The San Francisco call., 1896-10-08
They Were Wholly Surprised
at the Splendid Reception
Given Them.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC CUTS AGAIN
Claus SpreckelS. President OF the
Peoples Line, the Man of the
Hour in the Valley.

At the main offices OF the San Francisco
and San Joaquin Valley Railway yester-
day the business of constructing and
operating was going on as II nothing had
occurred to break its continuity. Cnlet
Engineer Storey was at his desk studying
over new depot and roundhouse struc-
lures, and betterments of the line from
Stockton to Fresno. Vice President Robert
Watt and Director a. H. Payson were at
work, and they spent long time confer
ring with the chief engineer on various
matters of Immediate Importance to the
peoples railway, which has lifted the San
Joaquin Valley out of bondage. Secretary
Alexander Mackie was as busy as bee
directing affairs in his department.
They had all returned from Fresno,
where they participated in the greatest
celebration the valley has ever seen, and
naturally were full of pardonable pride
and the spirit OF enthusiasm that proved
so infectious among farmers and shippers
in connection with the entry OF the tirst
train of the San Francisco and San Joa-
Quin Valley road into Fresno.
There was no boasting, however no dis
play over the great good that had been ac-
complished for California, but instead, it
was all business. The officials worked
liked business men, and now that one
milestone was passed they were looking
ahead to the next one.
Speaking of the reception at Fresno,
Secretary Mackie said it far exceeded the
expectations of the Valley road builders.
THAT picture in this mornings CALI"
said he, ''is good one. 1t is exactly as
the scene appeared to US when we got into
Fresno. l never saw anything like the
crowd that was there to greet US. The
picture was from photograph. As far as
the eye could see there was nothing but
heads and waving hats, and beyond the
tremendous gathering we could see more
people arriving in buggies, buckboards,
wagons and thousands on foot. Where
they all came from is mystery.
''None of US on the train expected to wit
ness such a sight. The vast concourse of
people cheered and waved hats and hand
kerchiefs as the first train came in to
Fresno. No doubt about it, the people of
the valley showed in royal style how sim
cerely they appreciated the arrival of that
train and all it meant for them
Engineer Storey stated that regular
communication with Fresno would be
kept up daily. a freight train and pas
senger coach Will run between the present
terminus of the line, and as soon as the
depot is finished at Stockton and other
accom- modations for passengers are COM
plete daily passenger trains will run, con-
Meeting with the fast boats of the Cali
fornia Navigation Company at Stockton
for through passage to San Francisco.
Director Watt was asked if construction
would be continued southwark from
Fresno.
Not for the present." he answered
that is altogether question of bonds
now and we wont do anything in that di-
rection until after the election. A great
deal depends, of course, on the result oil
the election. ana should things come as
we anticipate we shall lose no time in con-
tinuing the construction of the road"
It was learned yesterday that the South
ern Pacific Company had introduced an
other reduction of passenger fares in the
San Joaquin Valley. Some time ago that
company was compelled to make sweep
ing reductions in freight rates and passen-
ger fares as far south as Fresno, because
its monopoly was broken by the Valley
road. Freights were cut TO correspond
with each new reduced tariff of the Valley
road until freights went lowec than. those
recently set by the State Railroad Com
missioners and passenger fares were cut
from and 5 cents to cents a mile, to
''equalize them"
On Septem Der l the Southern Pacific
Company very quietly reduced it fares
southwark on its eastern road via Porter
vile to Poso. The old rate was 5 cents a
mile now the passenger pays but cents
to Poso junction, short distance north OF
Bakersfield. The reason given is that those
fares needed 'equallzing." So the Valley
road has proved itself an accomplished
Equalizer in this respect.
Those who accompanied the Valley road
excursion train to Fresno declare that the
most popular and most highly and widely
respected man in the whole San Joaquin
Valley is Claus Spreckels, the man who
made the Valley road the great enterprise
it is to-day, and as president of the COM
pany, shattered the monopoly that OPP
pressed the best portion of California.