The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-03
RAILROAD NEWS.
New Line Through the Cali
fornia Redwood Forests.
Santa Fe and Southern Pacific
to Unite in Building It.
WONDERFUL WOODS.
Twenty-Five Billion Feet of Tim
Der to Be Opened to World.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.
WONDERFUL WOODS.

Announcement that the Atchison, To-
peka & Santa Fe and the Southern Pa
eific are to unite in the construction Of
a line 10 miles in length from Shiyely.
Cal, the southern terminus of the San
Francisco & Northwestern road, owned
by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe,
to Sherwood, the northern terminus of
the California Northwestern, owned by
the Southern Pacific, is of particular in
terest for two reasons. In the first place
1t indicates that the two companies are
following a policy directly opposite to
that of the Hill and Hartman interests
by entering into an amicable arrange
ment to avoid the construction of com
petfng lines through a territory in which
both are equally interested and the traf-
fic of which can be handled by one line;
and IN the next place because such u
road viii open to the markets of the
world the great redwood forests Of
Mendocino and Humboldt counties.
Several years ago, when the Santa F'e
acquired the Eel River & Eureka, run
ming from Eureka south a short dis
tance, it was with the intention of ex-
tending it from the southern terminus
through the forests to san Francisco or
to a connection with some line from
San Francisco north which might be
acquired. The California Northwestern,
san Francisco bay, north to Sherwood,
1872 miles, was sought by the Santa Fe,
but the Southern Pacific had quietly
secured an option on the road, which
is now safely within the Southern Pa
cific fOIS.
The avowed intention of the latter
was to extend the line from Will1ttS
north through MendOcino and Hum
bo1dt counties, and the Santa Fe had
surveys made for an extension of the
Eel River railroad, now known as the
san Francisco & Northwest south
to San Francisco, for the acquired road
was Of little value to the Santa F'e un-
til it could be connected with the main
line at San Francisco. This would have
necessitated the construction of ESQ
miles of line With the purchase of
the road the Santa F'e also acquired
large acreage of redwood timber lands.
and had it been found necessary to
build all the way to San Francisco in
order to obtain an outlet for the large
shipments Of lumber available, it was
prepared to undertake the work.
Realizing that one company could
not occupy this territory to the ex-
clusiCn of the other, the two interests
wisely have entered into an arrange
ment for the organization of a new
coB3rany to take over the san Fran
cisco & Northwestern and the Call
fornia Northwestern and to build the
10 mile link necessary to connect
them, each company to own half IN
tel est in the line from San Francisco
to Eureka on Humboldt bay, the only
port on the California coast north of
San Francisco.
The redwood timber district extends
from Sonoma county north to the Ore
gon state line about 225 miles, and
occupies a strip Of land along the coast
ranging in width from to Is miles,
with an area of 1000 square miles.
The last census report states that the
standing timber approximates Is, 000,0 600
600 feet but later Investigations by
timber experts, after n thorough explor-
alton of the territory, shows that the
acreage had been greatly oVerestinaatet,
and thees authorities make a censerva-
tive estimate of $4,000, 600. 600 feet of
standing timber, the present annual
consumption being about 500 600. 900 feet.
Redwood is a strong and very durable
timber and its chief value is for inside
finishing although it is used extensive
" for shingles and in California for
house building and conduits, its dura-
bility making it especially desirable for
the last named purpose. The local con-
sumption is limited, however. the larger
portion of the product being shipped to
foreign countries, including Australia,
Japan and South America; but It IS
coming into use in many of the eastern
markets, and owing to the walnut fam
inc and the high price Of mahogany it
is anticipated that there will be
growing demand for redwood in the
east for inside finishing. Careful IN
vestigation shows that shipments can
he made by rail to points east of the
Mississippi river at a favorable rate and
a large movement in the commodity
only awaits the completion or the JOINT
line referred to-