Speculation had begun in 1904 that Western Pacific Railroad would build a new transcontinental line through Sacramento. In 1906 Western Pacific announced the route of the new line through Sacramento.^37/ In October of 1907 Hattie S. Walton, nee Sprague, deeded to Western Pacific a strip across her land about 500 foot north and a thousand foot south of the 21st Street crossing. The strip was hundred feet wide with the railbed in the center. ^38/

On December 6, 1907 the newly reconstructed Highland Park School was dedicated, on the same site. The school building was now two stories and had 5 rooms. 39/ The oak on the right side of the picture may be the same one that is still on the site, on the south side of Sakura Way, at the entry to the Lions Low Vision Center .

Hattie Walton conveyed her Curtis Park property to Hawk, Carly, and Arthur Miller by a deed dated November 18, 1909. ^40/

In order to induce Western Pacific to locate its main shops facility in Sacramento the city and business interests conducted a subscription campaign to purchase the necessary land. They purchased the land and gave it to Western Pacific on the condition that it be used only for railyard purposes.^41/ In 1910 the first Western Pacific Railroad train sliced through Curtis Park.^42/

The prospect of employment at the railroad shops was a spur to further residential development.43/

Another was the extension of the Sacramento Electric, Gas & Railway Co.'s 21st Street line of street cars down 24th Street to Fifth Avenue and thence east to Oak Park.44/.

A third incentive was the replacement of the carriage horse, by the horseless carriage.45/:

Fourth, there was the affordability of the California Bungalow. "Using local river rock and Pacific Northwest redwood a builder could construct a modest bungalow for one or two thousand dollars, a price within the range of many working families."46/

Finally, the political and philosophical tenor of the times was that growth and development was good for everyone. The newspapers and political luminaries were unapologetic "boosters" or "boomers" favoring both domestic and international immigration.^47/ Along with general growth came the specific American desire to live the suburban lifestyle. ^48/

Not surprisingly, the Curtis family began the process of development of their ranch.