The San Francisco call., 1897-04-23
OAKLAND
WANTS THE
NEW ROAD.
The Citizens Committee Is
Ready TO Make Definite
OvertureS.
EVERY EFFORT PUT
FORTH FOR VICTORY.
A New Ferry Contemplated and
Carshops and a Terminal
Are Urged.
PEOPLE ENCOURAGED OVER
THE PROSPECTS.
An Important Meeting Showing That
the People Are Awake and Will
Work With a Will.
PEOPLE ENCOURAGED OVER
THE PROSPECTS.
An Important Meeting Showing That
the People Are Awake and Will
Work With a Will.

OAKLAND, April 22.-Oakland is de.
termined to have the Valley line if pos
sible. Citizens met Wednesday night and
n com mittee OF fifteen got ready to make
decided oyertures. Ferries, carshops and
q terminal were urged for this City.
The committee consisted of fifteen rep
resentative citizens, and it was marked
with great enthusiasm. Besides the COM
mittee several interested citizens were
present. The members of the com mittee
were: Mayor w. r. Thomas. J. P. Tav-
lor, W. Y. Witcher, J. r. Talcott, F. h.
Mott W. b. Pringle, W. K. DAVIS, Z. A.
Heron, George {. Pardee, E. c. Sessions,
J. A. Dritton. J. L. Towle. NJ. J. Keller,
Robert Smile, D. L. Collins and Webb n.
Pearce.
Mayor Thomas called the meeting TO or
der, and as this was the first general gath
ering The matter of choosing permanent
officers vas first taken up.
w. K. Davis nominated the Mayor for
chairman and :he motion unanimously
prevailed.
Webb n. Pearce was elected secrets ary,
and then w. r. Dsvis spoke saying:
Il gathered from the reports that the
railroad people felt predisposed TO make a
terminal here, coming in from the north.
They said considerable about the question
OF rights of way, ana suggested that our
people make some proposition TO them.
though l do not know that any definite
declaration was N ade.'
''They answered the question direct"
interposed Mayor Thomas. land said that
they did want to come to Oakland, and
would get in here if they could from the
north. They did not want to give US the
go-by, and it is certain they want 20 come
here if they can"
,sWhep ubothor +ba-
would consider coming in on the Califor-
MIA and Nevada liDe," continued the
Mayor. they did not say it would be ac-
ceptapie, but that they intended to have
their engineer make surveys along the
route to see what could be done.'
The discussion then took q general turn
and 1t was the prevailing idea that some
terminal should be found north of Sew
enth street, toward the western end of
the city.
E. A. Heron suggested that an executive
committee of i've be appointed by the
chair TO ascertain what the railroad wants
and what rights of way can be reasonably
assured.
NJ. J. Keller wanted resolutions passed
TO the effect that the committee believes
1t is able to secure right of way in to
Oakland, In order TO get the matter prop
erly to the front.
Others thought differently, some being
of the idea that mum ber OF suitable ter
minals should be determined on first.
The Mayor believed the executive COM
mittee was good idea. 1t was put in the
form of motion and carried. The follow
ing were chosen: r. A. Heron, w. B.
Pringle. NJ. j. Keller, e. c. Sessions and
w. V. Witcher.
Mr.. Keller then offered the following:
Resolved That the committee shall
offer the best efforts to get the Valley road
into Oakland, the amount of the financial
aid to be determined by the location of
the terminal
1t was unanimously carried.
w. r. Davis mentioned the fact that
neither the committee nor the city could
bring condemnation suits in order to get
rights of way, but the railroad could
do so.
L. A. Heron suggested that the COM