The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-08
Huntington to Encroa oh Upon the
Santa Fe's Southern
Territory.
THE ROUTE ALREADY SELECTED
Construction Forces Are in the Field,
and Work Upon the Line Will
Soon Begin.

past, he has maintained mysterious
silence since returning from Omaha and
San Francisco. He travelled with G. P.
Huntington from Yuma to New Orleans
and then visited the Trans Mississippi
Congress. where, it is said, he championed
certain measures greatly desired by Hunt
ington.
Going thence to San Francisco Carlson
spent some time in interviews with South
ern Pacific people. Upon his return here
day or two ago he was asked what his
plans were, but said simply, II have moth
ing to say"
1t was definitely learned to-day that
move is on foot to build from Southern
California to Salt Lake. Even the route is
practically settled.
Mayor Carlson is believed to have been
in correspondence with the Southern Pa
cifc people on the subject for some
months, and moves have been made in
this vicinity which leave no question of
the fact that the Southern Pacific is about
to grapple with the Santa Fe in its own
territory and fight for the lions share of
the rapidly increasing business of South
ern California.
The plan, which has been learned from
a source that admits Of no dispute, is to
utilize the route chosen by the Union Pa
cific from Milford. Utah, southwesterly to
Clover Valley, Nevada. From Glover Val
ley to Marvel, the present terminus of the
Nevada Southern, is gap of only 155
miles, with no rivers or mountains to
cross. Marvel is the terminus of the road
which connects with the Santa Fe near the
Needles. Thus little actual building is
necessary and the great cost of surveys is
saved.
Five years ago, while Charles Francis
Adams was president of the Union Pacific,
5000 men were at work grading south from
Milford under contract with Kirkpatrick
Bros. e. Collins. One hundred miles of
grading was completed, but not a rail laid,
when Jay Gonld secured control and
stopped work. The route had ostensibly
been surveyed only to Marvel, or Blake
station, but now it is lea rned that the
Union Pacific surveyors ran q preliminary
line through Morongo Canyon, crossing
the Southern Pacific at Banning, from
which point preliminary surveys were
made to San Diego and Los Angeles.
The connection of the Southern Pacific
in several ways. Two years ago Though
it is not generally known) the Southern
Pacific made a survey from Banning
through the Morongo Pass and northeast
erly toward Salt Lake. The reason for the
move was not apparent. butas the Govern
ment presses Huntington more and more
on the Central Pacific debt, and as South
ern California is determined to get an out
let to Salt Lake, it becomes clear that Hun
tington is as ready as ever to kill two birds
with one stone.
AS to the probability of the road coming
to San Diego, two or three things taken to-
gether indicate that such will be the case.
When the Union Pacific was pointed to-
ward Southern California, J. S. Cameron,
assistant to President Charles Francis
Adams, made two mysterious trips to San
Diego within few months. Virgil Bogue,
chief engineer of the Union Pacific, drove
all the way from Milford to Marvel, and
then came on to San Diego, looking the
country over, and within few months his
father came here and invested in real
estate, which he is still holding.
Another point to be considered is the
activity of the Southern Pacific in the
vicinity of San Bernardino, Riverside and
Pomona. The present southern terminus
of the road now under way in that section
is South Riverside. Fully 100000 will
be expended by the Southern Pacific on
these lines.
short time ago it was reported that
Southern Pacific surveyors were in the
field coming southwark from Riverside
toward Elsinore and San Diego, and within
day or two corporation was formed by
the Santa Fe, ostensibly to build from Po-
mona to Elsinore.
This move was regarded by observers of
the railroad situation as less of desire to
build to Elsinore than to serve as a warn
ing to the Southern Pacific not to encroach
on what is recognized as Santa Fe terri
tory.
But the Southern Pacific is already in
the field, as it is known to have an agree
ment whereby it can have the Cuyamaca
road running out of this city whenever it
wants it.
1t has been said that the unwritten
agreement between the Southern Pacific
and Santa Fe was to keep out OF each
others territory-the Santa Fe to keep out
of San Francisco and the Southern Pacific
to keep out of San Diego. Recent develop
m ents are believed to have convinced
Huntington that this law is no longer in
force.
Unless all signs fail the Santa Fe may
soon have an entrance into San Francisco,
and will be on the high road to supremacy
in the best half of the State. 1t is not to
be supposed that Huntington will permit
this if he can avoid it, nor that he will fail
to retaliate if the chance offers. The fight,
when it comes-and it appears to be COM
ing soon-wiIl be in Southern California,
and will probably center in San Diego.
When Mayor Carlson was questioned to-
day he said:
II repeat that have nothing to say at
this time. Perhaps within ten days there
will be something to be made public. I
will admit this much-that am at work
on proposition to secure q short line
from Southern California to Salt Lake."
Mayor Carlson was asked as to the cor.
rectness of the information regarding the
reported route via Milford, Marvel,
Morongo Canyon, etc. He expressed sur
prise that THE CALL correspondent was ac-
quainted with this and finally admitted