The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-10-29
NEWS OF THE RAIL WAYS
WILL ALWAYS COMPETE WITH
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC
PRESIDENT RIPLEY TALKS
About His Intentions With the Valley
Road, Which His Company Has
Just Purchased

President Ripley of the Santa Fe Railway
company i'll an interview in San Francisco
on Thursday stated unequivocally that the
Santa FEES purchase OF the Valley railway
| would not cnange it from competing ROAD
with the Southern Pacific. As Southern
Californians have a direct interest in the
situation between the two great lines in ali
parts of the state, Mr.. Ripley S words will be
| notable hereabouts. He SAID:
The Southern Pacific and Santa Fe have
always been strong competitors of each
other. They touch at many points, cover
the same territory in many sections, and
There has always been fight for business
between the two companies, and Of neces-
sity there must always be fight for bust
ness between them. We intend to use the
Valley road as part of the Santa Fe to get
all the traffic we can for the Santa Fe."
Mr.. Ripley was asked if it was true that
the Santa Fe had given the Valley railroad
people written and real guarantees that the
Valley line would be operated as a genuine
competing route.
YES" said he, Il have as president of
the Santa Fe given such guarantees. In my
correspondence with the Valley road people
| have given them written statements to
that effect. am willing to make additional
written statements, If necessary. The Santa
Re has nothing to conceal in its deal with
the Valley line. We want your new Cali
fornia line in order to get an entrance into
San Francisco and thereby increase our
business. We want all the business we can
get over the Valley road. The more terri
tory we can penetrate, the more towns and
cities we can reach, the more merchants and
shippers we can get business from will help
make the Santa Fe successful business
corporation"
How long have negotiations been going
on for the purchase of the Valley road by
the Santa Fee"
about six months. ! should say negotia-
tons were started last April. When the
Valley line was started in 1895 the Santa
Fe was in the hands of receiver. It was in
no shape to talk with the Valley road peo-
ple"
But did not the leading men in the Val
ley road put their money into it with the
idea of selling out to the Santa Fe?"
Il do not know what their original inten-
lions were. They certainly started their en-
terprise without any promises or agreement
with the Santa Fe.'
at our annual melting at Topeka on De
cember Sth next the Santa Fe people will
close the option on three-fourths of the
Valley road stock, now in the custody of tn
Union Trust company. We will pay par for
the stock. L desire to say right here that
will pay par for the other one-fourth of the
stock. We will treat all the Valley road
stockholders alike.
"The extension from Stockton to Point
Richmond will Be pushed to completion.
and passenger ferryboat be built to ply
between Point Richmond and the foot q
Market street. 1t is the expectation that
the Valley roads service into San Fran
cisco will be in operation by next Septem-
ber"
NOTES AND PERSONALS
President Ripley and party of the Santa
Fe will be in the city, it is thought, on Mon
day
Yardmaster Asa J. Davis of the Santa Fe
at San Bernardino has gone to Ossawotamie,
Kan, where he will be married to Miss
Maude Bussert on November 9th
Work on the foundation for the man.
moth steam hammer being erected at San
Bernardino for the Santa Fe, is being
pushed. The hammer is the longest on the
coast.
A Southern Pacific train will leave today
at p. m. for Santa Barbara from Pasadena.
taking the Americas club of the latter city
to participate in political meeting.
Superintendent ]. A. Muir of the South
ern Pacific company has returned from his
trip to San Francisco, where he went on
important business.