Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-20

To build a railroad from San Pedro to
Los Angeles and thence north through
the San Joaquin and Sacramento val
leys to connect with his new Shasta
road is now believed by high railroad
Executives who continually keep their
fingers on the pulse of any new rail-
road project to be the intention of j. j.
Hill
Already has his representative, in the
guise of an attorney for the Pacific
Coast Steamship company, presented a
petition to the council of San Pedro
for a franchise to build road from
San Pedro to Los Angeles. 1t is a we'll
known fact that this company is con-
trolled by Hill and most of it's stock Is
in his possession.
Hill and Hartman have alreay
.massed their forces in the northern
part of the state, as was exclusively
stated in The Herald February II, for
bitter warfare, and it is not unlikely
that Hill will want to place himself
fin position so that he will not have to
depend upon the Hartman lines for an
outlet to the south. say railroad men.
" Should Hill secure possession of the
necessary rights to build a road
from Shasta to San Pedro with the
consolidation of the Northern Pacific
and Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Paul and
VI the dTedJ NOIlHeTIl ana burlington
into two great transcontinental lines it
will put him at the head of one of the
greatest railroad systems in the United
States.
Makes Application for Franchise
Two weeks ago an attorney for the
Pacific & Gulf Terminal railroad made
an application to the city council of
San Pedro for franchise to build and
operate a railroad through the city
limits of that place and thence to Los
Angeles.
Many wild speculations were in
dulged in as to who was behind the
project, and yesterday it developed that
James j. Hill is the real hacker of the
enterprise
Harry Goodall of San Francisco, one
of the executives of the Pacific Coast
Steamship company which controls the
greater portion of the steamship bus
iness on the Pacific coast, in company
with an attorney, spent last Saturday
in San Pedro in consultation with
prominent men and the city trustees.
This practically foretells who is the real
promoter of the new road. James j,
Hill has recently secured control of the
greater part of the stock of the steam
ship company.
Hill has long had his eye upon
southern port. Several years ago he
gained possession of Point Magu in
Ventura county, where there is
lagoon which will float a ship at high
tide. This tract consists of several
h, ndred acres.
II was his intention to establish a
shipping point there, but later he aban-
doned the project.
With Mr.. Goodall there were two
other men who would not divulge their
names. AT first Mr.. Goodall asked that
his name be not mentioned in connec-
tion with the affair." but later gave his
consent.
Mr.. Goodall is kown to have said to
a friend in San Pedro that it had long
been the company's desire to get foot
hold there so that it would not have to
pay tribute In the way of freight
charges to the Southern Pacific and
Salt Lake roads.
Eat the present time the large yes
sells of the company do not come into
San Pedro, but stop at Port Los An
geles and Redondo. The smaller freight
boats now land at San Pedro and their
contents are unloaded onto the rail-
roads there. A rate of 221s cents per
hundred weight is charged on all
freight, no difference being made in
the rate whether it's destination be San
Pedro or Los Angeles.
Time Has Come for Business
Mr.. Goodall says the time has come
when the company means business and
Is very desirous to build a line out of
San Pedro if possible. He also said
that large line OF oriental steamers
would be constructed and would make
San Pedro terminal as soon as there
was deep water landing for them.
The application for franchise will
be brought up in the council meeting
today and since many citizens of San
Pedro favor it, it is likely that the
company will be given permission to
construct the road.