The San Francisco call., 1896-04-10

I'm any case the Seventh-Street outlet
is almost a certainty. This can be seen
by the preparations made, and the mate
rial used in the branch line which runs
out Seventh street from Townsend on
what is known as the Potrero branch.
The rails on portion of this track weigh
105 pounds to the yard, which are the
heaviest steel rails laid on any road on
this coast.
Again, the Seventh-street drawbridge
exists i'll name only, as can be seen by
observing that the railroad company's
track is continuous and solidiy laid, with
no possibility of the bridge being opened.
However, at present, and probably for all
time to come there will be no necessity
for opening this bridge because the creek
west of it is filled in and made impractible
for navigation.
''Hes, the Kentucky street so called
right of way has been abandoned. That
route was found to be utterly impracticable
for many reasons. Hence the Fourth
street drawbridge was removed as soon as
the Seventh-street bridge was com mpIeted.
This, of course, enabled the company to
run its cars from Townsend street to the
Union Iron Works, the rolling-mills and
Spreckels Sugar Refinery. which is all the
use the company has at present for
bridge across the channel.
81 might add that on the last visit of
Mr.. Huntington to this City he made
careful examination of the entire locality,
and the more thought he gave these plans
the more impressed he appeared to be with
the idea of locating the depot at Seventh
street and running the road over the
Potrero route TO Baden.
II have not heard Colonel Crocker ex-
press himself on the subject, but, of
course. if Mr.. Huntington approves of it
none of the other directors are likely to
oppose his views, even if they were so in
clined, which is not so in this case"
Asked If he knew exactly what route
the short line to Baden would follow he
replied:
"Some time ago the railroad abandoned
the old drawbridge that they had for years
maintained across Channel street, just
east of Fourth. They did not, however,
abandon this drawbridge until after they
had secured a franchise to extend their
tracks along Seventh street, from Town
send TO Santa Clara, then down Santa
Clara to Illinois. In that way they
reached their warehouses and wharves
south OF Channel street and east of Ken
lucky. They also use this new extension
for the purpose of connecting with the
Union Iron Works, the Spreckels sugar
refinery and other large industries estab-
lished on the Potrero.
Their new bay route will probably
burrow into the Potrero hills just where
Seventh street, if extended, would come
into MarpoSa street, or somewhere be-
tween Indiana street and Pennsylvania
avenue. 1t will emerge from the tunnel
Just back of the rope walks, OF about at
Twenty-second street. After passing the
rope walks it will probably curve slightly
10 the west, keeping just above the line of
high tide until about at the junction of
Islais Creek with Mississippi or Texas
streets. A bridge will span Islais Creek
! and then it will run on piling or filing
across the marsh in almost direct line
for the Mt. st. Joseph's Orphanage, under
which hill second tunnel will be driven,
coming out at the head of the Bay View
Valley, near to the old Bay View race
course.
"a mile or so across this valley will
bring them up against another hill which
will have to be pierced with a third tun-
Ael. iHlo tuhHei Will De almost directly
beneath the Six-mile House, which stands
at the junction OF San Bruno avenue with
the extension of Railroad avenue.
Coming out of the third and last tun-
mel, they are almost within a stones
throw of the San Mateo County line. From
the exit of this tunnel to Baden the route
is easy. and presents no engineering or
other difficulties.
The above described route, as laid out
from Mission Bay to the County line, is
almost in an air line, and, although being
for almost the entire distance within a few
minutes walk of thicklv populated dis
trlcts, it is laid out for the greater part of
the distance through vacant lands''