Imperial Valley press., 1913-12-11
FORWARD ON S. ID. & A.
AT REALTY MEETING

San Diego Union: That the state
ably on the application of the San
Diego and Arizona Railroad Company
for permission to issue bonds in the
sum of $15,000,000, and that from
the proceeds of the sale of the bonds
the company will complete the line
in approximately two years after per-
mission for the bond issue is granted
were the predictions of John F. For
ward Jr. in an address at the weekly
meeting Of the San Diego Realty
Board.
For many years Forward has been
actively identified with the business
life of San Diego and has taken a
leading part in all the movements to
secure for the city a direct outlet by
rail to the east. Because of the in
innate associations he has had with
the men whose ambition it has been
to construct such line his predic-
tions have a great deal of weight
with all those interested in the up
building of San Diego.
Forward was chairman of special
Chamber of Commerce committee
composed of George L. Barney, Cor.
don Decker, Percy H. Goodwin and
Charles w. Fox, which was named
several months ago to gather sta
tistics bearing on the necessity Of
the San Diego and Arizona railroad
to the business interests of San Diego
and the back country, and proving
that when completed the road would
produce ample income with which to
pay dividends on the sum involved
in the proposed bond issue.
An attendance record for the season
was set for the Realty Board in re-
sponse to request by the secretary
for big meeting to hear an address
on the local railroad situation by For
ward.
Since the recent hearing before the
railroad commission of the applica-
tion of the San Diego and Arizona
Railroad Company for permission to
issue the $15,000,00O bonds in order
to hasten the completion of that line,
there has been very apparent feel
ing of suspense among local business
men as to the outcome of the project.
That this was particularly true
among members of the real estate
fraternity was evidenced by the ready
response of the board members when
the word was circulated that railroad
news, brought down to date, would
be discussed at the meeting. Every
seat in the long table in the private
grill room of Rudder's Union Cafe
was occupied and many small tables
were set in the corners and along the
sides of the room to accommodate
those who came late.
Forward began his address by
quoting comparative figures on San
Diego's increase in population, build
ing operations and bank deposits since
the announcement seven years ago
that the railroad would be built, and
for the seven years preceding the an
nouncement, to demonstrate the
stimulating effect the great project
has had in the commercial life OF the
city and contiguous territory.
Reading from the report furnished
the Chamber Of Commerce by the
committee, Forward showed in part
the possibilities for an immense
freight tonnage and passenger busl-
ness over the road when completed.
He said that thousands of transcon.
tinental tourists would be attracted
each year to the new route because
of the wonderful engineering features
embodied in its construction and the
rare beauty of the mountain and val
ley scenery in the country traversed.
Thousands more, he said, would be
attracted by the opportunity to catcn
a glimpse of Old Mexico along the
thirty or forty miles of the railroad
that is constructed in the <neighbor-
ing republic. The report stated that
the line is being built on the highest
construction standard, and when COM
pleted will be one of the most costly
pieces of railroad work in the world.
At the close of his address the
Realty Board rendered Forward and