The San Francisco call., 1895-07-30
THE VALLEY RAILROAD
What Has Been Done in the
Work of Construction
Up to Date.
LOCOMOTIVES ON THE GROUND.
The Progress Of the Graders In the
First Section Is Salts
factory.

Chief Engineer Storey of the San Fran
cisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad
will return from Stockton to-day and will
this afternoon present at a meeting of the
board of directors report of the progress
that has been made in this enterprise.
Mr.. Storey has been in Stockton for sew
eral days examining the work that has
been done so far and what he will have to
say will no doubt prove of the utmost in
terest.
To start a railroad that will accomplish
what the San Joaquin road eventually will
is work that requires great deal of pre-
liminary figuring and preparation of de-
tails, so that from the time the first spike
is driven until the last rail is laid there
shall be no unnecessary delay in the work
of construction. Considering everything,
the difficulties that have presented them
selves in the placing of the company on
safe footing and the obstacles that have
been thrown in the way of progress, the
advance that has been made by those at
the head of the company, whose in
domitable spirit, energy and desire to pro-
mote the interests of the State is some
thing to be proud of, is wonderful.
What has been done in the past few
months is an earnest OF what will be done
in the future, and everything that can be
will be done to push the project ahead.
The time will be comparatively short when
the shrill whistle of the locomotives OF the
new line will be heard shrieking through
the great valley of the San Joaquin to
notify the inhabitants thereof that the
hour of deliverance from the grasp of the
gigantic monopoly has come.
On the 10Th inst. the first grading for the
new road was commenced in the city of
Stockton on Edison street. along the south
bank of Mormon Channel, by Doyle, Thorn
ton, Mccarthy and Craven, the contractors,
and since then there has been no delay
in working toward the eastern limits of
the city On next Monday bids will
be opened, and on the following day the
contract will be awarded for grading from
the eastern line to the Stanislaus River, a
distance of twenty-three miles. This will
be the second division of grading, and it
will be commenced within ten days after
the contract is let, so that about the 18th
of next month the removal of about 20O,-
600 cubic wards of earth on the surveyed
line will be undertaken.
While the graders were working on the
first division, rails, ties, fshplates and bolts
were being landed from barges. and they
were placed in great piles near the termi-
the purpose of track laying. The only in
terruption anticipated will be in the first
division, where in one or two places con-
demnation proceedings may have to be
instituted to obtain right of way, but this
will entail but little delay.
Contractor John Worthington of Oak
land, who was awarded the contract for
building the trestle. across Mormon
Channel on the line of Taylor street, will
have but thirty days In which to finish
the work, with the best material and in
the most substantial manner, which is
another evidence that there is desire to
push the road to speedy completion.
Last Saturday the pioneer locomotives
of the new road reached Stockton from
the Baldwin Locomotive Works in the
East. They were placed in charge of J. w.
Bollinger of the Baldwin company who
is experimenting the men who are putting
them in condition to run on the rails.
They are provided with all of the latest
improvements. Each weighs sixty five
tons, and each tender when filled will weigh
about forty tons, SO to carry these mon
sters the roadbed will have to built very
solid. A third locomotive is on the way
and due al any moment. These are guar
anteed as to speed and Chief Engineer
Wilbur stated that they will make the
best kind of time.
Chief Engineer Storey reached Stockton
last Thursday on his tour of inspection and
at once proceeded to examine what had
been done. He found that the graders
were doing the work required of them
strictly according to contract; that the
progress was satisfactory, and that from
present indications the grading of the first
section will be finished within the specified
time. The stakes along the line of the
second division he found in position as far
as the Stauislaus River. He also found that
the surveyors had been busy cross-section-
izing the road and setting out the required
side stakes.
The rights of way committee has been
quite busy since its organization. 1t has
secured about all that was needed and is
now settling some matters connected with
sites on which to erect stations. In the
pursuance of the duties imposed upon it
the committee has paid out right of way
claims amounting in the aggregate to
$13,789.
Yesterday Contractor Thornton COM
menced the dredging of Mormon Channel
to obtain material for filling portion of
the roadbed. Just as soon as sufficient of
the roadbed has been graded and is ready
to receive the ties and rails the work of
track laying will commence and the track
layers will then follow the graders as
rapidly as good and substantial work will
permit. There are several vessels with
rails for the new road on the way to this
port and one of these may arrive at any
time