The Phantom Railroad saga continues
“Too soon it was over and we started home. We had the same thrillsome ride over the mountain curves in our bus. We cheered every mountain home, every resort, every toll house we passed. With one final grand hurrah, we came at last to the Lakeview Hotel in Lakeport. We all hurried home to a welcome supper. It was over.”
28 DECEMBER 1911: The Record Bee announced, ‘Grading work is progressing rapidly. The steam shovel is ready to operate and has been busy disemboweling a hill. The dirt is being used to construct a fill for a large cut to a dept of 170 feet.’
A new alarm
JANUARY 1912: The Record Bee sounded a new alarm.
‘The Clear Lake Railroad Company must sell $150,000 worth of stock. Many summer resorts and a number of the property owners have yet failed to buy any stock. It is hoped the balance will be sold without difficulty. Without doubt, most citizens of the County realize the lasting benefit, which will be derived from the building of the Railroad. But, as is the case with all new enterprises, many here, without considering their words, throw ‘Cold Water’ on the proposition.’
‘It is the time for every man in the territory, who will be served by the Railroad, to get in there and Boost. Put aside personal feelings. The people of this community are intelligent and progressive. It is incredible to believe they will not all support with monetary efforts to carry to a successful termination the already two-thirds completed financing of this Railroad.’
It gets worse.
16 FEBRUARY 1912: the Record bee reported: ‘The time is now to show your faith in the Railroad by coming forth with your stock subscriptions, be they large or small. I believe a frank statement is due the people. To carry on the work, we need more stock subscriptions without delay. It is therefore, up to the people to come forward and sign up for his proportion of stock, each taking what he can.’
This plea was followed with a list of the advantages to having a railroad. The Authorized agent for the Clear Lake Railroad company closed his urgent postulation with this; ‘The stock investment is a good investment and should be looked for to pay good interest. We ask you to do your share in assisting us to put the railroad to the county, and do it now.’
10 MAY 1912: The Record Bee mentioned two matters that rattled a few cages.
‘The Railroad building contract with Chadwick and Byres, the San Francisco firm, which was to have built the track, has been temporarily delayed. It has been stated on good authority, the deal will probably be dropped. There is still a chance of it going through. Re-elect the Directors. They work without compensation. In many instances they spend their own money. They always meet discouragement with optimism and they are ready to turn a knock into a boost.’
The first dark cloud
A small dark cloud appeared on the horizon.
Engineer Rankin announced, on July 6, “There is a troublesome section of three miles through rough country. It shall cost $34,000 per mile as compared with the original estimate of $15,000 for each mile of track.” The dark clouds were dispelled when he added cheerfully, “We still plan to keep within the original estimate.”
In a spirit of being on the team and one with the Dream, Surveyor Rankin told the committee, “A bridge, necessary to cross the Russian river, must be steel construction and not wood.” He also said, “Southern Pacific is taking some of its bridges from unused routes. I can get a good steel bridge at a low cost.”
Next week: more dark clouds.
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