The San Francisco call., 1904-04-27
ELECTRIC LINE
WILL Be BUILT
Motor-Car Railway Between
San Francisco and San Jose
Is Planned by Capitalists
INSPECTIONS OF ROADS
Franchise Is Obtained for
Construction for a Branch
From Garden City to Alviso
Special Dispatch to Tn. CAN.

SAN JOSE. April 26.-Unless some
thing unforeseen happens an electric
railway will soon connect San Jose
with San Francisco. The promoters OF
the electric railways for the town OF
Santa Clara have been figuring on a
road from that place 10 Palo Alto, and
word comes from Palo Alto that within
a short time the San Mateo line Will
be extended from that place to Palo
Alto. From Palo Alto to Santa Clara
is only about twenty miles, and as the
country is level it is said the road
could be built for $4,000 a mile.
Just who the persons are who are
willing to build the electric roads at
Santa Clara is not known, although
the petition for a franchise has been
made In the name of number OF we'll
known capitalists of that place.
Anyhow the projectors of the road
have been figuring on running to
Mountain View and then to Palo Alto.
George w. Elder, who built the San
Jose-Los Gatos Electric Railway, which
is said to be the best constructed road
IL this part of the State. has been taken
over the road with the parties interest
ed in the matter. He has been figuring
on the cost of the road. It is said that
this line will go out Fremont avenue
after leaving Santa Clara and then cut
across to Mountain View. This is neces-
sary to get around a franchise granted
to George T. Dunlap by the Board of
Supervisors several years ago. At that
time Dunlap was granted several fran
chises about the county. He never
made any pretense to build roads, but
the franchises have been the means of
blocking several projected roads. Elder
is now figuring on the cost of such a
road.
What has also caused a furry in
electric railway circles is the appear
ance here numerous times recent
ly of G. A. Batchelder, the San
Francisco representative of E. H. Rol-
Inns & Son, the Boston bond brokers.
Three times during the past week
Batchelder is said to have made trips
over proposed roads OF this valley.
Sunday he inspected the line from Palo
Alto to San Jose, and then from this
city to Los Gatos, making the trip in
his automobile. Rollins & Son are the
largest electric railway bondholders on
the coast, and the presence of their
representative here has led to the re-
port that they are to finance the road.
F. S. Granger. the railroad promoter.
is rapidly getting things in shape for
his electric lines to Los Gatos by way
of Campbell and Berryessa. The sur
veys are about completed. Private
rights of way will be secured for the
line to Los Gatos by way of Campbell,
and it is said that parties in that sec
ton have already given him rights of
way for five or six miles. This road
will be built for speed, and will be fine
ly equipped. Granger has the capital
in sight for building the road, and it
will be commenced just as soon as a
franchise can be secured.
Another electric railway that is in
process of organization is the Alviso
electric railway. A franchise has al
ready been secured for the road from
this city to Alviso and from there to
Palo Alto and Milpitas. Never before
has been such a railroad building boom
in San Jose, and Eastern capital seems
anxious to take hold of any such in
vestment here.