The record-union., 1896-10-04

proposed to take the lake, fill it in and
locate the depot and shops upon the
site. people were inclined to be credu-
lous.
But the railroad company had inquired
we'll the cost, and understood the ad-
vantage of the location once the work
was finished. In those days the lake
occupied all that territory west Oh
Sixth street to the current OF the sac
ramento River. and north OF street
to the American River levee, but the
continued and persistent efforts OF the
company have foot by foot reclaimed
the land, or rather made new lahd'
erecting buildings as fast as Sulncleht
space had been raised whereon 10 place
a. foundation, until to-day the great
buildings, sitting high, dry and secure
would seem to attempt to dlsproVe the
fact that where they now stand the
winds formerly lashed the waters Oh
the lake into a fury, and the guns
wheeled and turned and struck the
waters angrily, only to rise ana Wheei
and turn and strike again
So it happens, that four-hfths OF the
lake has disappeared, and strong, SUD
stantial buildings of iron, brlcK ana
mortar stand in it's place To the no
reerwho counts the years as the NatiVe
Con counts the months, it is like the
presto" of the magician, and where
the lake lay forty years ago there mas
risen the greatest source or the CITY
wealth. the railroad shops Of the South
ern Pacific Company.
And what a. wonderful transforma-
ton has taken place in the railroad
shops since their inception. instead oi
the old, crude, temporary sheds Which
numbered the earth where the 1rst en-
s,ines We're set up and repaired, ana
tbe first cars were built, and the hrst
material was manufactured, no"
stand structures so built as to defy the
elements rain, wind and hre-struc-
4nras as firm as steel, compared with
which the walls, even of Sparta, would
not have stood.
And as fast as these buildings were
{,,,iehxad machinery was placed In thelh
and belts began to move ana "heeIS u
,,a,yolve. Then workmen appeareu On
the scene, and in time all the NaiIeu
and complicated parts, both OF Woou diio
iron of locomotives and cars were turn
"a ont 1t was the death or water dho
the birth of steam. 1t was the emu oi
rT.o,tbless waste Of water and the dawf
nf a
~ snanped from the teamster's whiI
~ irst shrek of the locomotive
- 1roe the end of the old and the begin
- of the new-the link which bouno
-aI;eo,~,sa TO the union of States ana
...,xaa the prosperity Of sacramento
60 - the writers of mythology tells
~ island rose out Of the sea whose
,aonle ruled the commerce OF the "oii
"a yJere happy and contented, but nS
citiza, Of ancient Tyre shouiu ia
49,, roore proud of his island thar
sbo,,Id the Sacramentah OF tile oii'
which by the perseverance o. eiie .'ou'l- '.
na,,sc company, has been reared
through the waters of Sutter Lake.
NJ things Of stability and masm
So ba,,e had small beginnings, abc
4ha Sacramento railroad shops dfs ~. -.
eycention to the rule In the year 'o''
tbere was erected at the foot Oh L stiee
q. building 16x24 feet, when was U.s. U.s.
INV the then Central Paclhc company
for a storehouse for the toois VI t'
worl<men and for the diilereht Se 49,.
of locomotives and cars which iif|u ~, a.,
sent around Cape Horn TOT uSe " -
snfant railroad. destined, finally, to con
,,ao. ,be fertile East with the go'def
West. and Immediately OUTSIDE OF lni'
.ho,, avv,osed m the sun and wind anf
rain. the locomotives We're SET up.
was a primitive shop. this, wnere 'n'
first Pacific locomotive engine
..set up" with only the Heavens III
roof and 'the glorious climate q
fornia' for walls, but the MAJ ma. M M
were "set up" nevertheless anu -
be said answered their purposes iai
we'll though the shop was oiiy
temporary affair.
In the same year QS60 there was