Historical review of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company (with particular reference to California lines) as furnished to the Railroad Commission of the state of California in compliance with its General order no. 38

HISTORICAL REVIEW

OF

THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND

SANTA FE RAILWAY

COMPANY

(WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO
CALIFORNIA LINES)

HISTORICAL REVIEW

OF

THE ATCHISON, TOPEK A AND

SANTA FE RAILWAY

COMPANY

(WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO CALIFORNIA LINES)

AS FURNISHED TO THE

RAILROAD COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA

IN COMPLIANCE WITH ITS GENERAL ORDER No. 38

COMPILED BY

G. HOLTERHOFF, JR.

WESTERN ASSISTANT SECRETARY

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
JUNE, 1914

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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF

THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND SANTA FE

RAILWAY COMPANY

T

HE present corporation known in the West and on the
Pacific Coast as the "Santa Fe," and in the investing and
financial centers of Europe and America as the "Atch-
ison," was incorporated in Kansas, December 12, 1895, for a
term of nine hundred and ninety-nine years. The new company
was formed at the close of the receivership between 1893-1895
of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, and pursuant
to the plan of its reorganization, to acquire the properties of the
various separately organized railroad lines which had con-
structed the mileage of the Atchison System between Chicago
and San Diego Bay on the Pacific Coast, the Texas lines to
Galveston and the Sonora line to Guaymas.

The first and original company was chartered as the Atchison
& Topeka Railroad Company by the Kansas legislature in 1 859.
Q£.) In 1 863 the name was changed to the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe Railroad Company and work was first begun, nearly
ten years after the charter was secured, on the line from Topeka
west. The original line was chartered to build into the coal
"^•f fields of Kansas and in a subsequent evolution built further
westward, first through the prairies of Kansas, thence into
3 Colorado and New Mexico, opening up new agricultural, graz-
ing and mining country approximately along the line of what
was known in the early days of wagon traffic as the "Santa Fe

O Trail." The earlier lines were entirely constructed within the
State of Kansas, and it was not until 1875 that the construction
of some mileage outside of that state was commenced, the more
extended operations, however, not being undertaken until 1881.
By 1 889 the termini of the Company's lines were in Chicago,
St. Louis, Galveston, El Paso, Denver, San Diego and Guay-
mas. The mileage at that time, including the lines jointly

[3]

owned with other companies, comprised approximately 7,100
miles within the Santa Fe System. During a period of five or
six years preceding 1 889, the construction of extended mileage
taken in connection with two years of bad crops, adverse rate
legislation and an extraordinary amount of competitive building
carried on by other lines in the West, brought about a con-
dition of decreased earnings and occasioned a change in man-
agement, under which new management a rearrangement of the
Company's obligations without foreclosure of its mortgages was
concluded and a temporary relief obtained from the burdens
taken on by the Company in extending its lines and developing
the resources of new sections of country. The period inter-
vening, between 1 889-1 895, was one of bad business generally,
plus a ruinous competition in railroad traffic, culminating in
December, 1 893 in the appointment of receivers for nearly all
of the railroad properties of the Santa Fe System. The year
1 893 was an historical one for hard times and general business
depression. The bondholders, who might have recognized that
conditions in 1 889 were such as to warrant them in coming
to some relief of their property, were convinced during the receiv-
ership between 1893-1895 that their valuable property could
be soundly rehabilitated with some material assistance given
by themselves in addition to that furnished by the stockholders
in providing funds for the reorganization of the company. An
international committee was formed representing the bondholders
(co-operating with the receivers), directors, shareholders and
others interested, which, in turn, appointed a committee with
very broad powers, who succeeded in formulating, during the
receivership, a comprehensive plan of reorganization, which
united all security holders in a satisfactory plan for the rehabili-
tation of the System.

In 1895 Mr. Edward P. Ripley was elected President
of the reorganized company, remaining to this date, (1914)
as chief executive officer of the System, and under his conserv-
ative management the lines of this railway have not only been
rebuilt throughout, but much of the mileage has been relaid
two and three times and rock ballasted to carry safely the
increasing traffic developed.

