The San Francisco call., 1896-10-06

francisco. Goods from here have even
been shipped there via Los Angeles.
The programme was, es had been enun-
ciated by Mr.. Upham, to try for perhaps
thirty days more to raise subscriptions
amounting to $3.50, 900 as the basis of jncor-
porating railroad between Stockton and
Fresno. Should the proper support fail
to be afforded the efforts of the Traffic
Association to build railroad would
cease at that time. The Traffic Associa-
ton Of California performed splendid serv-
ice for the State in the line OF instituting
competition with the Southern Pacific
Company in the carrying trade.
To that association was due the
formation and maintenance of the
North American Navigation Company,
and in its rooms members of the
Traffic Association also formed the
Merchants Shipping Association, which
put on competing clipper ship line via
Cape Horn between San Francisco and
New York. With the Traffic Association
also originated the attempt to raise money
to build the San Francisco and Great Salt
Lake Railway. and the association, ad-
ager, tried on two separate occasions to get
funds with which to build road through
the San Joaquin Valley. Both of these
attempts failed of any degree of realiza-
ton. The first dropped out of sight when,
the time having elapsed in which SUBJ
scriptions were binding, all pledges were
Cancelled.
The second attempt reached the stage OF
securing only a part of the $3.50, 600 pledged
that was necessary to incorporate rail-
road to be $50 miles long, at the rate of
$1,000 per mile. The Traffic Association,
through its president Isaac Upham, issued
the call which resulted in the memorable
meeting of January % 1895, in the hall OF
the Chamber of Commerce.
Nearly all the members OF the Traffic
Association we're present. Isaac Upham
called that meeting to order and told what
had been done and what the Traffic Asso-
citation thought was necessary to be done.
The construction of road from Stockton
TO bakersfield. he said, wouldcost So. 500,-
600. Only $780, 900 would be necessary to
begin operation.
The remarks that followed were made
by E. B. Pond, Traffic Manager Joseph S.
Leeds, Thomas Magee, NJ. w. Belshaw.
Daniel Meyer, s. n. Griffith, A. P. Will
iiams. E. f. Preston, John T. Doyle and
Robert Watt. The time arrived for action
and the action taken was radical.
Claus Spreckels spoke briefly, but with
effect. He did not believe that raising
$305, 900 would be ample. s'Make it So. OOo,-
0o0" he said, "and l will put my name
down for 100000"
His plan was adopted. The work of the
Traffic Association of California as an as
sociatipn in the direction of building a
road stopped then and there. Around
Claus Spreckels rallied, however. all those
who had been prominent as movers in the
Traffic Association. They were overjoyed
at the success which had attended their
move. Before the meeting was adjourned
a committee of twelve was named to se-
cure subscriptions for the stock of the
competing line. The members of that
committee were as follows: Claus
Spreckels, James D. Phelan, o. D. Bald
win, Daniel Meyer, w. f. Whittier, Al
bert Miller, John T. Doyle. E. F. Preston,
Charles Holbrook, Thomas Magee. James
L. Flood and Alexander Boyd. The COM
mittee was increased later and included,
in addition to those already named: ]. P.
Martin, Levi Strauss. Adam Grant, Isaac
Upham. A. B. MeCreery. J. B. Stetson.
John d. Spreckels, Lewis Gerstle, Antoine
Borel and C. de Guigne.
From the time of the first meeting at
the Chamber of Commerce Hall on the
offices of Claus Spreckeis were for some
weeks the scene of continued enthusiasm.
There were almost daily meetings there
CT the committee to get subscriptions,
and.the money came in very encouraging
ly. Claus Spreckels presided over many
of these meetings. The 10Th day of jan
uary, 1895, will long be remembered by
those who were striving to build COM
petitive railroad for the purpose OF in
creasing the prosperity of The State. At
that time the following was made public
which described the purpose in view and
briefly recapitulated what had been ac-
coniplished:
meeting OF citizens interested in proper
ties and other values in San Francisco was
called by the Traffic Association of California
to meet at the Chamber of Commerce on the
22d day of January, 1895, to consider what
ways and means might be devised for the con-
San Francisco and the southern extremity of
the San Joaquin Valley to the end that the
people of the State of California might receive
the benefit of competitive railway line
through this large and fertile country.
At this meeting committee was appointed
to take charge of the matter, and such COM
mittee met and organized on the oath day OF
January by the election of Claus Spreckels as
chairman.
Conferences have been held from day to day
since that time and gentlemen were from time
to time invited to cooperate and were added
to that committee.
Having matured plan, the committee now
presents the same to the people of the State of
California for their consideration. You are
asked TO subscribe to this enterprise the sum
of 81. .000, 900 before the incorporation of the
company, which it is proposed to capitalize at
So, 600, 900, the estimated cost OF the proposed
construction. With this sum in hand the con-
struction of the road is assured and you are
called upon as citizens and Californians to
respond to the call and aid in completing this
subscription at the earliest practicable mo-
ment The cooperation of every man is de-
sired and is necessary.
The committee who presents this proposition
to you is neither promoters, contractors, build