The San Francisco call., 1909-06-03

G HE late Judge Ondernlll, Sdio
F. D. Browne of the engineer
ing department of the Southern
Pacific, was perhaps one OF the great
est characters that ever entered the
service of railroad. 1t was his facile
disposition that led to his being ap
pointed right of way agent by the
Southern Pacific.
'Underhill was all things to all men.
The ribald called him a reckless blade,
the learned called him one of the elect,
and the good churchgoer declared that
the pulpit would have had one of its
brightest ornaments If he had only
heard the call.
"He was the most Nsuccessful right
of way getter that the company ever
had, perhaps. with the exception of my
friend j. L. Buel. who can charm a
bird off a beugh with his eloquence
"Underhill was sent up against a
tough proposition. There was farmer
whose land lay right in the path of
the road, and he was coy about selling.
Underhill was sent to see him. They
were out driving when the farmer
turned to Underhill and said:
"'I want to do the right thing, judge.
1 have prayed all night for guidance
in this matter and ! have not been
given light.
1--we will pray for light right now
said Underhill, and getting on his knees
he made a fervent prayer for the
farmer to sell his land TO the Southern
Pacific
'Awestruck, the farmer listened on
his knees to the powerful invocation OF
the judge. and when Underhill resumed
his seat in the buggy he said:
"T have been given light, judge. I'll
sell the land. at the figure you name !"
The news that John A. Gill has re-
signed from the service of the New
York Central lines will be heard with
genuine surprise by his many acquain-
tances in this state. Gill has been for
IL years in charge of the freight in
terests of the New York Central lines,
and has a host of friends in California
| who will be grieved to learn that he
has retired from railroading to go into
private business at Palo Alto He is
to be succeeded by w. w. Dickinson,
who has been with the company at
Spokane and will take charge of the
office July /. Carl Howe accepted
Giips resignation yesterday.
The southern Pacific is pushing con-
struction on its new line between
Rocklin and colfax, and there are
now IA camps in operation between
new line will be built and ready for
operation in three years from last Sep
tember, and judging from the way
the work is being done 1t seems cer-
tain to be completed within the spec
flied time. This is one of the most
difficult tasks ever undertaken by VIII
liam Hood, and also one OF the most
expensive, for it is his object to make
as near to a straight line as is pos
sible in the widest part Of the high
Sierra The magnitude of the work
can be understood when it is stated
that there will be Is tunnels in this
80 miles of track. and the one near
Appfegate is to be 5000 feet long. In
addition TO building the new line, Hood
is Strengthening out the present track,
so that, in spite of the curves that the
old road has to take in following the
face of the mountain. the new line
will cross it only in three places
1t is understood that the force of
men is to be increased largely as
the summer progresses and Erickson
& Petersen, who have % miles to build.
received on Monday several trains Of
the latest dumping cars and new steam
shovels. All along the line there are
temporary tracks which are used by