The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-01-28
WORK ON THE SAN PEDRO.
Vice President J. Ross Clark Tells
of Roads Status.

Vice President J. Ross Clark Tells
of Roads Status.
Since his return to Los Angeles. Vice
President J. Ross Clark of the San
Pedro has made an extended statement
TO the status of the enterprise. In
the Los Angeles Herald is printed a
denial by MIR. Clark that the Oregon
Short Line has been leased or pur-
chased by the San Pedro.
When the attention Of Mr.. Clark was
drawn 20 the fact that the general i'm
preston existed that an amicable IN
Outstanding had been reached between
the Salt Lake road and the Oregon
Short Line over rights of way. and that
this could have been carried to the ex-
uemes IN the assertions made that his
road had purchased the Oregon Short
Line. mr.. Clark said:
Ia order TO remove this impression
the fact can be stated that a business
understanding between ourselves ana
the Oregon Short Line has been
reached. This arose from a demand
for the right Of way through the Mea-
dow valley wash, for which both roads
contended. This wash is lis miles long.
and runs across the ribs of scores of
ranges of mountains that jut into very
narrow valleys. Whatever geological
freak caused this structural condition
ar the surface Of the desert country no
one may ever know, but we know that
m ihat short distance the ODpOsing sur
NayS of both roads crossed and re-
crossed each other twenty-six times,
presenting railroad problems that are
seldom developed. These engineering
faats were heightened by the fact that
this wash runs between rOck-ribbed
noses that rise in places 100 feet. in
spots the wash being as narrow as
from curb TO curb on Broadway.
To build around these mountain
ranges to follow other routes or seek
other grades, would involve the expen-
HtUre of vast sums the end being that
one Of the roads would have this wash
route to the detriInent of the other.
This arrangement permits both lines,
without a s0Uahble. to use this wash
route. and i'm cases where the distance
Is only thirty or forty feet from rock
TO rock the points will be blasted away.
The cars of each road passing each
ether within their own shadows. This
was purely commercial and has no
traffic significance"
Regarding the future and the con-
Sructon 2f the Salt Lake route. Mr.
Clark id that the line would not be
completed before Jan. 1, 1903. The fact
is Mr. Clark continued. that the
completion of such an enterprisein two
Years will be regarded as an achieve
ment no railroad circles. as we have
many physical difficulties to overcome.
FROM The present outlook of the iron
market it viii be impossible to get ma
''I7I to complete the line at an earlier
period, as all railroads are short in the
rolling stock and other neCessaries for
Mn''n orders have long been placed.
we shall push the line and do our work
va hfs,-class fashion, so when il is com
a,ed"
M present ,he road bed Of the Salt
lake road is Completed to Rio Honda,
,." miles east of Los Angeles, while
'.e grading as far as Ontario is al
most completed. The first steel bridge
me line is being erected between
nose points. Sir. Clark says that no
I-.IIle route has been selected north
e.1 east from Ontario.
"1en VIII YOU begin work south
"... 0a'i Lake. Mr.. Clark was asked
'. present our engineers are sur
tt.- south from salt Lake and de-
~, mimi the grades that lead into the
t'N valley wash. where also stakes
'hE placed. No definite date has
ser for grading southwark. as we
%, a.'oUng our energies to this end.
D'. .' general way I can say that
u. .He VIII be lost that will enable Us
.'"n.ete the entire distance in
WI. NWan'i6e manner"
-'.- clark was informed that the