The San Francisco call., 1898-07-07
Engineer Curtis Under
 CrOSS-ExaminatiOn.
HAS HAD RESPONSIBILITIES
FITZGERALD'S SEARCHING IN.
 QUIRY.
Some Land That Has Been Purchased by the Southern Pacific During the Past
 Year.

Engineer Curtis of the Southern Pa 2if1c Company occupied the witness stand In Commissioner Heacocks courtroom yesterday afternoon and underwent a further cross-examination at the hands of Attorney General Fitzgerald. Al though great deal of ground was cov- cred during the session the examination bids fair to last the remainder of the week. The Attorney General has evi- dently made exhaustive examination into the witnesses direct testimony and taken copious notes, from which he gath CTS material for further interrogations.
 The threads of Tuesdays testimony were taken up at the opening of the day { proceedings. The witness was asked whether he was consulted about the con- struction of the bridges anu buildings on the Arizona, New Mexico and Copper opolS roads. to which he replied that he had as assistant superintendent been head of the division and in charge at the time of the construction. When l went to Arizona said MT. Curtis, more than half of the Southern Pacific was built"
 "Is the bridge crossing the Colorado River part of the Southern Pacific of Californian" asked MT. Fitzgerald.
 T am not sure of that" answered Curtis.
 Were you consulted in any way about the construction of that bridge?"
 Not the bridge that was constructed, but l was down there Andrew K. Ste yens was the superintendent at that time. l was consulted as to many other mat ters.'
 ITO what extent?" asked the Attorney General.
 The witness then outlined the history of his labor on the road mentioned, stat ing that he was constantly consulted. he being the highest representative of the Southern Pacific down there.
 What proportion of your time did your duties occupy while you were di- vision superintendent of those two roads?"
 "All my time; sometimes day and night l don't think l took my clothes off ex- cept to change one suit for another for a
 Was there not, at the time you speak. great many rows and a deal of jealousy between the heads of departments?"
 "I don't remember, but if there was any and I participated l think I came out on top"
 The Attorney General responded by saying he didn't doubt 1t.
 The witness was then examined on a new tack He was asked when he was made general superintendent of the Cen tral Pacific and its leased lines. to which charge of the maintenance of construc ton, supplies and property in general ap purtenant to the track
 A lengthy examination was then gone into about purchasing ties and about the duties he performed as such official. He was interrogated as to the changes made In the Soledad Canyon and he stated that three were made owing to floods.
 When the first change was made" he said, II was superintendent of tracks, and I think when the third change was made l was engineer of maintenance of way. As to the work I think 1t was done by the Southern Pacific and not by the P. I. Company"
 Judge Fitzgerald suggested that the witness refresh his memory, as he thought 1t was done by the improvement company.
 What rights of way have been pur- chased by the company during the past year?" he was asked
 "A considerable piece of land was our chased at Santa Clara, about a mii& or three-quarters in length, and 5000 an acre was paid for it. An acre of land was also purchased in Oakland, for which piece of land for the extension of our yards in San Jose. for which l think we paid 5000 an acre"
 The witness told of a few other acqui- sitions and then branched on to the sub ject of tunnels. He admitted having su- perintended and constructed tunnels IA and 15 on the Central Pacific line in the eastern part of California.
 "The men who did the actual excava- tion. he said, "were under MT. Stro- bridge I directed the workmen where to place the timbers and had general super vson.'
 What did strobridge do?" was asked.
 'fThe only thing I ever saw him do, answered the witness, twas to come around and scold the foreman because they were not making better progress
 Further cross-examination will be made at 2 o'clock to-day.