Under the plan of reorganization the bondholders conceded
the necessity for the making of certain improvements and in
providing for new construction,- and of the new general mortgage
Atchison bonds authorized to take up the older issues, $33,-
000,000 were set apart for this work. As an evidence of the
ensuing great development of the country served by Santa Fe

[4]

*ANCROrr UBRAitV

rails, it msry^e stated that approximately $270,000,000 have
been expended since the reorganization of 1 895 , partly in
increasing the then directly owned and operated mileage from
6,427.53 miles to 10,574.88 (owned) and 10,771.45 (oper-
ated) mileage as of June 30, 1913. The cost of this increased
mileage, including betterment and improvement expenditures
covering all mileage, has been financed through the issue of
bonds against new line construction or acquisition, plus sale of
convertible bonds authorized by the stockholders, exchangeable
at par for common stock within certain definite periods.

The policy of the various administrations of the Santa Fe
System has always been that of building up the country served
by its rails, and to that end the reconstruction and improvement
of existing lines has been, and continues to be so conducted as
to furnish the territory served with the most substantial roadways,
facilities and conveniences of all description, with equipment and
service in keeping, in order to serve the public safely and effi-
ciently.

CALIFORNIA LINES

Actual construction of the earliest California mileage was
commenced in January, 1881, under the original California
charter acquired by the old California Southern Railroad Com-
pany, October 23, 1880, such being organized by Boston stock-
holders of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Com-
pany to build from San Diego Bay to San Bernardino.* Control
of the property, however, was not formally acquired by the Santa
Fe until January 7, 1885, following the wrecking of approx-
imately thirty miles of the California Southern line through the
Temecula Canyon by floods in the spring of 1 884, a year of
unusually heavy rainfall. The California Southern stockholders
not being willing to furnish money to reconstruct the mileage
destroyed, the Santa Fe was solicited to advance funds for such
reconstruction and to complete the line to a connection with the
Atlantic & Pacific Railroad. In 1 885 active construction of
the extended California Southern line was undertaken, and the
line built from San Bernardino, its then terminal, to Barstow,
making connection there with the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad,
then jointly owned by the Santa Fe and the St. Louis & San
■ANCitorr ijwuuiy

*This line was first constructed to Colton, (connecting there with
Southern Pacific Railroad) and in operation in the Fall of 1882; later,
in the Fall of 1883, the line was constructed to San Bernardino.

15]

Francisco Railroad Companies. Completion of this new line
in the fall of 1 885 and the inauguration of through train service
over the Santa Fe System from Kansas City to Los Angeles
(from Colton to Los Angeles over Southern Pacific rails under
traffic arrangement) was the direct cause of the ensuing great
development in California. The following years, 1886-1887,
saw a large influx of population into Southern California, a boom
period and expansion, particularly in real estate values. The
attention of the East, however, was directed more closely to
the great future possibilities of development of the State, and
from that period dates its great development and upbuilding.
The Santa Fe may, therefore, be said to have been primarily
instrumental in bringing about the phenomenal growth of South-
ern California in particular. During 1886 and 1887 practically
all of the present (June, 1914) Santa Fe mileage in Southern
California south of the Tehachapi was constructed, aside from
that of the California Southern line, which ran from National
City on San Diego Bay, through San Diego, Oceanside, Tem-
ecula, Colton, San Bernardino and the Cajon Pass, to Barstow.
Chronologically the Santa Fe's earlier Southern California
lines were incorporated as follows:

CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY
— October 23, 1 880 — Chartered to build from National City
on Bay of San Diego to Town of San Bernardino. (See fore-
going reference as to history of organization.)

CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN EXTENSION RAIL-
ROAD COMPANY— May 24, 1 88 1 —Chartered to build
from terminus of railroad of California Southern Railroad Com-
pany, through San Bernardino Range of Mountains to a point
intersecting the line of railroad of Atlantic and Pacific Railroad
Company. Constructed from San Bernardino to Barstow.

CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN RAILROAD COMPANY
— January 1 0, 1 882 — Consolidation of above two Companies.

