The herald., 1897-03-11
THE SANTA Fl OFFICIALS
President Ripley Is Urbane, but
Nom Communicative
AN INSURANCE MAGNATE
J. II. Mccall Realizes the Attractions Of
Southern California
Many Americans DO to
Europs

"A trafnlOad OIL prominent SANTA re
railway officials arrived in this city on
Tuesday evening. The party includes
President Ripley, his assistant, c. w.
Higginson; James Dun, chief engineer;
p. ID. Purdon, assistant engineer; w.
G. Nevin, general agent; w. f. Smith,
secretary; John Player, superintendent.
Of machinery; John A. Mccall, president
of the New York Life Insurance COM
pany. who is one of the directors; Ed
ward N. Gibbs, treasurer of the New
York Life Insurance company, and J.
Parker Whitney, directors; c. w. Smith,
receiver; A. G. Wells, general superip :
tendent; w. H. Smith. purchasing agent,
and others,
On arriving here the members of the
party dispersed and are quartered in
different parts of the city, some going
to the hotels or visiting friends, and
others remaining with the train.
President e. p. Ripley and John A.
Mccall and Edward N. Gibbs of the
New York Life Insurance company are
at the Van Nuys. Yesterday the mem
bers of the party were entertained at
lunch by the California club.
While there are many things that may
have brought this aggregation of rail-
way officials to Los Angeles they are
very reticent about giving out any par
ticuiar reason for their trip here
Mr.. Ripley was seen at the Motel last
right and when questioned as to the
object the railroad men had in coming
to the coast In body replied that they
were here simply on an inspecting tour
DO you contemplate any extensions
or improvements in this section, and ls
your presence here connected with any
such enterprise?" was asked.
No. Mr.. Ripley replied I'VE do not
contemplate any special Improvements
and certainly not any extensions We
are making an inspection trip over the
Santa Fe system of roads, in order TO
Know what is needed in the way of re-
pairs
"Of course a road which has been
puilt as long as this one has requires
great deal of attention. and we want to
Know exactly. what is the condition OF
our property"
I'VE Will remain in Los Angeles until
Saturday. and will then go to San Diego
Tor few days. From there we will
probably return home, although we
may go to San Francisco first"
While in this city we all expect to be
very busy. Each man has his own de-
partment and will follow a line of work
already laid out"
The Santa Fe president was asked
as to the contemplated line to Rands-
burg. He replied that the matter woul
depend upon the Judgment of the local
officials. If Superintendent Wade be-
lieved such line was a good invest
nient a line to the mining camp would
certainly be built
THE INSURANCE MAGNArE.
John A. Mccall. president of the New
York Life Insurance company, also
talked to Herald reporter at the Van
Nuys last night.
This is my first trip to California,
and I come as a tourist" said Mr. Nc
Call. Our company holds about 3d.
100000 worth of Santa Fe securities, and
aus am also one Of the. directors l con-
cluded to accept the invitation to accom-
pany the officials on their western tour.
Now that / am here do not think that
l shall return with the party, as mea n
to remain several weeks and see more
OF California than could be done in SO
brief a stay"
Mr.. Mccall had only words of the
highest praise for Southern California.
The trouble is that people in the east
do not know what q wonderful country
you have here" he continued, 'for Il
they did there would be fewer travellers
in Europe and more tourists in Califo--
MIA every year than there are now. I
speak from experience in this matter,
for have been in the habit of going
abroad each year, when If had known
what a wonderful country you have hare
this section instead of Europe is the
place where my winters would have
been spent.
Il am surprised to see the amount Of
business being done here. I come from
a manufacturing city, and of course I
notice a difference in respect to manu-
featuring industries. but your stores arc
all we'll filled and notice busy throng
continually moving about or your
streets"
Other members of the party were
seen and all expressed the greatest SAT-
fsfaction at the business activity whk,h
they said was noticeable here
The party will go to San Pedro today.