The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-30

lite structure
~ understand that this is to be given to
the San Joaquin Railroad for a depot"
said Claus Spreckels, with bit OF humor
in his voice.
The members of the reception commit
tee laughed at the sally and the party
entered the building. Many climbed the
long winding stairway to the cupola,
where magnificent view, equaling that
from the State Capitol at Sacramento, is to
be had. Il. ]. Corcoran, manager of the
California Navigation and Improvement
Company, pointed out to the visitors the
accessible routes into and out of the city.
Due west lay Mount Diablo. with the
long chain of the coast range extending
south, and the attenuated spur which
terminates at the bay point on the north.
The canyon of Corral Hollow, to the south
of Mount Diablo, was pointed out. 1.-The
coal mines" said Mr.. Corcoran, referring
TO the Treadwell properties, ''lie up that
canyon. A road of ten miles or so from
the mouth of the canyon would reach
navigable waters on Old River"
The fringe of trees and the levee which
marked the line of the San Joaquin River
were shown, and the steel bridge across the
river was pointed out. Mormon Channel,
Stockton Channel, and their point of union
were plainly to be seen, and beyond this
could be family traced where Stockton
Channel connected with the river.
W. B. Storey, the engineer for the new
road, looked over the scene with glasses.
He was especially interested in tracing the
course of the river, viewing the extent of
. o Il al -
points on the high land in Contra Costa
County. The approach by Bay Point, the
route selected by the Southern Pacific to
enter the San Joaquin Valley after the
Livermore route was abandoned as the
main line; Marsh Pass, practicable route
little to the south, and Corral Hollow,
were all viewed by Mr.. Storey.
Thomas Magee, one of the directors, was
especially interested in obtaining the exact
directions and the distances in an air line
to Modesto and Oakdale, evidently with an
idea that these would be profitable points
for the new road to reach.
w. +. Whittier was surprised at the ex-
tent of agricultural lands to the west. II
thought it was all marsh land between the
rivers" he said, as the rich farming
lands, which lie between the San Joaquin
and Middle rivers, and between Middle
and Old rivers, were shown from the cupola
of the Courthouse.
Later a drive was taken by some of the
directors into the country. while others
visited the library and other places of in
terest in Stockton.
c. NJ. Weber, in describing the routes by
which road from San Francisco could
u
three from which choice could be made
THE first comes into Stockton on a line
paralleling the Southern Pacific. This de-
scribes a rough semicircle from Antioch by
way of Brentwood, Tracy and Lathrop.
The San Joaquin Valley road could save a
little distance by describing smaller semi
circle parallel to the track of the Southern
Pacific and north and west of it. Another
route is by the French Camp turnpike
Following this route from Stockton out the
turnpike would be reached about two miles
south of Stockton. The road would cross
Roberts Island and portion of Union ISL
and to the Grant-line Corral levee, when it
would take an air line grade for eight and
half miles to Old River, and would reach
high land near Byron. This route would
require trestle for quarter of mile,
and there would have to be two draw
bridges. 1t would save about ten miles on
the first route named. The third route,
which is known as the Kennedy survey, is
an air line. 1t saves eighteen miles, but
would require three draw bridges and
great deal of trestle work across the
sloughs."
In discussing these routes Engineer
ao,1 &, Io& 80 I.
sible. 1t would require careful study and
estimates to determine which was the best.
The route across the tules did not prevent
difficulties which engineering science could
not overcome.
at is largely question of expense"
said he. Suppose half the distance could
be saved by an airline across the tules,
then, il it cost twice as much per mile to
build the short line, the cost to the COM
pany would be no greater than for the
longer line. The mileage being less there
would be an advantage over the Southern
Pacific, and the cost circumference and
OF operating expenses would be less for
a shorter than longer distance
But there are other things to be consid-
cred as well. There would have to be three
drawbridges with keepers. The salaries of
the keepers would add to the expense, and
all trains would have to come to halt at
each of the drawbridges. So you see there
are many things to be taken into considera-
ton before coming to any decision"
When asked if the air line across the
tules would require piling to support the
track Mr.. Storey said: 81 am not so sure
about that"
Stocktonians who favor the line across
the islands speak of the richness of the
soil and of the experimental culture of the
sugar cane there, from which they antici-
pate great results. Neither Claus Spreck-
els nor w. B. Storey has much faith in
the culture of the cane for sugar They
declare that as there is frost on the islands
cane-sugar growing. can never become
profitable. They state that it is for this
reason Louisiana is unable to compete sue
cessfully with Cuba and Hawaii. Mr..
Spreckels urges the cultivation of the beet
on the islands instead of the cane, declar-
Ing 1t will prove more profitable.
The question of entrance to the CITY and
egress from it is one of the greatest vital
importance ipst now, more so than the
selection of route after terminal facili-