Not a Railhead

In her article about the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve (“Bloomin’ Good Poppies . . . Soon,” March 29), Ellen Clark wrote: “(Lancaster) was established in the last quarter of the 19th Century when it became the supply depot and railhead for crews on the Southern Pacific Railroad.”

There is nothing in the record to support the contention that Lancaster was a supply depot and railhead. The definition of railhead is “the end of the rail line (as of one under construction).” In reality, Southern Pacific construction crews hardly slowed down as the railroad was built across the Antelope Valley. The line was being rushed to completion as fast as possible so there would have been little reason to establish a supply depot in the middle of the desert at a location that would soon be left behind.

JOHN SWEETSER

Bakersfield