LOS ANGELES & SAN GABRIEL VALLEY RAIL-
ROAD COMPANY— September 5, 1 883— Chartered by
individuals resident in Southern California to construct a line
of railroad from City of Los Angeles to head of Azusa Valley
in Los Angeles County. Partly completed and ownership of
stock acquired by the Santa Fe in 1887.

RIVERSIDE, SANTA ANA AND LOS ANGELES
RAILWAY COMPANY— September 29, 1 885— Chartered

[6]

by Santa Fe interests to build from Town of San Bernardino
in a general westerly direction by way of Riverside, Arlington
and the Santa Ana Valley to City of Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES AND SANTA MONICA RAILROAD
COMPANY — January 6, 1886 — Chartered by individuals
to build a line of railroad from City of Los Angeles to a point
on Bay of San Monica, Los Angeles County. Stock ownership
acquired by Santa Fe in 1887.

SAN DIEGO CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY—
November 8, 1 886 — (Amended articles filed March 1 4,
1887.) Chartered by Santa Fe interests to build from or
near Bay of San Diego, through Cajon Valley, Poway, San
Bernardo, Escondido and Oceanside, all in County of San
Diego. (Constructed Escondido to Oceanside only).

SAN BERNARDINO AND SAN DIEGO RAILWAY
COMPANY— November 20, 1 886— Chartered to build from
a junction with line of railroad of Riverside, Santa Ana and
Los Angeles Railroad Company at or near Anaheim, Los An-
geles County, via San Juan Capistrano and Oceanside to City
of San Diego. (Constructed from a point near north city limits
of San Ana to Fallbrook Junction near Oceanside on old Cali-
fornia Southern line.)

SAN BERNARDINO AND LOS ANGELES RAIL-
WAY COMPANY— November 22, 1 886— Chartered to
build from City of San Bernardino to City of Los Angeles by
most direct and feasible route (this route constitutes the present
line between San Bernardino and Los Angeles via Pasadena).
Constructed to connect with mileage built under charter of Los
Angeles & San Gabriel Valley Railway Company.

SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY RAILWAY COM-
PANY—January 12, 1887— Chartered to build from City of
San Bernardino to a place at or near Lugonia in San Bernardino
County, (adjoining Redlands). Constructed San Bernardino
to Mentone.

SAN JACINTO VALLEY RAILWAY COMPANY—
March 7, 1887 — Chartered to build from Town of Perris
on line of California Southern Railroad Company to a point in
eastern portion of San Jacinto Valley. (Constructed to San
Jacinto.)

[7]

CALIFORNIA CENTRAL RAILWAY COMPANY—
May 20, 1887 — This corporation formed by consolidation of
the preceding eight companies.

REDONDO BEACH RAILWAY COMPANY — April
23, 1 888 — Chartered to build from a point on line of Cali-
fornia Central Railway Company at or near Inglewood, Los
Angeles County, by most feasible route to Redondo Beach.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RAILWAY COMPANY—

November 7, 1 889 — Formed by consolidation of

California Southern Railroad Company,
California Central Railway Company,
Redondo Beach Railway Company.

THE SAN BERNARDINO & EASTERN RAILWAY
COMPANY— August 11,1 890— Chartered to build from
City of San Bernardino via Highlands to connect with line of
Southern California Railway Company at or near its terminus
in San Bernardino County (connecting at Mentone with mileage
built to that point in 1887 under charter of San Bernardino
Valley Railway Company).

SANTA FE AND SANTA MONICA RAILWAY COM-
PANY— April 4, 1 892 — Chartered to build from a point at
or near "Mesmer Station" on line of Southern California Rail-
way Company between Inglewood and Ballona, Los Angeles
County, to Town of Santa Monica. (This franchise and track-
age sold March 21, 1902, to Los Angeles Pacific Railroad
Company, including line from Inglewood to near Mesmer Station
built under charter of Los Angeles and Santa Monica Railroad
Company. )

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RAILWAY COMPANY
— June 27, 1892 — This corporation formed by consolidation
of former Southern California Railway Company and above two
last named Companies.

