The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1907-05-27
RAILROADS PLAN
UNION DEPOT ON
OAKLAND BLOCK
Great Passenger Structure
May Be Erected on
Land Purchased
COMPANIES COMBINED
Southern Pacific and Santa
Fe Are Said to Be
Acting Jointly
TERMINAL PROJECTED
Atchison and Topeka Line
Under Promise to City
on the Franchises

Ol1 l1lC Il dllNllloGS
OAKLAND. May Strongly
suggested by recent purchases in West
Oakland of f1arge realty holdings by the
Santa Fe company comes the story in
local railroad circles that the Southern
Pacific company and the Santa Fe have
under discussion the construction of a
union passenger station In the vicinity
of Wood and Twentieth streets.
1t has just become known that the
Santa Fe has bought block of land
west of Wood street between Twentieth
and Iwenty-hrst streets. stretching al
most to the main line of the Southern
Pacific out of Oakland on the west
side. This large site is several blocks
west of the new Santa Fe freight sta
tion at Union and Twentieth streets,
and 1t is said by railroad men who are
watching the moves with keen interest.
to be an ideal location for a passenger
terminal, in view of the Santa Fe and
the Southern Pacific's apparent plans
of development. which are centering
in that vicinity.
The Santa Fe purposes to extend its
tracks from Emeryville south in Wood
street, turning east at Twentieth to
Union. At the point of turning into
Twentieth street and close at hand is
the block which was bought by the
Santa Fe. Ownership of this land gives
the road chance to make connections
over its own property with the South
ern Pacific company's main line. The
situation as it exists on the maps has
given rise to the belief that important
moves are contemplated.
PROMISE OF TERMINAL
The Santa Fe representatives when
they obtained franchises from the city
of Oakland several years ago. promised
that this city should be made a mas
senger as well as freight terminal
Ihe closing of the freight transfer
agreement with the Southern Pacific
fulfills the freight end of the prom
ise Oakland has been looking for
ward to a Santa Fe station which
would literally meet the pledges of the
men when they got their franchise
privilege. The purchase of land and
the fact that 1t edges upon the South
ern Pacific main line at most con-
Venlent point lends additional color TO
the current story concerning the two
companies plans for a union depot.
interest in the railroad situation has
been stimulated further by the die
closure of activity in Southern Paciec
circles touching the construction Of rho
proposed electric cross town line bv
that company to form loop system
IN connection with the electrization of
the Webster street alameda mole,
line. 1t is known that Southern Pacific
engineers have been closely examininr
the streets near Twenty-second street
paralieling the line of the Key Route.
twentieth, Twenty first and Hobart
streets are among the thorouehfares
which have been given special atten-
ton. These would furnish outlet for
road to run from Fourteenth and
Franklin streets north in Franklin and
west along one of the selected parallels
to the Key Route. At the west side Of
the city this line would border the new
purchase of the Santa Fe in Wood
street. on either the north or the
south side, and swing off south toward
the Southern Pacific broad gauge mole
The Southern Pacific has already AR
ranged to make extensive changes on
the north side of the mole SO that ae-
commodations can be given for the
new line if desired
OFFICIALS ARE RETICENT
Neither the Santa Fe nor the South
ern Pacific officials will admit for pub
lication that anything significant is at
stake in these recent moves at West
Oakland. But despite their reticence
it is certain that the moves are most
important in their bearing upon the
near future.
Railroad men in close touch with
conditions do not hesitate to express
that the Santa Fe and Southern Pa
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