The San Francisco call., 1897-04-13
WEST SHORE
! RAILROAD 4
CERTAIN TY
So Says President Thorn
ton, and He Should
Know.
THE RIGHT OF WAY
ABOUT SECURED.
Ground Will Doubtless Be
Broken Within a Few
Months.
WORK FOR HUNDREDS OF THE
UNEMPLOYED.
The New Line Will Tap a Rich Sec.
tion That Has Heretofore
Been Ignored.
WORK FOR HUNDREDS OF THE
UNEMPLOYED.
The New Line Will Tap a Rich Sec.
tion That Has Heretofore
Been Ignored.

The incorporators of the West Shore
Raiiway-the line that is intended TO skirt
the shores of the Pacific Ocean all the way
from San, Francisco to Santa Cruz and
thus tap strip of most productive coun-
try which has heretofore been completely
lgnored-have not been courting great
deal OF publicity of late. but nevertheless
have been quite as active as ever.
AS matter OF fact, according to Presi .
dent Thornton. this proposed line is at
present nearer reality than it has been
at any time since the project was first
mooted. If ground be not broken and
actual work be not commenced within a
comparatively few months the promoters
will be disappointed. and this is some
thing that they do not anticipate. Indeed
President Thornton says he is satisfied
that before the close OF this year hundreds
OF men who are seriously in need of en-.
ployment will be at work on the line and
it will be work that will last many months
and furnish relief fol numerous needy
families.
''AlI that prevents US from starting right
now IS the fact that We have not quite ae-
cured all of our rights of way" said Mr..
Thornton yesterday. I'VE have really
peen taking our time about this matter.
tiously, because we do not wish to make
any blunders. It is our intention to posi-
lively and finally secure every right OF
way before we turn a spadeful OF earth.
We want no litigation. Condemnation
suits, know, are the usual things, but we
propose to have none of them.
I'VE got pointer on this proposition
ffom our dear friend and sympathizer
Claus Spreckels. He gave US some advice
recently, telling rs not to make move
, until we had finished up everything in re.
gard to the securing of rights of way. 1t
was rather an unusual method in railroad
building, he confessed, but he thought it
would prove itself to be the best. At all
events we have decided to be guided by
his suggestions.
LAS matters stand at present we have
succeeded In getting route through the
most disputed lands, and the rest of it ap-
pears on the lace 10 be easy OF accom-
plishment. I mean by that the land
owners with whom we have yet to deal
are quite friendly toward US and will do
the right thing. Everybody along the
projected route seems to realize that the
road, when finished and in operation, will
be big thing for them, and they are i'm
patient for the actual beginning of work.
We are not handicapped by any lack OF
capital, so, you see, there is really nothin g
to prevent US from getting down to busi-
ness at an early date"
The West Shore Railway Company OBJ
tanned its initial start when it purchased.
two years ago, all the rights of way OF the
San Francisco and West Shore Railway
Company, consisting of valuable fran
chises secured from the City of San Fran
cisco, giving the pany the right to
use certain streets In trayersing the City
TO point on the bay shore near Twenty
fifth street and Potrero avenue, distance
of eighteen minutes by streetcars to Third
and Market streets.
The company expects to build a line
that will furnish the travelling public a
quicker trip from this City to Santa Cruz
than either of the Southern Pacific lines
can afford and over one OF the most pic
turesque routes in the world. 1t conf
IDENTIFY expects that by running a road
south along the shore of Halfmoon Bay
ana thence on down to Santa Cruz it will
expose vast natural wealth and develop
an enormous traffic.
Leon Coborn. a wealthy landholder of
Santa Cruz County, has given the new
road fine depot site at that point on the
coast where Pescadero Creek pties into
the ocean-a splendid location for thriv-
, Ing little town-and it is understood that
ne will also give two miles right of way
through his land. Coborn's business
sense prompted this.
The projectors have found, as tn e result
OF their surveys. that they will be COM
PEELED to desert the shore for few miles,
at the point in Santa Cruz County where
Wadell Creek reaches the ocean. The
coast here IS far too rocky to permit the
laying Of tracks around it econom ically
In consequence the road will now sw ing
inland from this point and will continue
downward through several pretty little
valleys until IL reaches San Vicente Creek,
where it W i'll again dart out for the beach
This bend will practically constitute the
only part of the road from which the
mighty Pacific will not be in constant