ELSINORE, POMONA AND LOS ANGELES RAIL-
WAY COMPANY— December 6, 1 895— Chartered to build
from City of Elsinore, (Riverside County), in a general north-
westerly direction by way of Pomona to Azusa (Los Angeles

[8]

County) with a branch from Pomona to Lordsburg. (Con-
struction completed only from Elsinore Junction on line of
Southern California Railway to Alberhill, 7.76 miles.) This
line of Railway deeded to Southern California Railway Com-
pany May 1, 1899.

All of the above owned mileage in Southern California was
conveyed by Southern California Railway Company to The
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company by deed
dated January 1 7, 1 906.

ADDITIONAL CALIFORNIA MILEAGE

SANTA FE The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, West-

PACIFIC ern Division, owned jointly, (as stated herein)

RAILROAD by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
COMPANY and St. Louis & San Francisco Railway Com-
panies— operating its own line from Isleta,
near Albuquerque, to Needles, California, with a lease on the
line as constructed by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company
between Needles and Mojave, California — went into Receiver-
ship January 4, 1894. By July 1, 1897 the Santa Fe had
purchased the property of the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad Com-
pany at foreclosure sale, taking title in the Santa Fe Pacific
Railroad Company, a new corporation, organized with a federal
charter, of date June 16, 1897, to acquire the same.

By deed dated July 1 , 1 903 the Santa Fe Pacific Railroad
Company conveyed its line of railroad to The Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Railway Company. Subsequently by sale agree-
ment dated December 27, 191 1, Santa Fe interests (The Cali-
fornia, Arizona and Santa Fe Railway Company as hereinafter
referred to), came into direct legal ownership of the Needles-
Mojave Line, transferring the New Mexico and Arizona and
its connecting Sonora Railway lines to the Southern Pacific in
exchange. In connection therewith a new and broader agree-
ment was entered into with the Southern Pacific Company for
joint usage of the Mojave-Bakersfield line over the Tehachapi
Pass, which is treated in effect as a great bridge over the mountain
range.

[9]

THE SAN FRANCISCO On February 26, 1 895 The

& SAN JOAQUIN San Francisco & San Joaquin

VALLEY RAILWAY Valley Railway Company was

COMPANY incorporated by San Francisco

merchants and capitalists to
build from San Francisco Bay down the San Joaquin Valley,
generally easterly from but substantially to follow and compete
with the line built by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company
to Bakersfield. Although the construction of this line was not
fully completed until July, 1900, the stockholders in 1899
entered into negotiations which terminated in the purchase of
the property by the Santa Fe at its cost to the stockholders.
The operation of the property was formally taken over by
Santa Fe officials on July 1 7, 1 900, and by deed dated April
1, 1901, the property was formally conveyed to The Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company, and thereafter oper-
ated as the Valley Division of the Coast Lines of Santa Fe,
so that now, (June, 1914), the legal title to all of the exclusively
owned lines in California has been conveyed to The Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company — excepting only some
small connecting lines, (as listed hereunder), separately organ-
ized and subsequently, on December 28, 1911, conveyed to
tutt pai irnoMTA The California, Arizona and Santa
ARIZONA AND Fe RaiIway ComPany* incorporated

S ANT A FE December 21, 1911 to acquire these

RATI WAV anc^ sim^ar nnes m Arizona, and

myPAWY primarily the Needles-Mojave line

L.UMKA1N Y taken oyer from the southern Pacific

Railroad Company as previously referred to. The California
lines acquired by The California, Arizona and Santa Fe Rail-
way Company (a bound volume pertaining to organization of
said Company, being on file with the Railroad Commission)
were constructed under the following Charters:

THE CALIFORNIA EASTERN RAILWAY COM-
PANY— Incorporated, Colorado, October 30, 1 895, by Roger
W. Woodbury and associates of Denver. Chartered to build
from Blake Station, (now Goffs) on (leased) line of Atlantic
and Pacific Railroad, San Bernardino County, California, to
Goode Springs, Lincoln County (now Clark County), Nevada.
Also to purchase the railroad and telegraph line heretofore built
along a portion of above route by Nevada Southern Railway
Company (Incorporated Colorado, November 26, 1892).
Constructed Goffs to Ivanpah, all in San Bernardino County,

[10]

California. Ownership acquired by Santa Fe through purchase
of stock, in 1902.

