The herald., 1897-03-25
Extensive Improvementsat at
Catalina Island
CONTRACTORS ARE FIGURING
ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS OF
SAN PEDRO HARBOR
Southern Pacific's Last Annexation.
Railroad Men From All Parts
in the City

The Banning company are anticipat-
ing a larger passenger business to Cata-
lima Island the coming season than ever
before. Mr.. Hancock Banning, In speak
ing to a Herald reporter last evening,
said: Yes, we are making arrange
ments for big business at our summer
resort this summer because this early in
the season there are indications that
there will be larger number of people
there than any time previous and II you
would see the number of applications
for stores. cottages, ETC., that come in
daily, you would think that there are
others who expect many visitors there.
Every available business room on the
island has been rented to responsible
business men of Los Angeles and many
of the cottages and lodging houses have
been engaged. If the demand continues
we will be compelled to build more. The
first of next month over one hundred
men will go over to the island to COM
mence work on the annex to the Hotel
Metropole. There will be thirty-six
rooms added, and the ball room, when
completed, will be larger than that of
the Hotel Del Monte. In one end of this
large room we will have a stage. Yes
terday we let the contract for the build
ing of a wagon road to Eagle camp in
the middle ranch. This place has here
tofore been reached only on saddle
horses. This road improvement alone
will cost us almost S20,0 900. Our trans
portation facilities will be improved so
we can carry fifteen hundred people dali
ly to the island if the occasion demands
it. The Catalina band will be better this
L. g. G..-k ~.
sic is assured. We propose to inaugu-
rate some new features in the way of
entertainment at our resort and I am
confident that a more desirable place
for rest, pleasure and recreation will
not be found in the world"
w. B. Niskern. general passenger
agent for the Chicago and Northwestern
railroad, who has been in the city since
Monday, left last night for Chicago.
Mr. Niskern was here on a vacation trip
and was delighted with his stay in
Southern California.
II have been surprised at the progress
siveness of your city, and in fact all
the western cities" he said yesterday.
while talking to a reporter. Il do not
know of a single city in the east of the
same size where there is an equal amount
of business activity apparent"
1H6n MT. NlSkeTH Iell TO DISCUSSING
business conditions in the east.
I'VE all feel hopeful of seeing better
times in the near future" he said. For
my own part l am very sanguine. On
leaving Chicago three weeks ago ii was
plain that all the indications pointed
to an early revival of business. The
railroads were doing more than at any
time in months, and this may be taken
as a pretty good index to general busi-
ness conditions"
The contemplated purchase of the Gal
weston, Laporte and Houston railway
by the Southern Pacific company has
been an interesting topic for discussion
among railroad officials both in Los An
geles and San Francisco for two weeks
past and since the arrival of President
Huntington in this city yesterday more
concerning the proposed deal has been
learned. A representative of The Her
aid was informed last evening by one
who knows that Mr.. Huntington offered
one million for the roadway. The offer
was recently considered at joint meet
ing of the creditors and stockholders
of the road in Houston, and 1t was agreed
to accept. Two absent creditors whose
claims amount to $3.50, 900 do not approve
of the sale. 1t is thought. however. that
they will be placated and that the G.. l..
& H. road will be absorbed by the South
ern Pacific al an early date. The La
Porte road which is now in the hands Of
receivers, is fifty miles long, extends
from Galveston to Houston and has
excellent terminal facilities at both cit
les. This road purchased would give
the Southern Pacific system the outlet
at Galveston which has long been sought
by President Huntington. In that event
a large amount of the trans-continental
business of the latter road would na d.
verted to the Island City" 1t is said
the two objecting creditors hold bonds
and receivers certificates of the road
and they want dollar for dollar. Tney
say they could not get this If the propo-
sition was accepted. They claim that
the million dollars worth of per cent
bonds which Mr.. Huntington offers
would not be sufficient to pay the ind abt-
edness. The Herald's informant, how
ever, is of the opinion that the deal will
he consummated before the president
returns to New York. as he is himself
particularly interested in this new pro-
ject, as he says there is a bright pros
pect for Galveston to soon become the
leading entry port on the southern
coast. Mr. Huntington is so deeply in
terested in the purchase of this small
road that he is in daily telegraphic COM
munication with his representatives at
Houston.
r. c. Udell who is connected with the
passenger department of the Milwaukee
Railroad company, arrived In the city
yesterday from Milwaukee. Wis:
Traffic over our lines in South Dakota
the week before last was entirely aban-
doned on account of the worst snow
storm in twenty years. The mails were
blocked for nearly one week and post
masters in several towns were instruct
ed by superintendent Barclay, of st.
Paul, to secure bids to haul the mails
by stage until the warm weather sets
in and regular train service can be in
augurated. The officials of our system
have used every effort to keep the road
open this winter and have been success
full until a short time since. When 1
left home the blockade was still on and
the Lord only knows how long it Will