The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-11-01
SAN PEDRO WILL
OPEN ON TIME
Senator Clark Expects Through
Trains Dec. /.
PARTY MAKES FAST RUN
UNFINISHED GAP IS REDUCED
TO SIxTY-FIvE MILES.
PARTY MAKES FAST RUN

Senator w. A. Clark and the party of
railroad men who went to Las Vegas,
New. on Saturday returned early yes
terday morning in time for the senator
10 make connections with the morning
train for Butte.
The entire party was delighted with
the progress made at this end of the
San Pedro line by the construction
corps. Senator Clark said that only
sixty-five miles of steel remained to be
laid to close the gap between the two
ends and that he hoped TO see the gap
closed by Dec. 1 or within very few
days of that date. To offset some de-
lays on the California end of the work
arrangements have been made to crowd
things on this end of the line and it is
certain now that the last rail will be
laid ahead of the time limit. Jan. /,
which Senator Clark announced some
months ago
While the railroad men were at Las
Vegas. they made a thorough inspection
of the natural facilities for railroad
terminals. shops and such other accom-
modations as will be needed in case Las
Vegas in made a division point. SEN
at0r Clark also had his first look at the
Stewart ranch, which he bought some
months ago and was more than pleased
with his purchase. The place is of his
toric interest and will be preserved
largely in its original form, particularly
the old house which is loop holed as it
was in the early Indian days. Alto
getheT the trip was satisfactory and
will he followed by greater activity at
the front.
Fast Run by Special.
Senator Clark reached Salt Lake after
a run from Las Vegas that furnished
some idea of the saving i'm time that
viii be made over the road between
points in the east ard the coast. The
start was made from Las Vegas for the
return trip at 4.30 Sunday afternoon,
and at five minutes before s this
morning the train pulled in at the Salt
Lake depot so that the trip over the
route was made i'm fifteen hours and
twenty-five minutes. AS Las Vegas is
sixty miles the other side of the half
way point, and as a good part of the
road is really in the hands of the con-
struction department, still the time
made on the return trip is considered
good. In gCing out the start was made
from Salt Lake at 2:10 in the afternoon,
and Las Vegas was reached at Z
O'Clock Sunday morning.
The whole day Sunday was spent by
Senator Clark and his associates in
looking over the work being done at
Las Vegas and in planning for the
division point there, the shops and the
townsite. This was the first visit TO Las
Vegas of most of those in the party.
They were well pleased with the out
look at that point and were Impressed
with the work being done to close up
the last gap in the line from Salt Lake
TO the coast.
Good Place For Fruit.
One thing that impressed all in the
party was the advantages Las Vegas
held out as a site for city. There are
1000 acres of land of wonderful rich
ness at ttat point and if sufficient wa
ter can be secured it viii be made one
of the most fertile spots in the whole
state of Nevada Members Of the party
found figs and apples growing side by
side in one orchard. H. the same
orchard We're found trees producing in
their appropriate seasons walnuts. al
monds, peaches, apTicots. plums. pears.
oranges. as well a > vines bearing grapes
of many varieties. all manner of small
fruits, sweet potatoes ana peanuts. Inc
fruit at that point ripens several weeks
before the fruit in tEis part of Utah. so
that it was held that with the road
completed ready market would be
f-ud for all that could he produced.
The information was given out by
those in charge Of the construction work
at Las Vegas that the gap nov is less
than So biles, and that il as rapidly
closing up The gangs OF this end have
but . miles Of track TO complete. and
are confident Of winning ;hc race
10 the point where il was expected that
the last spike would be driven Nc
doubt was expressed by. anyone ccrnected
with the road as 20 the opening Of the
are out twenty miles southwest Of Las We
gas and the work is being pushed ener-
getically under the direction of District
/ Engineer Jones. The rails will b. laid
as last as the work of grading is done
Time Considered Remarkable.
The fast time made by the Clark spe-
cial on the return "trip is all the more
remarka bic because OF the fact that OF
| $50 miles Of the distance the Toadbed is
! less than z year old. Added to this is
the fact that many construction gangs
are at work between here and Las We
gas raising the grades. baliasting anC
/ doing other work OF improvement. AL
! these construction trains had 10 be side
tracked to clear tho main track for tht
! special and the CELEBRITY with which this
y as done speaks well foE the discipline
! % the sorce in charge Of the road.
Railroad Notes
H.>A, Johnson. general freight agent