The San Francisco call., 1897-09-10

work. Since tracklaying first began the
road has always been in condition 10 use
within at least one mile of the forward
gang OF workmen. This method oi oper-
ating has enabled the road to carry con-
siderable freight traffic from the moment
the track was down.
Good men and good wages have been
the rule among workmen. Nothing lower
than 81 IS has been paid. and the scale has
run from that 10 81. the only Chinese
employed have Eeen the COOKS. 1be
Visalia branch, from Fresno south, was
begun In March of this year, but track
laying was not commenced until July.
The first rails reached the edge OF Visalia
on the 18th of August. Two miles of
track in one day was the biggest record OF
trac cklaying, Mr.. Williams preferring
solioity to mileage. People who have
travelled the com pleted road say it is as
smooth as the New York Central and
equal TO a speed of seventy miles an hour.
1t is built for sixty miles.
The afternoon match game of baseball
was a lively one-red hot at times. A
great crowd witnessed it and enthusiasm
dubbed ND in every portion of the grounds.
At The end OF the seventh inning the score
stood 3 10 in favor of the Visaliaus, bnt
at this point the Fresno boys did not like
decision OF the um pire and threw up the
game.
he militia made creditable showing
at dress parade in the afternoon, follow
Ing the games and sports. From supper
hour until time for the evening exercises
the speeches and the ball-the crowd WAS
entertained with more music from the
bands. Both the Tulare and the Haniord
bands are excellent organizations, which
might be heard with favor in larger cities.
The city's first Illuminated bicycle parade
took place in the evening.
At B o clock in the afternoon carriages
were provided and the visiting officers Of
the Valley road were driven to the prln-
cipal points of inlerest in the country
tributary to the city. They were greatly
pleased with the activ ty at the fruit
ranches and in the factories and other in
dustrles, and concluded their drive con-
vinceo that the directors of the road had
made no mistake in choosing this city as
one OF the principal points for traffic.
The general committee of the oelebra-
tIon was delighted with the success OF the
day. 1t had surpassed antic'p7tions two
fold. Sad Chairman J. c. Ward The
crowd Is the argest We have ever had in
Visalia; II has been good-natured, easily
controlled and happy. II ind dicates how
glad every body in this vicinity is that we
now have competing railroad.
Nearly $1,000 was subscri bed and ex-
pended by the citlZens OF Visalia in the
days festivities. The committee OH fin
ances reported that at 10 previous public
celebration had subscriptions been so
promptly and literally pad. In addition
TO the monetary gifts there were donations
OF the meats Tor the barbecue, OF flags and
bunting, OF prizes and countless other
things.
The general committee has been COM
posed of -Messrs. J. c. Ward. chairman;
q. J. Witten, secretary; a. G. Wishon,
William Kettner. II. Levinson and E. H.
Wust. There have been numerous sub
committees. all OF which, with the general
committee, have given themselves 10 the
work with the same zeal that the cit zens
of the county M Manifested in securin.,
$2S, 600 in subscriptions to the Valley road
itself.