The San Francisco call., 1909-12-04

Less than "a hours after the depart
ure of Judge Robert S. Lovett, presi-
dent of the Southern Pacific company
whose only visit /ef significance during
his short stay in San Francisco was to
the Visitacion valley, large force of
men. brick layers and other artisans.
were placed at work on the new shops
and other large buildings at Visitacion,
which were begun several years ago,
and the completion of the extensive
improvements in that section of the
peninsula is now assured.
Just how soon the shops and yards
at Visitacion will be completed can not
be learned at this time William
Hood. chief engineer of the Southern
Pacific, admitted yesterday that force
of men had been put to work there
within the last three days and that
the work would continue steadily.
Whether the force will be increased at
later date could not be ascertained.
The rainy season will prevent any large
amount of work being accomplished
until spring, but it now appears to be
a certainty that several of the build
ings will be completed and occupied by
at least the middle of next May.
THIRTY MILES OF TRACK LAID
Nearly so miles of track have been
laid and as many more miles will be
laid shortly. Surveyors have been at
work for several weeks. and as the
work was begun Thursday morning il
will not be long before the great en-
terprise is completed and one of the
largest freight yards in the country
put in working order.
"a g :
ago. Plans were made. tracks laid and
the foundations for several buildings
completed. Then came the panic of
1907 and a shortage of money COM
PEELED the Southern Pacific 10 lay off a
large force cf men. 1t was thought at
the time. especially by real estate men
with large property holdings in the vi
cinity, that the company intended to
abandon the work.
"RUSH- ORDER Is DENIED
Until a few weeks ago there had been
no talk of construction work at Vista
cion. Then it became known that sur
veyors were in the field and rumors
were current that building was to be
resumed with greater activity than
ever. This was denied at the time.
Chief Engineer William Hood said:
.'This company has never given up
the plans for the Visitacion shops. 1t
was stopped on account Ol SnOTLdSe
of money and the work will progress
as the funds come to hand. There have
been no plans for any campaign to rush
the work
Hoods statement attracted little at
tention and it was not until the flying
trip made by Lovett that the rumors
were revived.
Now the work is to be completed. Not
rushed to completion.
p1anS. call for the erection of
the buildings already begun and for
the laying of the necessary trackage
The force of men set to work Thursday
morning began the erection of one
building When that one is completed
another will be started and so on until
all are finished
RAILROAD BUYS MORE LAND
That the plans of the Southern Pa
cific call for much more building and
the use of much larger area than
was at first announced is proved by
the statements of real estate dealers.
who report the sale of several tracts
to the railroad within the last few
weeks One real estate man said yes
terday that he had offered two pieces
to the land department. of the COM
pany only a few days ago and that
after seeing that the tracts were close
to the Southern Pacific property the
railroad took them at his price.
The tract owned by the Southern Pa
cifc in the Visitacion valley adjoins
the Pacific gas and electric company's
plant 1t is estimated that when all
the railroad buildings are. completed
and the yards in running order more
than 5000 men will be employed in the
valley There are now two tracks
through the hills TO this point and an
other tunnel is being cut for two more