The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09
TWO RAILWAYS RAGING FOR THE PACIFIC "%%

sAN FRkNcIsco, Oct-Ss-An exciting race
10 going On between Senator w. A. Csrk's
Salt Lake road, whose corporate name 10
the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake
Railway, and the Western Pacific Railroad,
said to be backed by the Gould interests.
Both lines will give short connections TO
the Pacific from Salt Lake City, and both
viii open UP rich and little known stretches
OF country, at present unexpected by
capital and far from existing ways Of travel.
From the fact that both new lines have
already secured terminal facilities upon
the Pacific Coast, with q deep water frontage
which will enable them to unload their
freights upon Asia going vessels. 1t is gen.
orally believed that they VIII make through
connections with the East.
The Clark line will shorten the time OF
travel between Los Angeles and Salt Lake,
which Il now q roundabout route, by more
than eighteen hours, and will cut OF almost
fifteen hours between Los Angeles and
Chicago. The Western Pacific, which Is
building through to Oakland, across the
bay from San Francisco, will 1t Ii said mako
connections with tho Moffatt road now
building through northern Colorado and
II this Ia the case the time Of travel between
San Francisco and Chicago Will be dimin-
ished by twelve hours and the easy grades
viii permit faster running, which may out
the time down to twenty hours at a profitable
operating cost.
The haste with which the two roads are
being built has impaired to their construo-
ton the aspect of race. The prize for the
winner will be the ability to secure large
share Of the rich traffic expected to result
from the opening Of Asia after the conclusion
OF the Russo-Japanese War. Naturally,
the first road able to deliver the goods
will be in a position to close immediate
contracts. Already, it Is said, emissaries OF
both the Clark line and the Western Pacific
Railroad are looking over the situation
In Australia and the Far East.
Senator Clark Is expanding 81 100000 a
month out OF his private fortune to push
forward his enterprise. No bonds have
been foated for this road, and its affairs
are in the absolute control of the Clark
directorate.
The Clark line has secured advantageous
terminal facilities at Los Angeles and at
Sah Pedro harbor, a port within twenty
miles OF Los Angeles, where the Govern
mont is spending 100000 on break
water. The Clark line has absorbed and
practically rebuilt the Los Angeles Terminal
Railroad, and has extended its new roadbed
almost 100 miles from Los Angeles, trains
running as far as San Bernardino.
Work on the Salt Lake end OF the line
has been rapidly pushed forward. Only
City miles remains to complete the gap
between Los Angeles and Salt Lake.
The Western Pacific, on the other hand,
has been eIpending even greater sums
In construction. Purchasing agents have
already secured rights Of way through
California. number Of short roads have
been absorbed and the actual laying Of
the ties Is 90 far completed that the first
train will run from Chicago to San Fran
cisco within nine months.
This road will make connections from
Salt Lake City over the Union Pacific until
the completion Of the Moffatt road from
Denver and Salt Lake.
The race between the two roads recalls
to old Pacific Coast railway men the race
between the Central Pacific and the Union
Pacific In 1859. From the Government both
lines had obtained enormous concessions,
both In money and in land.
The Central Pacific started from CALI
fornia, while the Union Pacific worked
from the East. When the laying Of ties
began there ensued dramatic race across
the continent, for each road was to have
an tho line IL laid up to the meeting point.
The last tie was laid on May TO- 1869, at
Pronontory Point, near Great Salt Lake.
Tho nsxt morning the first train passed
over the entire distance from shore to shore,
and tho dream Of forty years was fulfilled.
The prizes In the present race, II not 80
aI,at are at least more immediate The
Western Pacific win enter California from
Nevada by Beckwith Pass, in Plumas county.
In the central portion OF the State.
This county IL more than twioe as large