The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-10
DEMAND FANCY
PRICES FOR LAND
Valley Railway Progress
Blocked by a Few
Owners.
Directors Unable to Acquire
Rights Of Way South Of
Fresno.
Unaccountabla Opposition to the Ex-
tension of the Computing
Road

FRESNO, CAL, Jan. 9.-The results of
the efforts of the Valley road officials to-
day to settle the differences on right-of-
way matters south of this city, on the
route leading to Hanford, in order that
track building might be resumed at once,
did not prove very successful; in fact,
nothing was accomplished except that the
officials were able to learn the true situa-
ton OF affairs. This they will report to
the directors of the company in San Fran
cisco in few days. The visiting officials
will return in the morning, but will in all
probability be back again in few days.
For the first mile out of Fresno the COM
Tany is meeting with what seems to be
unjustifiable opposition. 1t does not pro-
pose to submit, and what action will be
taken will not be learned until the direc-
tors hold their meeting. 1t is plainly evil
dent that the railroad people intend, if
possible, to begin the construction of the
road southwark in the near future.
The visiting officials are somewhat
guarded in their remarks, and in CONVEX
sation with CALL representative to-
night VIce-President Watt mildly put it
that the company "hoped" to continue
construction within the next few weeks.
But it was learned from other sources that
Mr. Watt and his colleagues were more
resolute than hopeful.
it is also a significant fact that the cffi-
Gals will return to Fresno in a few days
to continue the work Of settling the right
of-way matters. They appear to consider
that they have done everything in their
power to settle the differences on an ami
10 hoe hot ~ lty lafr
is III the courts to institute condemnation
proceeding. This may as well be done at
the present time as later. The capital of
the road is idle, and the promoters of the
enterprise are in no way satisfied with
keeping matters at a stand still.
Messrs. Watt, Payson, Storey and Pres.
ton, accompanied by Right-of- Way Agent
c. s.. Young and A. ?. Darling, were out
bright and early this morning looking
over the territory adjoining the city, over
which for the distance OF about a mile
their chief trouble between Fresno and
Hanford lies.
The local committee of ten had promised
10 obtain free right of way for three
miles south of the city to a point where
the survey of the new road crosses the
Southern Pacific track, about two miles
north of Malaga. Through the Hughes
tract, which Immediately ad joins the city,
no trouble was experienced, and from its
southern boundary the plan was for the
railroad to run along East avenue for
about mile to the place where the survey
turns and runs parallel with the Southern
Pacific line. By taking advantage Of the
public highway the committee considered
that it had fulfilled its obligation.
But new phase to the proposition has
appeared. The abutting property owners
along East avenue have threatened to sue
the company for heavy damages because
of the passing OF the railroad in front of
their places-a repetition of the Q-street
difficulty in this city. Desiring to avoid
litigation and trouble, the comp any was
willing to abandon the public roadway
and purchase a strip of land sixty feet
wide, running parallel with it, for a right
of way. The com pany was and is willing
to pay q reasonable value, and its repre-
senIatives are showing a disposition to be
quite liberal.
But this alternative plan has also proved
unsuccessful in effecting a satisfactory
settlement of the right of way for this
mile. The officials visited all the prop
erty-owners, but did not succeed very we'll
in changing their attitude.
An Armenian named Azhderian was
probably the property-owner with whom
the greatest difficulty was experienced.
The directors wanted a strip sixty feet
wide off the end of his 20-acre tract. Not