The San Francisco call., 1896-04-14
Roundhouse and Repair Shops
to Be Removed to South
San Francisco.
ALONG THE BADEN SHORT LINE
Work on the Proposed Enterprise
Delayed Only by the Lack of
Ready Money.

In connection with the plan of the
Southern Pacific Company to construct a
short line to Baden via the Potrero and
South San Francisco there is another i'm
portant enterprise. This is said TO be
nothing less than the creation of railroad
town, similar to that of Pullman. near
chicago, on the property of the Southern
Pacific Company and its individual share
holders in this and San Mateo counties,
where the two counties join.
1t has long been known that the ra ilroad
contemplate constructing a short line
through this section, and that this would
have been the original route but for the
opposition of certain landholders twenty
five years ago, but 1t is only recently that
numerous developments have indicated
that the Southern Pacific people had
something more in view IN making heavy
land purchases in the Potrero, and more
particularly in South San Francisco, than
securing right of way.
Not only has the railroad corporation
made such purchases, but the Crocker
estate and Mrs. Stanford are now large
holders of realty along the Mission Bay
line.
1t has been admitted by Manager Fill
more that the repair shops near the foot
of Sixth treet we're TO be removed so as TO
De close to the roundhouse used in con-
junction with the coast division of the
southern Pacific Company. 1t was also
admitted that the roundhouSe was to be
moved from its present location so as to be
alongside the track" Now as the track
Is TO be strung along the newly acquired
rlght OF way or the Southern Pacific Com
pany through the Potrero and South San
FRANCISCO, there is no doubt in the minds
OF those who have been closely watching
the operations of the railroad company in
this locality that the roundhouse and re-
par shops OF the coast division, which
VIII eventually and shortly be those
OF the Sunset road, are to be removed to
South San Francisco. Here the company
has one immense tract to the east of its
proposed new line and also has quite q
number OF other respectable-sized tracts
10 the west OF the track. 1t Is expected
that the rOundhouSe will be placed on the
tract lying between the line of the railroad
and the bav and the shops will be located
partly on this tract and partly on the
other smaller ones
Immediately adjoining this largest piece
OF land, comprising some 200 acres, the
Crocker estate owns a large area extend
ing from the right of way clear to the
water front. This has unusual advant-
ages for suburban residences, Its frontage
on the bay consisting OF high bluff, with
magnificent beach TO the north in the
blight between the railroad property and
that owned by the Crocker estate. The
latter also owns fine and large area Just
over the line in San Mateo County.
From recent developments it is believed
that all the spare land not necessary to the
proper equipment and maintenance of the
Southern Pacific roundhouse and shops
will be cut up into lots TO be sold TO the
people who Will find employment with the
railroad company.
That it is the probable purpose of the
company to develop this section into a
busy and thriving town is further indi-
Gated by Its announced intention of con-
verting the former Bay View racetrack
which 1t now owns, into general recrea-
tlon ground, where races and ali kinds of
athletic sports can be carried on. Then
the Market-street Railway Company has
two lines of street-cars tapping this dis
trict. Along the San Bruno road runs a
horsecar line, which will be converted
into an electric line. while along Railroad
avenue there now run electric cars to the
heart of San Francisco.
1t is only the lack of ready money that
prevents this work of improvement being
taken up at once. With means at com
mand the sixty mile gap between Elwood
and Nladuct on the coast route could be
pushed 10 mpletion within four months,
ana at the same time work on the short
Ane from San Francisco to Baden could
- NC P4OSeSuueu, so tudI Wnen tne gap
down south was closed the through trains
could at once come in over the Mission
Bay route. That this programme is in
contemplation is shown by the action re-
Gently taken by the Southern Pacific Com
pany IN reference to the vegetable gar
deners who are occupying its land. All
leases have been allowed to run out, and
the tenants have been notified that thev
hold hereafter only at the will of the COM
pany, and that they may be given notice
10 vacate at any time.