Los Angeles herald., 1908-01-16
NO FREEZEOUT
IN OW EMS
LINE BIDS
CITY REPLIES TO RIVAL ROADS
PROTEST
FIELD WAS OPEN TO ALL FOR
RIGHT OF WAY
Southern Pacific Actsd Independently
In Running New Route Along
Aqueduct--No Award
Yet Made

Denying that the aqueduct board had
any knowledge that the Southern Pacific
officials had applied for right Of way
across Owens valley for a railroad and
intimating that the Los Angeles & Owens
Valley railroad officials did not seriously
intend to bid for the freight hauling
privileges on the aqueduct, the aqueduct
board last night replied to the complaint
of President S. p Jewett of the Los An
gees & Owens Valley line that his COM
pany had been prevented from bidding on
the aqueduct freight hauling contracts
by the complications over rights Of way.
So far the board has not awarded the
big contract, on which the Southern Pa
cific was the only bidder, and 1t may be
some days before experts have figured
just what the bid means per ton per mile
| for the immense haulage contract.
| The advisory board of the aqueduct had
| It's first intimation that trouble was
brewing in the following letter received
from President Jewett:
By letter of December 16, 1907 the
commissioner of the general land Of
| fee at Washington has advised this
company that approval of its pending
applications for railroad rights of
| way across government land in Owens
| valley and southwark thereof as far
as johannesburg, would be withheld
for a period of three years from June
| &c. 1906 unless the city of Los An
geles consents to action at an earlier
period.
In explanation OF this copy of a
letter of November 49, 1907, from the
| honorable secretary of the interior to
the mayor of Los Angeles is enclosed.
| In that letter the honorable secre-
| taryl refers to the withdrawal of lands
in Owens valley and southwark
thereof made and continued for the
berefit of Los Angeles. and announces
that "all applications for rights of
| way which are on file or which may
be filed, and which affect any
of the withdrawn lands will be sus-
pended for the period mentioned
| q. e. three years from June 30. 1906),
unless the city consents to action on
such cases at an earlier period
We are also advised that the ruling
| specified in said letter o. the honora-
BILE secretary was made some months
| prior thereto.
Hartman Gets Grant
At about the same time that APP
| prevail of our maps was refused, maps
of the California & Nevada railroad
| Ga part of the Hartman SYSTEM
| across the game WlInuTdWH lduuS anu
| in the same townships, and filed sub
| seulentiy to the maps of this COM
| pany were duly approved and re-
turned to the land office at Indeptn-
dence, the legal effect of such action
being as you know, to grant right
of way to the said company along the
location line SHOWN upon said map.
| So also, and about the same time,
| YOU advertised for bi2s for transpor-
oP faria1E etc. along the
| aoueduct line in Owens valley, and
| having disabled this company from
putting In a bid have left the field
clear for the Southern Pacific COM
pany, which is in consequence the
only bidder.
Our attorneys have instructed us to
ask that you consent to the immedi-
ate approval of the right of way
maps of this company now pending IN
the general land office.
Should you decide to refuse the con-
sent above requested, will you favor us
with your reason for so doing and for
procuring from. the honorable secre-
tary which has had the effect or
sitting all competition.
Will you also kindly favor us with
an explanation of your action In con-
eentinE to the approval of the maps
filed on behalf of the Southern Pa
cific company at a time and In a
manner which would necessarily result
in giving to that company a virtual
monopoly in the premises
Respectfully yours
LOS ANGELES & OWENS VALLEY
RAILROAD,
BY s.. p. Jewett President.
Aqueduct Board Answers
The official reply of the board is as
follows:
Your letter of January 10, addressed
To the mayor, the chairman of the
board of public works and the CHER
engineer of the Los Angeles aqueduct