The San Francisco call., 1908-05-22
REPORTED SALE
OF OCEAN SHORE
President Harvey Denies Rumor
That Southern Pacific Has
Bought Line
Visit to Los Angeles Gives Rise
to Story of Transfer
of Property

Through a dispatch from Los An
geles, the report was spread yesterday
that the Ocean Shore railway had been
purchased by the Southern Pacific. It
was stated that a meeting had been
held in the Pacific Electric building in
Downey Harvey, Peter Martin and
Walter Martin had represented the
Ocean Shore line and Epes Randolph
the Hartman corporation. The dis
patch said that the terms OF the trans
Ter had been arranged at this meeting.
j. Downey Harvey. president of the
Ocean Shore, said Yesterday afternoon
that there was no truth in the report.
He added that no offer had been re-
ceived from the Southern Pacific for
the road and that no negotiations of
any kind looking to the sale of the
property had been instituted.
L was in Los Angeles at the time
mentioned, said Harvey, but L went
there on other matters and my visit
had nothing to do with Ocean Shore af-
fairs. l am a member of land COM
pany that owns property near Redondo.
We had our annual meeting and I at
tended. l met II. E. Huntington, who
is also interested. and with him went
out TO take look over the real estate.
| believe that Epes Randolph and Mr..
Herrin were in Los Angeles at the time
and that probably gave rise to the re-
port of the sale
ARE GOING RIGHT AHEAD
AS far as the Ocean Shore railway
is concerned. we are going right ahead
with our work. We have not had any
oners from the Southern Pacific and
nave not made any offers to them"
The reported sale of the Ocean Shore
recalls the statements made a year ago
that the Western Pacific was negotiat-
ing for the property. 1t has been estab-
lished that Waiter J. Bartnett while in
control OF the California safe deposit
and trust company, conceived the idea
of purchasing the line for the Gould in
terests. Nothing came of his plans.
That both the Western Pacific and
the Southern Pacific have cast eager
eyes toward the Ocean Shore is well
known to railroadmen. The Harvey
road holds a strategic position, and
would make a valuable adjunct to the
Western Pacific, affording 1t desirable
outlet to Southern California, with good
water connections. The Western Pa
ciflc has run surveys down the state
and it has been pointed out. that the
acquisition of the Ocean Shore would
fall advantageously into it's general
scheme OF expansion.
The Southern Pacific, ever watchfui
for chance to checkmate the Gould
line. would accomplish double object
In taking over the property. In the hrst
place, it would cut its rival from the
most desirable entrance into the lower
part OF the state, and in the second
place II would acquire not only a feeder
for its main line, but a branch that
WouI0 shorten It's running time TO san
ia Cruz
ROAD MUCH DESIRED
A number of other elements combine
to make the Ocean Shore desirable
property for the Southern Pacific II
Will be recalled that Immediately after
the hre Of April, 1906. E. H. Hartman
came TO the coast and casting a spell
over Eugene e. Schmitz, then mayor of
the city, induced him TO grant valuable
franchises over the city streets to the
Southern Pacific. However, Hartman
gained less than one-half Of the fran
chises for which he asked. J. Downey
Harvey had secured the most valuable
privileges for the Ocean Shore, getting
for the company not only rights of way
over scores of city streets. but depot
and spur track privileges leading right
to Market street. His franchises form
continuous chain from the Potrero
through a growing manufacturing dis
trict, which the Southern Pacific skirts
to the terminal at Eleventh and Market
streets.
The franchises annexed by the Ocean
Shore railway at that time are valued
in excess Of $1,000, 600, although they
cost the company nothing They are
franchises which the Southern Pacific
especially desires TO acquire Thew
would give the Hartman road a Mar
ket street depot. condition for which
the Wall street magnate has been striv-
Ing long. The Ocean Shore has valu-
able yards at Mission and Twelfth
streets, and more valuable depot site
at Eleventh and Market streets