The San Francisco call., 1896-10-06


Whittier, Charles Holbrook, John T.
Doyle and E. F. Preston. The following
were elected on the first board of direct
ors: Claus Spreckels, president; w. F..
Whittier, first vice-president; Robert
Watt, second vice-president; John d.
Spreckels. J. B. Stetson. Charles Hol-
brook, Leon Soss. Alvinza Hayward. Isaac
Upham, A. II. Payson, Thomas Magee,
E. f. Preston, attorney. The articles of
incorporation were filed February 25, 1885,
and the projectors of the road were ready
to begin to consider what was to be done
and to do it. Alexander Mackie was
elected the first secretary and w. B.
Storey Jr. was named as engineer.
How the road secured the China Basin
for terminal purposes in San Francisco is
well known. It had been wisely deter
mined by the board of directors not to
build until the termina al facilities had been
made sure. Claus Spreckels said that
unless the terminal could be had the build
ing of the road might as we'll be apandoned.
The Legislature passed the bill for the
lease ofthe waterfront property, the vote
in the Senate being quite close, 20 to 16.
When the case came before the Board of
Harbor Commissioners, Governor Budd
and Mayor Sutro sat (ex-oficio) as mem
bers OF the board and took an active part
in the proceedings. After full explana-
tions and able presentation of the facts,
the Harbor Commissioners granted the
lease.
Toward the end of March an agreement
was reached under which the road was
n fn ho tod ,otf lryf for
period of years. Under this agreement a
board of trustees was appointed, consti-
tuted as follows: Adolph B. Spreckels,
Daniel Meyer, James D. Phelan, Lowell
White, James Cross, Thomas Brown, f.
w. Van Sicklen, Christian de Guigne and
0. D. Baldwin.
Events progressed rapidly. A contract
for construction engines was placed as
early as May %, 1895. The action of interior
communities can hardly be detailed in the
space allotted to this article. Stockton
subscribed for stock amounting to $780,
600 and donated money, land and rights
ofway. The lease of the China Basin was
signed July s. 1895. The first cargo of rails
arrived at San Francisco on the day pre-
ceding the signing of the lease, and on the
N1y AoiiohAuS SOhtiuCto WCIc icb iOI SIdu-
ing the road through the city OF Stockton
and for all bridges to the Stanislaus River.
On the same day condemnation suits for
rights of way to the river were begun.
Wherever it has been possible all contracts
for materials, ETC., have been awarded to
Californians, thus carrying ont to the
fullest extent the idea of benefiting Cali
forIia as much as possible in the con-
struction as we'll as in the operation of the
road.
The progress of the road from the break
ing of ground at Stockton to the extension
of the line southwark to Fresno has been
so well recorded from time to time that it
is not necessary to recapitulate, all this
being of common knowledge. Pursuant
to the plan of capitalization the directors
have voted bonds sufficient to extend the
line from Fresno to Bakersfield and from
Stockton to San Francisco. When this is
done the Pacific Coast metropolis will be
in direct communication with the richest
valley of California throughout its entire
extent What the policy of the road will
be and what this policy will mean to pro-
ducers and shippers to San Francisco and
to all points affected, in the increase of
business and in the development of the
State and OF this City are apparent. The
reduced rates made by the Valley road
will effect an annual saving of many
thousands OF dollars and will invite immi-
grafton and make development not only
possible but certain.