The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-24
THE COMPETING ROAD.

The statement of Claus Spreckels pub
lished in THE CALI yesterday gives dis
tinct and reliable promise that the road
which is popularity known as the VALLEY
road" will soon merit and receive from
the public its full title, 1.-THE San Fran
cisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad"
1t will be competing line, not only for
the great valley of the interior. put for
San Francisco, and will secure for the
metropolis relief from portion OF the
long-endur cinch of the monopoly OF
the Southern Pacific.
Mr.. Spreekels, after pointing out that
the road will be extended from Fresno to
Bakersfield as soon as rights OF way are
obtained, and that if no unexpected obsta-
Gle occurs the line will reach Bakersfield
by May, went on to say: I'VE will come
to San Francisco as soon as the Bakers
field extension is completed. The people
need have no fear on that point. The way
into San Francisco is open to us by more
than one route and there is nothing can
prevent our entrance"
This is golden promise for Christmas,
OF which we may expect the beginning OF
the fulfillment during the new year. A
completion of the line to this City means
far more to San Francisco and to
the interior than would be possible
to say within ordinary limits. The
farmers of the great valley OF the
San Joaquin and the merchants of the
cities within its borders, as we'll as the
merchants of San Francisco, Will compre-
bend without argument on our part the
great benefits which they will derive from
the plishment of the work. 1t will
mean the breaking down OF the monopoly
which has so long interfered with local
trade and the immediate expansion OF
commerce under freer and better condi-
tons.
No enterprise of the past year has been
so beneficial to California as the construc-
ton of this road through the San joaquin,
and none now proposed for the future
promises so much of good. Mr.. Spreckels
described the situation in saying: There
are many enterprises in which return of
per cent could be made on the capital in
vested, but prefer this project, as it will
tend 10 develop the State to an extent
ereat-r than anything else that could be
done by public or private enterprise"
That is exactly what it will do. 1t will de-
velop the State, and in the development
every citizen will find benefit, advantage
and profit.
Even in it's present condition a COM
peting line is of great benefit to the people
of California. 1t has given to the San
Joaquin lower freight rates and lower pas
senger rates than they could have even
hoped for before its construction was
undertaken. 1t affords better facilities
for commerce and passenger travel than
the monopoly has given, and if it went no
further would still be accounted as one OF
the best successes achieved by California
enterprise in promoting California in
dustry. The rates OF passenger travel
between this City and points in the San
Joaquin Valley have been lowered to
half the rates which the Southern Pacific
Com pany charged, and moreover the
means of travel between those points have
been improved and the time lessened.
AS Mr.. Spreckels said in concluding his
statement, II: now remains with the
people to decide whether the road shall be
the fullest kind of a success" If proper
support is given and the company is
enabled to obtain rights of way, it will not
be long before the road enters San Fran
cisco, and is prepared for an extension of
its line further southwark than Bakers
field. 1t is gratifying to know the COM
pany has received every assurance of such
support. Mr.. Spreckels says: al have
every confidence we have now and shall
always continue to have the support of
the people. They as we, am sure, fully
realize their interests and ours are one"
In this mutual confidence between the
company and the people we have the full
est assurance of the speedy completion of
the great work. The reign of the mono
poly is nearly over. The people of Cali
fornia will soon have established their
commercial independence by their own
efforts.