Southern Pacific Railroad completes Sunset Route
The Southern Pacific Railroad completes its transcontinental Sunset Route from New Orleans to California consolidating its dominance over rail traffic to the Pacific.One of the most powerful railroad companies of the 19th century the Espee (as the railroad was often called) originated in an ambitious plan conceived in 1870 by the Big Four western railroad barons Collis P.Huntington Charles Crocker Leland Stanford and Mark Hopkins.A year earlier the Big Fours western-based Central Pacific had linked up with the eastern-based Union Pacific in Utah creating the first transcontinental American railway.
With that finished the Big Four began to look for ways to increase their control over West Coast shipping and decided to focus their efforts on extending the California-based Southern Pacific southward.By 1877 the Southern Pacific controlled 85 percent of Californias railroad mileage.Huntington who now dominated the company saw an excellent opportunity to create a transcontinental line through the southern United States.Huntington had to act fast if was to beat the competition.
The Texas and Pacific Railroad was already pushing westward toward the Pacific at a fast pace.Marshalling his awesome energy and financial resources Huntington began driving his Southern Pacific line eastward.He won the race in 1881 when he linked the Southern Pacific to the Santa Fe Railroad at Deming New Mexico creating the second American transcontinental railway.
Two years later on February 5 1883 Huntington gained full control of a number of smaller railroads creating the Southern Pacifics Sunset Route from New Orleans to California.With the Sunset Route Huntington confirmed his domination over California rails.He had taken considerable financial risks to build the Southern Pacific system and he collected very considerable financial rewards.The Southern Pacific had a near monopoly over rail service to California and Huntington and his associates took advantage of the situation by charging high shipping rates.Termed the Octopus for its tentacled stranglehold on much of the California economy the Southern Pacific inspired Californians to create some of the first strong public regulations over railroads in American history.
But despite the anger and outrage Huntingtons exploitation inspired few would deny that the mighty Southern Pacific Railroad played an essential role in fostering the growth of a vibrant California economy for decades to come.
