The San Francisco call., 1913-08-06
HAND OF GOULD
ROAD DISCERNED
Move Believed to Be Part of
Systems Plans for Re
habilitation-Feeder Like
ly Ultimately to Be a
Branch of the Transconti-
mental Trunk-Vast De-
veloprnent Is Predicted
Project to Irrigate $4,000
Acres Already Under Way

Opening up the extreme northeastern
corner of California to colonization
and putting an enormous agricultural
district within easy reach of the OUT
side world, new railroad will be built
from the Western Pacific's line in Ne
vada into Surprise valley in Modoc
county within short time.
Articles of Incorporation will be
filed in Salt Lake City today for the
Surprise Valley Railway company.
which will run from Reynard, Washoe
county, Nevada, on the Western Pa
cific, 55 miles into this valley residents
of which already are preparing great
irrigation scheme to develop s4.e00
acres.
The capitalization of the company is
sS0O.o00.
The men putting up the money are
Surprise valley residents and num-
Der of Salt Lake City capitalists.
SUSPECT HAND OF w. p.
1t is believed that the Western Pa
ciic itself is behind the move, and
that eventually it will take over this
branch line, since it follows so close
on the reorganization of the transcon-
tinenta1 road and its announced pol
icy of development of the country
through which it runs.
Since June, 1912. there has been auto
mobile stage connection into this big
valley by way of Gerlach, on the West
ern Pacific. S5 miles south of Cedar
vile, one of the Surprise valley towns.
and from the Southern Pacific at Reno.
From Reno the Nevada California
and Oregon railroad runs to Alturas.
Cal, where stage connection Is made.
Although large part of the soil of
the valley is virgin, there have been
many ranches established in the last
20 years, and several lively towns are
in existence. These are CedaryilIe,
Eagleville, Lake City, Modoc and Fort
Bidwe1l
1000 IN VALLEY NOW
The present population of the valley
is about 1000.
To some extent the great natural ad-
vantages of Surprise valley have been
recognized. but it's inaccessibi1ity has
made any great development impossi-
ble When the new railroad is built it
is expected that big tonnage of agri-
cultural products and livestock will be
shipped out.
The soil is volcanic ash, with an ad-
mixture of decayed vegetable matter.
Hay, grain. alfalfa. vegetables and a
variety of fruit is now grown.
In 1911 the alfalfa production was
estimated at $4,000. running from $50
to $3.50 per acre.
Barley and oats have yielded as high
as 125 bushels to the acre, and wheat
as high as 80 bushels
GREAT STOCK COUNTRY
For long time the Surprise valley
has been known as a great stock coun-
try. and the new railroad is expected to
bring into being a great dairying in
dustry. About 10000 pounds OF wool
are shipped out annually.
Modoc county apples took the prize
oyer Hood river and other districts at
the Alaska Yukon Pacific exposition at
Seattle in 1909. Pears. plums, peaches
and apricots are also raised in great
quantities.
The west side of the valley is well
watered by streams. so that most of the
development has been here so far, but
to make cultivation possible on the east
side an irrigation project has been
formed which will develop some $4,000
acres.
Surprise valley has a -four season
climate. ranging from 30 degrees in
summer to zero in winter. The altitude
is 1000 feet and there is but little
humidity. The rainfall averages 20
inches.
The incorporators of the railroad COM
pany are F.. e. Bush. John Fritz, George
C. Turner and H. l. Merryfeld Of Cedar
vile and Charles l.. Rood. e. l. Perkes
and G. E. Walker of Salt Lake city.
The officers and directors are. Presi-
dent, r. f. Bush, who Is also president
of the Surprise Valley bank; vice presi-
dent. III. 4. Merryfield; secretAry-treas-
urer George C. Turner; Charles l. Rood