The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-09-14
WESTERN PACIFIC
LOOKS FOR FEEDERS

With the disclosure yesterday of
some of the details of the plans being
worked out for the transformation of
the western Pacific railroad from the
lame duck" of the Western railroad
world to a trunk line of the first mag
nitude, the last vestige of doubt as
to the intentions of the financial and
executive powers that assumed con-
troll of the property at its recent re-
organization was swept away.
That one of the first steps in the
plans is to be an extension of the
western Pacific into the fertile and
traffic-laden reaches of the San Joa-
quin Valley was evidenced by the re-
port that Charles NJ. Levy, president
of the road, in company with Thomas
}. Wyehe. chief engineer, and Joseph
u. Hooper, yiee-president of the First
Federal Trust company and one of
the reorganization directors, was ex-
amining the proposed route of the
western Pacific main line extension
from Modesto to Porterville.
According to local railroad OFFICIALS
who are in position to know, Levey
and his party, who left here Sunday
night, and whose movements have
been shrouded in the utmost secrecy.
are inspecting the route and gather
ing data on rights of way, and in all
probability will have determined when
they return to San Francisco today.
just what line the Western Pacific
will take.
The plan for the San Joaquin Val
ley line is said to contemplate the
outright purchase or at least the con-
troll of the Tidewater Southern rail-
way, a highly profitable independent
ly-owned line operating between
Stockton and Modesto. a distance of
thirty-three miles. This line, which
has physical connection with the
Western Pacific at Stockton, has de-
veloped into a strong factor in the
transportation of the Central San
Joaquin region. and is said to have
made heavy inroads into the profita-
Bile short-haul traffic, especially in
perishable commodities. of the South
ern Pacific and Santa Fe.
Under such an arrangement, il has
been pointed out. whole trainloads
of freight originating as far south as
POrterville could be moved north
ward to the present main line of the
Western Pacific at Stockton, with
practically an even chance of equal
ing, if not bettering, the fastest trans
continental freight schedules of either
the Southern Pacific or the Santa Fe
After the route selected has been
submitted to other local directors of
the Western Pacific road, President
Levey will leave tomorrow for Chica-
go, there to further the plans for inn
mediate action on the extension.
I.evey will be Joined at Chicago by
w. t. Jacobs. purchasing agent for
the Western Pacific, who has for the
past six weeks been placing orders
for new rolling stock and other equip
ment in various Eastern car found
ries. Levey, it is said, will personally
confirm these orders. and will insist
upon early delivery of all equipment
purchased
In addition to the San Joaquin val
ley extension, on which it is believed
rights of way will be secured and
contracts let as fast as
the details can be arranged. the other
plans for the expansion of the West
line extension from Niles to San Jose,
a distance of eighteen miles, to be ex-
tended ultimately into the Santa
Clara valley; a branch line, approx
mately fifty miles in length, from
Wendover, on the main line of the
Western Pacific near the Nevada
Utah state line. southwark into the
Deep Greek region, where rich copper
mines require only the magic touch
of transportation to make them
among the most extensive properties
in the West together with the 100
mile narrow gauge road projected by
John Il. Sexton and his associates
from Gerlach, Nevada, into Surprise
Valley, in northeastern California,
which will give access to a virgin ter
ritory as rich as the Napa valley.
According to information current
in local banking circles. there is no
doubt that, financially, the Western
Pacific reorganization regime is in a
position to undertake the work on
its various projects without a mo-
ments delay.
OF the fun of s2O0OO.00o provided
for the program of rehabilitation and
betterments. of which only S2,000,000
was required for the expenses of re-
organization and for other immediate
more than $9000.000 is said
TO have been turned over to the road.
This fund was Immediately loaned out
to various local trust companies at
3 per cent interest, subject to call.
The remainder of the $1S,000,000,
according to men high in banking cir
cles. can be had at any time it is
needed. Therefore, it is expected that
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