RANDSBURG RAILWAY COMPANY — Incorporated,
Arizona, May 1 8, 1 897, by individuals resident of Los Angeles,
California, and Phoenix, Arizona. Chartered to build from
Kramer — on (leased) line of Santa Fe Pacific Railroad Com-
pany— San Bernardino County, to Randsburg, Kern County,
California. Constructed Kramer to Johannesburg. Owner-
ship acquired by Santa Fe through purchase of stock, in 1 903.

PERRIS AND LAKEVIEW RAILWAY COMPANY—
Incorporated, California, November 1 , 1 898 by Santa Fe in-
terests. Chartered to build from Town of Perris to Lakeview,
Riverside County, California.

OAKLAND AND EASTSIDE RAILROAD COM-
PANY— Incorporated, California, March 6, 1 902. Chartered
to acquire The California and Nevada Railroad (sold under
foreclosure proceedings July 9, 1901) and to construct a rail-
road from a terminal in Oakland, through Emeryville and Ber-
keley, Alameda County, thence through Alameda and Contra
Costa Counties, etc. Constructed Richmond to Oakland.

OAKDALE WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY— In-
corporated, California, June 24, 1 904. Chartered to build
from Riverbank to Oakdale in Stanislaus County, California.
(Connecting at Oakdale with the Sierra Railway.)

FRESNO COUNTY RAILWAY— Incorporated, California,
July 25, 1905. Chartered to build from Town of Reedley to
Wahtoke Winery, thence to Town of Bullard, Fresno County,
California. Constructed from Reedley to Wahtoke Winery.

BARNWELL & SEARCHLIGHT RAILWAY COM-
PANY—Incorporated, California, April 16, 1906. Char-
tered to build from a Junction with The California Eastern
Railway at Barnwell, San Bernardino County, California, to
Searchlight, Lincoln County (now, 1914, Clark County),
Nevada.

KINGS RIVER RAILWAY COMPANY— Incorporated,
California, October 21, 1 909. Chartered to build from
Wahtoke on line of Fresno County Railway along easterly bank
of Kings River to Piedra.

in ]

FULLERTON AND RICHFIELD RAILWAY COM-
PANY— Incorporated, California, February 18, 1910. Char-
tered to build from Fullerton to Richfield, Orange County, Cali-
fornia, both stations on line of The Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe Railway, to shorten the line between Los Angeles
and San Bernardino via Riverside — unofficially termed the
"Fullerton cut-off."

It may be stated here that the mileage of The California,
Arizona and Santa Fe Railway (incorporated December 21,
191 1 as above stated), was leased to The Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe Railway Company by instrument dated March 1 ,
1912, and is operated as part of the Atchison System.

MINKLER This is a new branch line, connecting at

SOUTHERN Minkler Station on the Valley Division, now
RAILWAY being constructed by the Santa Fe under char-
COMPANY ter granted in name of Minkler Southern Rail-
way Company of date May 22, 1913, "to
build from the Station of Minkler, in the County of Fresno, State
of California, easterly for a distance of three miles, more or
less, to a point, and thence in a general southerly and south-
easterly direction to the town of Exeter, in the County of Tulare,
State of California, a total distance of forty miles, more or less;
together with a branch extending from the Station of Cutler, in
said Tulare County, easterly a distance of one and one-half miles,
more or less, to a junction with the first mentioned line of railroad
— 41.5 miles." This construction at date, (June, 1914) is
still incomplete and the line not yet in operation.

In addition to the above exclusively owned mileage the
Santa Fe owns jointly and equally with the Southern Pacific
Company the stock of the Sunset Railway Company and the
Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company, the operations of both
of which companies are separately reported to the Commission.

[12]

Pamphlet

Binder

Gaylord Bros.

Makers
Stockton, Calif.

PAT. JAN 21, 1908

.- ...... ; ^ ■