Beautifully engraved certificate from the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway Company issued in 1895. This historic document has an ornate border around it with a vignette of a train. This item is hand signed by the Company's Vice President ( Robert Watt ) and Secretary and is over 117 years old. Stamped cancelled.
Certificate Vignette Since the 1870's, when the Central Pacific/Southern Pacific juggernaut had cemented its stranglehold on California's Central Valley, the resident's and industries had tried to find ways to break its grip. The coming of Claus Spreckels' San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway (sold to the Santa Fe in 1900) had helped bring competition to the valley, but by the 1900's, the new interurban movement had local promoters again looking for ways to bring new competition to the "friendly"