The San Francisco call., 1909-04-25
HUMBOLDT HAS
BEGUN EFFORT
FOR RAILROAD
Enthusiastic Convention at Eu-
reka Results in Decision to
Make Campaign
Residents of Rich Country in
Earnest in Their Desire for
Rail Connection
lSpecial Dispatch 10 The CALI

hEhA, ApilI -f.----NOt SN eli I1Qiu-
boIdt's far famed political conventions
were ever more enthusiastic than the
convention held today to discuss ways
and means for furthering the cam
paign to induce the officials of the
Northwestern Pacific to complete the
railroad between Sherwood and
Shiyely thus linking Humboldt county
by rail with the world at large.
Two hundred and fifty of the fore
most citizens of the county, represent
ing practically every voting precinct,
every town and every commercial or
ganization. assembled at the court
house at 10 o'clock this morning pur-
suant to a call issued by the local rail-
road committee headed by Mayor II. l..
Kicks
Great preparations had been made
by Eurekans to insure success for the
gathering and instin the proper spirit
Delegates were met at the trains and
ferries by brass bands and escorted to
the meeting place. Reception commit
tees were busy everywhere.
MAYOR RICKS PRESIDED
The convention was called to order
by Mayor Fl. L. Kicks, yho was elected
chairman. e. H. Brooks was chosen
as secretary.
An address of welcome was delivered
by Judge G. w. Hunter, who eIoquently
described the resources of Humboldt
and told of the future greatness of this
portion of California under proper de-
velopment This speech served to
awaken great enthusiasm
James j. Coonan of the local COM
mittee told of the interview held in
san Francisco with railroad officials
and outlined all the work done to date
DR. w. e. Cook described the sftua-
tion- as thus far developed relative to
shipping pledged. He stated that two
large shingle mills had agreed to ship
their entire product by rail, providing
the rates for the haul were within rea
son, allowing a liberal preference to
the railroad.
PLEDGES BY SHIPPERS
Many merchants, stockmen and fruit
ra1sers had notified the committee that
they would prefer the railroad and send
large proportion of their freight over
the railroad.
The only point of uncertainty devel-
cPNNf 60 ~tACNli DS the duQTeSSeS or Alr.
Coonan and DR.. Cook, is the attitude of
the larger lumber milSs. The lumber
men are conferring together, but have
not as yet given direct intimation as
to what they will do
Pointed references having been made
to this condition, President C. p. Soule
or the Bank of Eureka stated at the
afternoon session that he had asslIr-
ances that the big milImen were IA
vorable to the railroad and that thev
would offer greater quantities Of
freight in due time. One delegate de-
ciared that his private information was
to the effect that the railroad could ex-
pect at least so per cent of the lumber
cut.
WILL CIRCULATE PETITION
President f. w. Georgeson .of the
Humboldt County bank offered the
draft of a petition to be forwarded TO
the officials of the Northwestern Pa
cific. urging them to construct the road
and promising them the undivided SIM
port of the county.
This petition was signed by ALI the
delegates to the convention 1t will
now be presented to the people of the
county at large, and it is expected that
from 5000 to 5000 property owners will
subscribe to il. This petition sets forth
that Humboldt county has a population
of from 10000 to $4,000 people all
whites. and that with a railroad the
population will double in five years.
The redwood and pine will last for $50
years on the basis of the present cut.
There are hundreds of thousands of
acres available for apples pears.
prunes, English walnuts and ali berries.
without irrigation Apples will yield
one carload to the acre. Humboldt is
the chief dairying county of California.
RAILROAD SPIRIT STRONG
About % delegates, representing all
sections, addressed the I convention.
promising support to the railroad
The convention adjourned to the call
of the chairman, to be reassembled as
occasion might demand
The railroad spirit is stronger than
ever before in the history of Humboldt
and it is evident that the people will
not desist from their efforts until sue
cess has been won.