The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-07
v. B. STOREY IS
THEIR ENGINEER.
He IS SAID TO BE A VERY VAL
LIABLE MAN FOR THE
VALLEY ROAD.
HEAVY RAILS WILL BE USED.
PASSENGER CARS OF THE VERY
LATEST DESIGNS WILL BE
PROVIDED.
RAILS WILL BE USED.

The very important position of engineer
of the valley road has at last been filled
at least an offer of the place has been made
to a gentleman, and his acceptance is
expected by the board of directors at any
time.
The successful man is W. B. Storey, who
was for a number of years an assistant in
the office of Chief Engineer Hood of the
Southern Pacific.
About year ago Mr.. Storey quit the
service of that company and is at present
connected with the United States Debris
Commission. He is said to be a very capa-
BILE young man, is native son and was
educated at the University of California.
The question of rails for the new road
formed the subject for consideration at an
important meeting of the board of directors
of the San Francisco and San Joaquin VAIL
ley line yesterday.
The directors have been flooded with cir
culars and letters from the large rolling
mill companies of the East who desire to
furnish the necessary rails, and to one of
them the contract will necessarily be given,
but there is a manifest determination
among the officials to give the all-possible
contract to California firms when it is
found they are able to supply the mate
rails needed at anywhere near a reasonable
cost.
This feeling in favor of the home manu-
facturers extends to all the material which
will be used in the construction of the road.
As the line is to be built by the money of
the people of California, it is believed the
States workingmen and manufacturers
should derive ali possible benefits from sup
plying the material.
One of the problems which confronts the
hoo hi +tar.IN i1etc ~ $50
portation. 1t was the expressed conviction
OF one of the foremost movers in the enter
prise yesterday that the first work of con-
struction would be done in the San Joaquin
Valley.
at will probably be some time,' said he.
''before the actual terminus of the road on
the bay will be determined, but the route
through the San Joaquin Valley, or at least
the lower portion of it, can be much more
easily settled. This is why I believe the
first work will be done in that locality, and
right here arises the question of how we are
going to get the rails on the ground at the
least expense. Of course, we might ship
them by the Southern Pacific, but we all
know that in that event the local freight
bill would probably be almost as great as
the original cost of the rails. The only
other possible plan is that of transportation
by water.
| y
Valley as far as Crows Landing, by way of
Stockton. What, then, would be a better
plan than to commence the ROAD at that
point-as it appears to be pretty generally
| understood that it will be on the 1ine-and
work either in one direction or both
ways?'
There has also been good deal of desul-
| tory talk among the directors regarding
the quality and kind of rolling stock which
| will be used on the new road. OF course,
it is as yet little early to give this matter
consideration, and it probably will not re-
celye the official attention of the board for
some time TO come, but, still, the matter is
one of Importance and nothing is lost by
discussing it.
1t is pretty safe to say that the people of
California will be provided with class of
coaches which they have not been accus-
toned to riding in in the past. The pres
ent is an suspicious time for the purchase
of this class of rolling stock, as it is, in
fact, for all kinds. Labor and material are
both cheap. and in the published accounts
of competitive bids for cars made by differ
ent Eastern companies lately it is notice
able that the work is being done probably
so per cent less than it could have been
done for five years ago.
first-class coach of modern make and
finished in fine style can be bought to-day
for the same amount of money, if not for
less than the Southern Pacific paid for it's
antlquated specimens winch render life
miserable, on the journey East especially.
The high back and chair cars are in great
favor in the East, and the latter is afforded
the public free of extra cost, and it is be-
lieved that the same service can be given
here.
The passenger traffic on the new line, it
is believed, will be one from which no in
considerable revenue will be derived, and
the directors are determined that the pub
lie shall in good measure be afforded all
the comforts of travel an up-to-date service
in this respect can give.
After yesterday meeting Vice President
Whittier stated that 60-pound steel rail
would be used in the valley and 70-pound
rail in the mountainous country.
1--WE will have some big subscriptions
for you at our next meeting" said he as he
buttonholed substantial looking citizen
and rushed him into the inner sanctum.
Arrested for