The herald., 1897-07-11

ed up by the small construction cable,
which had previously taken up the
heavy machinery now operating the
road, and the lumber for the first hotel.
This great cable once In place. one of
the incline cars was attached to the
same, a construction car at the sum-
NIT attached to the other side Of the ca
BILE and heavily loaded helped to pull up
the first car, when the second ncline car
was attached, after which, all the ma
chinery being in place, the motors ready
and the wires stretched, this long, tedi-
Gus and expensive work was ready for
operation, and on July 4th, 1893, white
Chariots" made their first ascent with
passengers. This was not all the ex-
pensive work that was carried on at
that time, more than $4,000 was ex-
pended in developing water and in water
pipes and laying the same, building res
ervoirs and machinery for operating the
railway by water power, and afterwards
extending it for lighting purposes. This
was followed by the establishment of
other power stations to take care of the
increasing business, and the building of
the large Echo Mountain house, the
grading of the top Of the noun tain alone
costing $4,000. In order to induce peo-
pie to patronize the road so far con-
structed and to patronize the hotels. ex-
tensive bride roads were made, costing
a large amount of money, but con nsidered
necessary for the ultimate success of
the enterprise.
The completion Of the work and the
opening up of the road to the summit
of Echo mountain met with such favor
among the citizens and the general pub
lie that it was thought best. In order
to continue this interest, to induce ex-
ira travel and to secure a rate of fare
the same as other mountain roads, as
we'll as to reach the best point for as
Economical work and other scientific re-
search, to construct the second division
to reach the summit of the first range.
the completion of which we are all fa-
miliar with, and it is conceded by the
best engineers and travellers to be the
boldest piece of mountain engineering
on the globe. This section Is four miles
in length, every tie resting upon granite
rock-a veritable shelf cut in the sides
Of the mountains-entailing great ex-
pense. More expensive buildings were
added at the terminus of the road, and
carriage roads, foot and bride paths, ETC.,
were made. This required two more
years of continuous steady work.
The foregoing description is thought
proper here, inasmuch as some have
been led to believe that the cost was
greater than need be, but this comes
from persons who know nothing what
ever of the numerous unseen expenses,
and for their own purposes care less.
and who could not have built it at all
at any cost. Those originally interested
in depreciating it's cost did it evidently
with the purpose of beating down its
value so that when they could get it to
a sale they could form ring for buying
it in at a low rate, regardless of the in
terests of the bondholders, stockholders
or creditors.
In addition to the engineering and con-
struction work of this railway, person.
ally superintended its first three years
of operation (until the present receivers
took my place. during which time we
handled over 100000 passengers without
a single accident of any kind, stop
page of the road or even missing con-
nection. This is the best possible evil
dence of the good management and
work accomplished, for no other railway
in the world can say as much-steam
road, cable, electric or otherwise-and
this in the most rugged mountain region
that railroad was ever operated upon.
This also speaks volumes for the en-
ployes of the road, and their faithfulness
and observance of the rules laid down
for the safety of passengers.
During all this time the business of
the road was continually gaining, and
had it not been interrupted almost the
day the road was completed, there would
be no complaining as to it's paying quail
tiles at this time, as it was fast becoming
popular and well known. 1t was un-
fortunate, too, that this change should
have taken place at the beginning of the
! first season Of the Alpine tavern Sec
ton; the resort had only just been
opened and all the available accommo-
dations were fast being filled up with
guests. This, however, was checked
the moment the change was announced,
and the business began to go down hill
instead of up. In making this statement
1 desire it to be understood as being no
reflection upon the receivers. as they
have undoubtedly done the very best
they could under the circumstances, as
it Is generally conceded that this kind
Of forced management, under the court,
can never make hotels or pleasure re-
sorts popular, especially as in the pres
ent case, when not one of them had the
least knowledge of any branch of the
business they were called upon to as
sumo control of, and, besides, they nee
essarily had their own business to look
after. The wonder of many is that un-
der present conditions the popularity of
the place has continued SO WELL but it
must be remembered that during the
whole time since the road was opened
I had left nothing undone and spared no
expense In the way of advertising the
road and it's resorts over the entire con-
tinent to the extent of at least the ex-
penditure of $4,000, and free writings by
enthusiastic visitors, which if paid for
would amount to several millions of dol
lars, the benefits from which will con-
tinue for all time. 1t is the result of this
and the lectures and numerous writings
during my visit in the east last winter
that has kept the business going at ALL
I had an opportunity to realize this dur
ing the conductors visit to the coast
more than one hundred Of the members
of that excursion having called upon me
in Pasadena to extend thanks for the
great pleasure they had derived from
their visit. There is no question but
what the present Christian Endeavor
excursion contains hundreds who were