The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-08-20
A CORRECT FORECAST

statement to the effect that. immedi-
ately following the assurance of San
Pedro harbor construction, work would
be commenced on another transconti-
mental railroad, from Salt Lake to Los
Angeles.
There could be no assurance that the
harbor would be built until the contract
was finally signed. A few days ago the
telegraph announced that the contract
for building the harbor had been signed,
and the next day the telegraph also an
nounced that the contract for extending
the Utah Southern railroad from Milford
to Phoebe, a distance Of about one hum
dred miles, had been signed at Salt Lake
City, leaving about two hundred miles
yet to be contracted for, to complete a
through line from Los Angeles to the
east via Salt Lake City.
The Herald's forecast was to the effect
that this railroad movement was to be
made as a part of the Vanderbilt sys-
tenn. That the Vanderbilts controlled
the New York Central, the Michigan
Southern and Lake Shore, the Chicago
and Northwestern and the Union Pacific,
and that through the Oregon Short Line
the Vanderbilts also controlled the Utah
Southern. and that they also owned or
controlled the Los Angeles Terminal.
What changes have been made during
the past year to interfere with this pro-
= l. - AL 4. fo
mains that the only move made public
on railroad extension on this line is In
exact accordance with the forecast pub
lished nearly a year ago.
No one can think for a minute that
this extension to Phoebe is being made
for local business. 1t is portion Of the
through line. and other movements may
be expected any day.
Whether this line Is to be built through
to Vanderbilt to connect with the short
branch connecting with the Santa Fe.
or whether through to Barstow as an
Independent line, or through the Mo-
rongo pass, thence through the San Cor
gonio pass. to Redlands, Riverside and
railroad midway between Los Angeles
and Terminal island, are questions that
are secondary in Importance to the main
question of building the line through to
Southern California. Localities will
watch the details, but our people as a
whole will rest content that the road
will be built.
There is no reason why this road should
not be pushed to completion. The money
is ready to do the work, and the road
can be built much more cheaply today
than five years hence. AS the business
interests of the country develop prices
of labor and material will advance.
Railroads are now making good earn
ings. This line will be in position to
command its share Of business AS soon
as the last spike is driven. 1t has IA
cilities for opening up vast coal mines
that will be exceptionally profitable to
the owners Of both mines and road.
The building of the San Pedro harbor
and this transcontinental road will bring
to Southern California capital in abun-
dance for investment.
The people at large, with the renewal
of business activity, will find themselves
in position to buy freely of our fruits
and other products. This will open up
new and more extensive markets until
the demand will exceed the supply, and
prices Of products will advance.
Then, again, the Nicaragua canal will
be built. The recent war has made this
a necessity. This canal will be owned
and controlled by the United States gov
eminent. Freights to the east will thus
be kept within reasonable bounds. The
legend what the traffic will stand" will
not have the terror to our business in
terests that it once had. The demand
for this canal has become so universal
that no political party dares oppose 1t,