The herald., 1897-04-19
SHINING RAILS
Will Shortly CLEAN Across
to Salt Lake City
"THREE UNEXPECTEDS"
Two Railroads on the Eve OF
Being Constructed
LOCAL TRAFFIC IS SURE
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE
LANDS RESOURCES
LOCAL TRAFFIC is SURE
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE
LANDS RESOURCES
One of the Richest Mineral and
Agricultural Countries in the
West Will Be Opened to
Los Angeles Trade


The people of Los Angeles un-
doubtedly think that it has taken long
time to build railroad from their city
to Salt Lake City, but they do not know
how near it has been to completion sew
eral times. had it not been for the "un-
expected which happened. Twice ev-
erything for the projection of line was
considered fully settled, the money was
in sight, and the work actually begun
then the unexpected" came and the
plans fell through.
The first effort was made when Presi-
dent Adams was the ruling figure III
Union Pacific circles. The Utah South
ern road was secured through his exer-
tions and Mr.. Adams commenced eX-
tending it's line towards Los Angeles. a
number of miles of the road was finish
ed and ITO miles more were graded am
bridged, only lacking the laying of the
ties and rails, which had already been
placed on the ground. While these
preparations were under way in south
west Utah, some of the large stockhold-
ers of the Union Pacific came to Los
Angeles in order to procure terminal ia
cilties. Among these people were Mr..
Kerens and Mr.. Leighton of st. Louis.
They acquired by purchase and building
the lines and locations desired and or
ganized the present Los Angeles Ter
minal railroad. After these moves had
been made both in Utah and this vicinity
and everything looked bright for the
immediate construction of the through
line, the annual election of Of
ficers of the Union Pacific rail-
road took place. and Jay Gould sue
ceeded to the presidency of the system.
The projected line did not meet with his
favor, and consequently work was at
once stopped; the ties and rails, fifteen
miles of which were laid, were removed
for use elsewhere, and nothing up to the
present time was done toward its COM
pletion.
The second effort made was the build
ing of the Nevada Southern road under
the presidency of Isaac Blake in con-
nection with others. These people spent
actually did build thirtyfive miles of
good road north from Blake station on
the Atlantic and Pacific railway. Mr..
Blake was very friendly with Allen
Marvel, at that time president of the
Santa Fe railway system, and with his
assistance had everything arranged for
the completion of the line; the money
was in sight and the papers on the way
for Mr.. Manvels signature, when again
the unexpected" happened. President
Marvel died, consequently the papers
were not signed, and almost immediate
ly afterward Mr.. Blake failed. The Ne
vada Southern then fell into the hands
of General Woodbury. of Denver for debt
and he owns a controlling interest in the
road today, it's name having been
changed to the California Eastern. The
account of these attempts and failures to
build a road between this city and Salt
Lake brings the actual situation up to
1896.
In this year Bishop Thomas Taylor of
Cedar City, Utah. tried to perfect plans
originated by himself, which were, in eff
feet, that the Union Pacific should build
a line from their terminus, Milford. to
Cedar City, a distance of some seventy
five miles and the Rio Grande West
ern should also build from Marysvale
Utah, to the same place, a distance of
about sixty miles, forming junction of
the two roads From this junction
Bishop Taylor desired the people of Los
Angeles to cooperate with him in the
building of a line to the Angel City in
Greer to develop the immense coal and
iron deposits around Cedar City. The
plan, however. did not meet favor in
the sight of the Angelenos, and again
tkis city just missed their Salt Lake
road.
During the fall of 1896, however, mat
ters began to assume a new shape. 9th
er parties entered the field with un-
limited capital behind them. and the
line which so long has appeared an zig
mis- fatuus" gives promise now Of ere
long becoming an assured fact.
One Of the first moves toward this re-
suit was the sale on January 8, 1897, of
the Oregon Short Line, which passed
into the control of the Vanderbilts. The
second move, which, although not yet
consummated is only question now
of a few months will be the settlement
by the Vanderbilts of the indebtedness
of the Union Pacific to the United States
government, and their control of this
property. With the completion of this
deal, matters will begin at once to as
sumo a definite shape. and the building
of road into this city at once COM
menced.
The Terminal facilities for the road
have already been secured. and the
harbor has gone to San Pedro.
When the contracts for the improve
ment of the harbor are signed, arrange
ments will at once be entered into by
the Terminal road for affording harbor
and terminal facilities for the Salt Lake
road, and it's construction will shortly
be under way
1t Will be seen then, that the Van
derbilts are financiering the deal, and
that they will at once build from Mil
ford. the present southern terminus Of
the Oregon Short Line, to this city.
With the breaking of ground by the
vanderbilts will come the construction
- anath~r road having as4ts objective