The San Francisco call., 1906-07-08
New System VIII
Benefit City.
Freight Can Be Handled
More Readily by the
Latest Cut Off Route
EASY TO HAUL ALL
BUILDING MATERIAL
Officials Expect to, Put
the Scheme Into Play
Within a Few Months

The Southern Pacific Company has
decided upon a new freight line be-
tween thfs city and Oakland for the
handling, of trnnscontinenfal freight for
the Orient, as well as general lines,
The route Will be by way of Newark.
Dumbarton Point, Redwood City and
across the new bay shore cut-on into
this city. The line is to be about sixty
seven miles long, with maximum
grade of about ono and n half per cent.
This move f. one of the most impor-
tant made by the company for some
time.
The old coast road, recently trans
formed into a broad gauge system
from Alameda to Newark. will be util-
lied in the new system. The line will
then extend across the proposed Dunn
barton Point cut-ofr to Newark and
across the shallow south bay by a 16o-
foot drawbridge. From this point the
line will extend to Redwood City.
From the latter place the route will
extend into this city by way of the bay
shore cutoff, which is now in course
OF construction. It is expected the cut
on will be completed by December. This
VIII give the Southern Pacfic a chance
to inaugurate its new freight system
within very short time after.
The expense of the cut-ott across
from Dumbarton Point will be large.
and this work was only determined
upon after it was found to be out of
the question from an economic point Of
view TO move freight from Oakland to
San Francisco via San Jose or Santa
Clara, a distance Of nearly one hundred
miles.
FREIGHT BUSINESS INCREASES.
The immense growth of San Fran
cisco made it necessary either to pro-
vide more transbay ferry facilities and
ships and yards at great expense or
bring. San Francisco freight into the
city that now comes across the bay bv
way of an all-rail line.
After investigation 1t was decided
that the only practicable route would he
70 cross South San Francisco bay at a
point which would reduce the rail mile
age to q figure that would mean no
greater expense than the present slow
system Of switching trains in West
Oakland yard. shipping the cars in
groups across the bay on car ferries
and then reswitching to San Francisco
freight houses and industries.
President Hartman, after the fire
gave evidence Of his faith in the city
by ordering the work rushed, believing
1t would be very necessary in furnish
ing transportation facilities to handle
the material for rebuilding the city.
Chief Engineer Hood expects to have
one line. the bay shore cut-ofr. COM
pleted this fall Two thousand men are
at work there. Fifty miles of yard
tracks are being laid at visitacion Bav.
just below the city. Day and night
gangs are employed and the fve tun-
nels are well under way. The line will
be double track to San Jose, connecting
with The present line at San Bruno.
NEW CUTOFF IS PLANNED.
Tho suburban passenger service is to
be increased and the time shortened
fifteen minutes. All north and south
freight for San Francisco will then
come IN via San Jose, and east and west
freight. instead Of crossing the bay at
Oakland. will move via Dunbarton
Point
The Dumbarton Point cut-on will be
begun as soon as possible. While there
is no regular line of boats operating
south OF Dumbarton Point and only a
few schooners occasionally plying
those waters. the possible future com
rnerce is to be safeguarded by a draw
bridge OF two spans each, giving a
channel Of 125 feet clear and large
enough to accommodate the biggest
steamer anoat
Passenger service has not been de-
cided upon. The new route will not
affect any other service than that
across San Francisco bay, unless an
Ogden route overland should be
brought in that way.
The Southern Pacific. local ofrcials
expect to have the new route completed
in time to serve San Franciseo's pros
pective immense building trade of next
spring.