The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-29
TREATED TO AN OUTING.
They Are Shown the Varied Re-
sources of the Surround
ing Country.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY SUGAR.
President Spreckels Thinks That
1t Will in Time Supply the
Entire Country.

NlSALlA, OAL., April ZS.-ClauS Spreck-
els, president of the San Francisco and San
Joaquin Valley Railroad, accompanied by
Directors Watt and Payson, arrived at vi
salia from Bakersfield at 7:40 this morn
ing. The gentlemen were met in Tulare
City by Mayor Farnsworth, President
Mitchell OF the Board of Trade and County
Clerk Hammond. When they arrived
here they proceeded at once to the Palace
Hotel, where rooms had been secured for
them.
After breakfast carriages were drawn up
| in front of the hotel and the ride over the
surrounding country was commenced. In
the first carriage were Claus Spreckels,
Judge n. o. Bradley, A. L.. Lewis and Ben
| NJ. Maddox; in the second, Director Watt,
S. Mitchell, E. G. Farnsworth andS. C.
Brown; in the third, Director Payson,
Judge Andrews, w. G. Dozier and w. H.
Hammond.
| The party drove thirty miles and were
pleased with the country passed over.
President Spreckels said he thought the
bottom land in the vicinity of Visalia
would be just the place to grow sugar
beets, and when told that the people were
planting them for the purpose of making
a test of the amount of saccharine matter
| the beets would contain, was much pleased.
"Some of these days, said Mr.. Spreck-
els, "the San Joaquin Valley will produce
enough sugar to supply the United States.
When we do that it will mean the saving
of $4,000 900 to the people OF this country
or rather the keeping OF that much money
at home that is now spent for imported
sugar"
Mr.. Spreckels had never been in the San
Joaquin Valley before. and his astonish-
ment was great when he saw the magnifi-
cent oak forests, the many irrigating
bitches and the fertile soil. The fruit trees,
he said, were the finest he had ever seen.
and when told the reason why some needed
enterprises were not carried out, on ac-
count of the high freight rates, his face
lighted up and he remarked: "That must
be remedied."
The carriages returned to the Palace
Hotel by 1 o'clock, and the guests found
an elegant lunch ready for them. After
partaking OF the refreshments the directors
walked up to the proposed depot site on
East street and examined it carefully.
A CALL representative asked Mr.. Spreck-
els what he thought of Visalia and its
surroundings, and he replied:
"At the present time I have very little
to say. The country surprises me- l never
expected to see such magnificent land.
You have the best fruit land I ever saw.
and your people are of the right sort The
proposed depot site on East street is well
located"
Mr.. Payson said:
81 am pleased and delighted with the
country. l always heard Visalia was a
beautiful place. Your fruit trees are load
ed and the grain 1 saw to-day is well ad-
vanced. Mr.. Spreckels would like to visit
the east side of the valley, but he has not
the time now. The general committee
will do so later"
"This is not my first trip to Visalia,'
was Director Watts comment. II visited
this place several times when I was Bank
Commissioner several years ago, but was
agreeably surprised at what l saw to-day
/ am well posted about the fruit country
in California, but never saw as thrifty
trees as | saw on my ride this morning
You need canneries and packing houses
but these will come in time. We are all
well pleased with the country and the way
the people have treated u.s."
At $50 o'clock the visiting railroad men
and those who accompanied them on their
drive this morning were treated to Span
ish dinner. Tomorrow morning Presi-
dent Spreckels and Directors Payson and
Watt will go to Hanford, where they will
spend the day. The weather was delight
full to-day, the rain last night laying the
dust and making the drive pleasant one
The Visalia people feel much encouraged
over the visit of the directors of the Valley
road, and their hope of getting the main
line through the city is much strength
ened.