The San Francisco call., 1903-09-17
PARALLEL sTEAM RoAns-


PARALLEL STEAM ROADS.
In many cases the proposed lines have
been made to parallel the present steam
roads, fact which has suggested that
the plan is to operate if necessary
through the very same territory from
winch the Southern Pacific Company is
deriving the major part of its local reve-
nue.. Captain Ross has spent many weeks
in San Francisco during the past year.
devoting his attention to the work of his
surveyors and particularly to the men
working between Sacramento and Stock
ton and this city. His plans are said to
include scheme for bay terminus
somewhere near Vallejo Junction, to
which point freight destined for this city
can be transferred to beats and brought
here at a more reasonable rate than the
producers can expect TO obtain from the
steam roads.
Although Captain Ross plans and his
movements for several months have been
known to a number Of men in this city
and the interior he has discreetiy Kept
as a secret one of the most important
things in connection with his scheme.
namely, who is behind it in a financial
way. 1t is well known in Los Angeles
that Captain Ross enjoys to a great ex-
tent the confidence of Henry Z. Hunting
ton, and this together with the fact that
the latter gentleman already owns or
holds large interests In number of cleo
trio roads in Northern California and is
deeply interested in the more modern
method of transportation, as has been
evidenced by the work he has done in
the south, gives rise TO the suspicion that
the multi-millionaire is backing Ross en-
terprise. Such being the case it is nat
ural that those who have been watching
Ross would imagine that Banker He'll
man is also in the scheme
EVIDENTLY NO TRUCE.
1. w. Hellman Jr.. speaking for his
father yesterday, said that he was not
aware that the former had any interest
in the Northern California underta king.
He, however, admitted that he had known
for some months that Captain Ross was
planning a number of electric railways
north of San Francisco, with a steamer
connection on the bay. by which freight
can be landed in this city He had heard
that Ross had in view as his bay terminal
a point of land near Vallejo Junction.
Several months ago, when the Hunt
ington-Hellman syndicate was warning
with the Southern Pacific Company in
Southern California over their respective
lines, Henry E. Huntington came to this
city and calling on President Hartman
of the Southern Pacific Company in
formed that gentleman that if he per-
sisted in interfering with the electric road
system in Southern California the Hunt
fngton-HeLlman syndicate would invade
Northern California with a similar sys-
TEN of roads and fight the Southern Pa
cific TO a finish.
Later it was reported that Hartman
and Huntington had patched up their diff
ferences in the south, but there are many
who are inclined to believe that If a
treaty Of peace was really signed Hunt
ington did not include in 1t a promise TO
stay out Of Northern California If condi-
tfons warranted the introduction of cleo
trio roads for freight traffic there With
the construction of a few hundred miles
of electric road Huntington could soon
make connection with the lines in which
he has already secured an interest and
possibly controls, and in a very short
time effect a gigantic system that would
prove most formidable competitor to
the steam roads through the valley sec
tions of the State.