Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-21
CRIPPLE
RAILWAY LINES
SALT LAKE AND SOUTHERN
PACIFIC SUFFER
Washouts and Landslldes Seriously
Delay Traffic All Over State
and In Nevada-santa Fe
System Unharmed

Many miles of tracks which have been
washed out, long stretches Of telephone
wires down and thousands of dollars
damages attest the power of the storm
which has swept the state of Califor-
MIA the past few days. With the dam
age from the last storms not yet en-
tirely repaired, the railroad companies
are again being compelled to hurry
their section gangs to the washed-out
districts to replace culverts bridges
and stretches of track .hich have been
washed out by the heavy rains of the
past week.
In extent of damage the Salt Lake
road is perhaps the greatest sufferer.
| Scarcely a month ago heavy storms
destroyed, almost eighty niles of track
in the Meadow valley wash, and for
the past three weeks large repair gangs
consisting of several hundred work.
men have been working to repair tracks
and remedy the damage caused by the
former floods. Yesterday word was re-
ceived at the companys headquarters
that rain was again falling in the wash,
and It Is likely that there will soon he
more work for the gangs which are still
on the grounds.
To Lay New Tracks
The Salt Lake company is preparing
to do away with sucl trouble in the
future, and for a distance of more than
forty miles an entirely new line will
be constructed. Estimating the cost of
| track at $4,000 a mile, the cost to the
company, together with the losses it
has sustained, will amount to almost
81, 100000.
The Southern Paoific estimates its
| loss this season at about $500,000
Three times during the past month the
coast road to San Francisco has been
tied up and traffic wholly suspended
| on several occasions for days at a
time. The storm of the past few days
created havoc with the company's
coast line, and it will probably be sew
eral days before traffic car be resumed
The San Margarita tunnel, north of
San Luis Obispo and 23S miles north of
this city, caved in Tuesday This tun-
mel is the longest on the road, with the
exception of the tunnel near Chats
worth Park. Train No. % was the
last to get through the tunnel, arriv-
ing in Los Angeles TUESDAY night
Since then all the coast line trains are
being detoured by way of the valley
line. The Shore Line Limited has been
indefinitely abandoned.
| An addition to the Southern Pacifics
troubles is the fact that this road is
handling a large part of the business
of the Salt Lake line, and also the
Santa Fe business to and from San
Francisco. This, together with the
coast line traffic which is being sent
over the valley route, is taxing that
line to it's limit.
Santa Fe Escapes
Thus far, the damage to the Santa
Fe road has been comparatively slight.
Extensive preparations have been made
to prevent a repetition of the disastrous
washouts in New Mexico and Arizona,
which last year caused the company
loss of more than $1,000, 900, and it is
believed by company officers that there
will be little or no trouble in that Sec
tion this spring.
| In the northern part of the state,
however, some damage is reported.
High water in the San Joaquin valley
| has caused great loss. In Stockton
the company's tracks were covered with
almost three feet of water, but re-
port received last night stated that the
| floods had receded and the town was
almost dry again. The water was suf-
| ficient to tie up both the Santa Fe and
Southern Pacific roads. In the valley
many miles of track were washed out
and bridges were destroyed.
Telegraph communication with the
north is in chaotic condition. Yes
terday the Postal Telegraph company
had lines working to San Francisco,
but north of that city the service was
seriously delayed because of many
| wires down. The service to Washing
ton and oregon was particularly poor.
Business for the east was transmitted
by way of this city, thus necessitating
considerable delay.
The Western Union lines north are
said to be open but working slowly.