevent q
large attendance at the chamber of
commerce meeting. He hoped the
members of the chamber and the citi-
zens generally would not be so discour-
teous as not to turn out and givs the
delegates who were coming from Fresno
and the northern points a respectful
hearing.
BUSINESS MEN COMING.
The most representative business men
Of the San Joaquin valley are coming
here to make tender OF their trade to
Los Angeles, and it would be in the ma
turs OF an insuit for the business me
Of Los Angeles not to listen to their
proposals.. Even If they took no further
action. they should at least show their
frieudlv eymuaShv foY the mononnly.