Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-01


west
Some hand of fate has directed that
the harbors of Los Angeles, some of
them built almost completely by the
hand of man, and after an expense of
millions of dollars, shall be the gate
way through which the greater part
of the traffic to and from the orient
shall pass.
The possibilities of the Los Angeles
of the future are so tremendous that
they would stupefy even the dreamer
were they all thrust upon him at
once.
Fate is beckoning to Los Angeles,
already known throughout the entire
world as possessing an unequaled cli-
mate, to step forward and take fore
most place among all of the great
cities as the spot where transconti-
mental lines and oriental steamship
lines shall meet and exchange car
goes.
outstretched Arms
Railroad magnates who have been
bending their energies toward travers-
ing the northwest with a network of
lines now turn to the great southwest
with covetous eyes.
The first guns have already been
fired, and at the present time the sit
uation is found to be somewhat mixed.
Forces are being massed on all sides
preparing for the great struggle with
the City of the Angels as a goal.
The three railroads which now have
entrance into the city are seeking to
entrench themselves on every hand in
order that they may keep out compe-
tition that will wrest from them a few
dollars, but which will be a godsend
to the city.
But the people of this both cosmo-
politan and metropolitan city will not
have it so and today they are hold
ing their arms outstretched to the new
comers, through whom the future Of
the city will be worked out.
Strongly intrenched
The Goulds, the Rock Island and
James J. Hill have all looked with
longing eyes at this sunny port of the
southland. The lines of all three are
backed with seemingly unlimited re-
sources and now that they have de-
termined to enter Los Angeles. it is al
most certain that they will accomplish
what they have set out to do.
Their greatest resource that will be
of value in reaching here is one that
is of more value than money-it is
public sentiment. With their usual
farsightedness the people Of Los An
geles and of the whole of Southern
California realize that this country
has been built up by the railroads and
that if they are to expect great things
in the future they must have more
railroads. That is the argument or
many prominent men.
Country Needs Railroads
"What the country needs is more
railroads." said President Underwood
of the Erie few days ago at his home
in Pasadena. Transportation is a
means of education and development.
,,ta low ir hn r.
rying the manufactured products from
the developed country to the new coun-
try and transporting the populatlon
between as they sec fit.
"To be true, one of your greatest re-
sources here is the boundless sunshine
but it is a great asset Tor Whlcn lne
people are looking.
"When people come here they must
have something to eat clothes to wear,
and a thousand other things. To the
railroads must be given a share of the
credit for the wonderful development
of this great country of ours
Struggle of Old and New
Not all of the struggle that will be
carried on in this land of sunshine
will be between the old and the new
railroads, but there is to be fight
between the railroads which already
have a foothold here.
Hartman and the Santa Fe are
at outs and contracts by which he had
the best of it will soon be broken.
Hartman is now fighting the en-
trance of the Western Pacific into
Oakland, and has so far the upper
hand of the Goulds.
To be able to explain just what the
plans of the various railway mag
mates are and what they will do in
the future would make the fortune of
any man.
AT best, one can only rely upon his
Judgment and upon the consensus of
the opinions of the railroad men who
are ever alert and have their fingers
upon the pulse of new railroad enter
prises.
Gould Will Build Here
George Gould is now recognized as
one of the foremost and enterprising
railroad men of the United States. In
his possession now, with the roads
which he is building, is great trans
continental line with thousands of
branches, 10000 miles in length.
When the Western Pacific is COM
pleted from Salt Lake City to San
Francisco. Gould will have an inde-
pendent line reaching from the At
lantic to the Pacific. Already he has
lines from the Gulf of Mexico to the
Great lakes.
But George Gould will not then be
content. He sees where millions of
dollars can be netted by him If he
should extend his lines to Los An
geles with branches into the orange
growing districts.
Will he stop here? Probably not.
He has desire for oriental business,
and what will hinder him from build
ing g steamship line with San Pedro as
the American port?
In fact, this will be very likely
fa, III 70 IN for hiq friends
declare that he has such ambitions.
Rock Island May Build
That Gould will enter Los Angeles
is no longer matter of speculation.
The question to be decided in the
= LIZ. Il 4. n.. e.