*** Source: Thompson, Robert A., Historical and descriptive sketch of Sonoma County, California. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1877, 122 pgs. Notice: This data is donated to the Public Domain by TAG, 2004, and may be copied freely by anyone to anywhere. *** ---page 42--- RAILROADS. THE SAN FRANCISCO AND NORTH PACIFIC RAILROAD. The San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad, which runs through the great central valleys of Sonoma, has been so fully described in the main body of this sketch, that any special mention is not necessary. The road was com- menced in 1869, and was completed to its present terminus at Cloverdale in 1872, and from that time to the present the progress of the county has been upward and onward. The road is one of the most complete in the State in all its appointments, and reflects credit on its builder and upon its management. Colonel Peter Donahue is president of the company. He was the builder of the road, his attention having first been called to the work by the Hon. A. P. Overton, a prominent citizen, now of Santa Rosa. With that rare business tact for which Colonel Donahue is distinguished, he saw that a necessity ex- isted for the road, and enlisting in the enterprise, he pushed it to success with the indomitable determination which is a well-known characteristic of the man. To that enterprise, which has placed Colonel Donahue in the foremost rank of the business men of the great metropolis of the Pacific coast, we owe our excellent facilities for communication with San Francisco. When others faltered or drew back, he pressed to the front. His business sagacity and capital proved the "open sesame" which smoothed and made straight our highway to the sea, over which the varied products of Sonoma County are transported (a rich tribute) to his adopted city, San Francisco. The road is now extending south of its first terminus, Donahue, which will greatly shorten the time to Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Litton, and Skaggs' Springs, Cloverdale and the Geyser springs. When that is done, one may go from San Francisco to the northern limits of Sonoma county in not more than three hours, through the most fertile and beautiful portion of the great State of California. Colonel A. A. Bean, the manager of the road, is an accomplished gentleman and superintendent, and to him is largely due the very great satisfaction and success which marked the progress and management of the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad. NORTH PACIFIC COAST RAILROAD. The North Pacific Coast Railroad extends from a point in Marin county, op- posite San Francisco, through that county into Sonoma, and terminates at Duncan's Mill, on Russian river. Milton S. Latham is president of the company, W. F. Russell is secretary and general agent, John W. Doherty is general man- ager, W. B. Price is auditor and general passenger agent, C. B. Mansfield is assistant superintendent, and J. W. Fillmore train despatcher. The road was first opened in January, 1875. Freight cars cross the bay of San Francisco on barges to the opposite shore at Saucelito, the land terminus of the road, a distance of six miles; or, reversing the order, they carry the freight-laden cars from the terminus to the city. Each barge has a capacity for twelve loaded cars, making a very great saving in transporting freight. The road has a second terminus on the bay of San Francisco, at San Quentin, by a branch road, which leaves the main line two miles north of the town of San Rafael. The Saucelito terminus is used for freight business, while the *** end ***