Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1903-10-16
The Weekly Independent.
OCTOBER le. 1903
Tn. w..,eru p.slne.

A dispatch from Chicago under date
OF October 12tb, furnishes new grounds
for speculation relative to tlc Western
Pacific Railroad Company, which has
been a puzzler to railroad circles. The
dispatch snys:
.Ihe Burlington Railroad has gained
an entrance to San Francisco and will
soon have solid. trims running from
Chicago to the Coast, according to prom.
inent officials OF tho railroad company.
The expansion OF the roads's facilities
comes through the acquisition OF the
Mofrat road from Denver to Salt Lake
and of the Western Pacific from Salt
Lake to the Coast. For a long time
there has been considerable mystery rs
to the moving influence behind the two
roads In question. and at he time OF
construction it WIS insisted that the
Western Pacific was projected by George
j. Gould that he might rcaliZ, his
cherished ambition to have a line from
ocean to ocean.
"When Motfat attempted to float
bonds fol his project, he found many
obstacles, beng opposed 10y Wall street
interests. When leust expected he was
successful and it then became evident
he had powerful allies. Then came the
surrender by the 90 Of its canyon sur
veys and other rights to MoifHt.7
The San Francisco Chronicle says:
sIf Burlington interests are behind
the Western Pacific road, IL mystery
that has been Il source OF wild specuia.
ton in railroan circles for many months
has at last been explained.
Up to the present time well-iDtormed
railroad men, and the public generally,
have agreed with one accord that Gould
wa behind the Wsetcrn Pacific. The
railroad map OF the country between tie
Missouri river and the Pacific seemed 90
offer convincing evidence that only tie
Gould Ryst-m rould be responsible tOv
all the industry that has marked tia.
Western Pacitic's operations up to
the present time, and other evidence has
not been wanting TO prove thn, Gouli
was furnishing the millions thn; had
been put into the enterprise.
"A doubt was thrown on this under
standing Of the situation recently @hen
one of the promoters OF the Western
Pacific declared alphabetically tina.
Gould had no interests in the enter.
prise, and that it, fortunes were bound
up with those Of the Moffat line be.
tween Salt Lake and Denver. Many
people will now accept aS plausible the
statement that the Moffat road and the
Western Pacific are Burlington enter
prises, by which the Burlington Is to Oh
tain an entrance INTO San Francisco. al
though official confirmation Of the fact
is still wanting.
THE public has had ample evidence
for some time that the Western Pacific
is to become mn actually just rs quickly
rs the roadbed can be graded and laid
with ties and rails. Rights ~ way have
been secured for the greater 81: IT the
proposet line, and construction work Is
in progress Mt several points. The com
pany has obtained terminal facilities i'll
the city, D Ikland and elsewhere, and ia
engaged in securing franchises for var
ious branch lines and feeders. The main
line viii be run from Oakland to Stock
ton, Sacramento, Oroyillc, and through
the Beckwith Pass. crossing the main
line Ct the Central Pacific in the neigh.
borhood Of Wordsworth, Nevada, and
from that point will follow almost an air
line to Salt Lake City, where. according
to latest admissions, it will connect with
tive M0fIat road. The estimated length
OF the line from here to Salt Lake ia SIC
miles. and the estimated cost 600.
25o,C0O.T