The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-19
They Have Redeemed All Pledges
and Cut Rates in
Two.
HOPE FOR THE SAN JOAQUIN.
One Hundred Miles of New Railway
in Operation and Industry
Revivified.

It is now a wear since the trustees who
represent the shareholders of the San
Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway
Company met and elected the directors OF
the corporation, and the progress that has
been made within this twelve months is
source of marvel to railroad men gener-
ally, the sharpest kind of a thorn in the
side of the Southern Pacific coterie and an
occasion for profound rejoicing among the
producers and shippers OF the San Joaquin
Valley.
In the pooling agreement adopted by
the subscribers to the Valley Road stock
hope and promise was held out to the peo-
pie in the following announcement of the
objects of the projectors OF the enterprise:
The rates of charge for transportation of the
crops and products of this State from the in
terror to the seaboard, and of merchandise
from the seabosrd to the interior OF the state,
have hitherto been excessive and oppressive to
the people of the State, and destructive 70 Its
industry and commerce.
All the parties to the agreement who have
become subscribers TO the stock OF the san
Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway
Company have subscribed therefor and under
taken the construction of said railway Tor the
purpose OF effecting permanent reduction in
the cost of transportation between the city and
port of San Francisco and the great interior
valley of the State by the construction and
operation OF said road as competitive means
OF transportion between said points.
On Tuesday next the annual meeting OF
the trustees ana the election of officers of
the corporation will take place. Reports
will then be read from the various Off
Gals. President Claus Spreckels Vice
President Watt, who has been acting
president during Mr.. Spreckels' trip
abroad Chief Engineer Story, Secretary
Mackie and Traffic Manager Moss will all
probably have interesting information to
present.
The reports to be then made will show
that the hope thus held out year ago
has been realized and the promises nobly
fulfilled.
During this mparatively short period
of one year g, 600, 600 have been expended
on the construction and equipment of the
road, thus putting that amount in circu-
lation among the laborlng people. About
100 miles of the railroad have been com.
pleted, 81 of which are now in operation
and Is additional miles have been graded
and made ready for the laying of the rails
Among the prominent features of this
construction work are the five large
bridges, aggregating $20O,0OO in cost
which now span Mormon Channel and
the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, MERGED and
San Joaquin rivers. Part of this sum Of
$4,000, 600 has also been used to pay for ten
locomotives, 300 freightcars, six passenger
coaches and eight cabooses.
In the construction work of the road be-
tween 300 and 400 men were employed
each day at an average wage OF 81 pei
diem.
At the meeting on Tuesday all the de-
tails of the proposed Sc, 900, 900 BOND issue
will probably De decided upon.
Judging from the excellent results
achieved not dollar has been wasted mol
an hour lost by the management. 1t was
calculated that it would cost about $40, OOC
mile to build and equip the road.
Up to the present time the directors
have kept well within this limit, for with
an expenditure of $4,000, 900 they have 10C
miles completed, fifteen miles more
graded, equipment more than sufficient
for the 100 miles completed, and rails
enough purchased for the entire length o.