Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-06
The Railroad Commission.

CALIFORNIA.
The Railroad Commission.
SAN FRANCIsco, October 5th.-The Rail-
road Commissioners met this morning at IL
o'clock. with all the members present
A communication was read from John w.
Tuner calling attention to the rates of pas
senger fares on the California Northern Rail
way. They were excessive and onerous upon
the people of the counties of Butte, Plumss
and J4assen. The Board was requested to
attend to the matter and adops schedule
reducing the rates. The letter was ordered
filed.
A letter was received from Chapman &
Garter, attorneys in the case of the Pacific
Coast Steamship Company against the Board,
recently decided by Justice Field, in which
they stated that as the casa had been de-
cided their labors were over, but expressing
the opinion that if the matter was taken to
the Supreme Court, the jurisdiction of the
Commission over vessels plying along the
coast of California would be affirmed.
Mr. Foote said it was doubtful if the case
would be taken to Washington by good
lawyer on contingent fee, and he was not
sure that it could be won.
The Board agreed to look into the matter
and decide the advissbility of an appeal.
Mr. Foote said he had prepared fare
schedule for introduction in the form of the
one adopted by the Board, but not having
drawn the order. he would postpone action
until the next meeting. He said the sched-
ule was prepared on the basis of three cents
per mile, in the form Of those used by the
railroad.
A communication was received from A. n
Towne, General Manager of the Central Pa
cifc, answering questions propounded by
Commissioner Foote. The answers COM
prised many interesting statistics. The let
ter stated the wages paid employees as fol-
lows; Engineers. S1S5 per month; fremen,
SS5; brakemen, S65 to $50; switchmen, $40
to SS5; conductors, SS5 to S115; baggage
men, SIS; wstchmen and wipers. 81 per
day. The amount of coal consumed in run
ming train from Oakland to Fresno, dis
tsnee of 202 miles, was stated as follows !:
Passenger train, three cars, 45 tons; six
cars, 3 s tons; freight, fourteen cars, 6 z
tons. The totsl cost of keeping in repair the
track of the Central Pacific and branches in
1882 aggregated 81, GIG, 724 20; average COST
per mile, 81, ,019 10. OF the aggregate $685..
626 Ga was expended in replacing old trestleg,
making embaukments on the San Joaquin
river, increasing water supplies, etc. The
cost Of repairing the Southern Pacific in 1882
aggregated S9ll, ITO 30; average cost per
mile, 81, ,260 o. In answer to question as
to the length of time different kinds Of rails
will last, the letter stated that iron rails will
last from one to eight years; re-rolled rails,
being softer, last only year or two, and as
no steel rails laid by the Central Pacific have
worn out, no statistics are available. The
total station expenses of the Central Pacific
during 1882 were S514 535 45. The total ex-
penses of the same road, including accidents,
etc, were 81, ,953, 354 03. The number of
passengers carried one mile in 1882 exclusive
of the ferry, was ia 366. 15S; number of tons
of freight carried during the same time, 44S,-
09S, ,1S9 Iu conclusion, the letter stated that
any increase in the number of passengers
carried would increase the repairs to rolling
stock and track but slightly, and in fact the
came might be said if the traffic of the road
was increased five times that at present, only
small additional clerical force being re-
qured to transact the additional business.
The communication was ordered to be
placed on file.
In reply to a question. Secretary Andrus
said summons in the Robinson case had
been served on Superintendent Fillmore of
the Central Pacific, but that no answer had
been made TO it.
The Commission adjourned for two weeks.
Grand Lodge, 1. 0. CT.
SAN Francisco, October 5;h. - Grand
Lodge reassembled for its fourth day session,
M. G. Winchester, &. W. G. T., presiding.
A number of further donations and pledges
of money toward the support of the Good
Templars Home for Orphans were reported
from Santa Clara county. On request of the
District Lodge and the MaS or and Common
Counc Gil of San Jose, that city was chosen as
the place Of meeting next October.
The fOllOwinu talaUraun WAC rapaivod frnm
the State Grange:
SAN JOSE, October 4, 1888.
To Secretary Grand Lodge OF Good Templars- The
State Grange in regular session assembled has Just
adopted the following resolution:
ReS0lred, That the State Grange of California re-
cprocates the kindly sentiment OF and sends greet
ing to the Grand Lodge of Independent Order Of
Good Templars now in session in San Francisco, and
that the Secretary of this State Grange Immediately
telegraph the above resolution.
[Signedl GV. WEB 5TER, Secretary.
The special committee on investigating the
purchasing accounts of the Board of Lady
Managers of the Orphans Home, for the pur.
pose of ascertsining whether their purchases
have been conducted on as economical basis
ss possible, reported a careful examination of
bills of goods during the past year and man.
ner of Purchasing during the past five years,
reported that it has been conducted in a busi-
ne-slike and economical manner, and con-
graduates the OraDQ Lodge on securing 80
honest and efficient committee. The report
was signed by j. A. Fairbanks, G. S. Has
well, NJ. f. Q1inn, J. S. Coles and D. Yer
vain. The whole matter was fully and freely
discussed on the floor of the Grand Lodge,
and the report was adopted.
The Yellow Fever in San Francisco Bay.
SAN Francisco, October 5th.-At o'clock
this morning the body of the late Martin
johnson, fireman on the steamer Newbern.
was placed in boat towed by the quarantine
boat Governor Perkins and taken on shore
for interment. The preparations were made
last night. The body was first placed in a
metallic cssket, hermeticaliy sealed, and this
cssket was laid into large box, which wss so
large as to allow several bushels of charcoal,
disinfectsnt, to be placed around the cssket.
The box was also sealed The death of John
son leaves only one case of the fever on the
Newbern. The second officer, who has been
very i'll, is continually improving. There has
been no new case on board since the steamer
arrived, in fact, none since September 24th.
DR.. McAllister was on board the Newbern
all of this forenoon. When he came ashore
he said that be considered that everything
was looking better. Yellow fever, which
very commonly develops in two days, had
made no advance on the Newbern. He con-
sidered that now there was absolutely no dan.
ger of the disease developing here from any
case on the ship. "Yellow fever germs are
brought here now every day by rail, =" he said
Hhut thev do not davaloD. Te ia too cold f"