The morning call., 1890-09-21
SWlTCHMEN
IN CONVENTION.
Passenger and Ticket Agents viii
Be Here in March.
The Reported Sale Of the Denver and Rio
Grarde Western Discredited- Ship
m:nts Over the Santa Fe,

Inc Swltehmen's Mutual Aid Association,
representing nearly the entire body of switch
men III America, is holding its annual con-
Ventlon In Buffalo. The session commenced
on the 18th inst. with representatives pres
eht from every State in the Union, as well
as from Canada and Mexico. The Pacific
Coast branch of the association, composed
mostly of men employed by the Southern
Pacific Company, sent delegation of about
fifteen members.
At this meeting, as at all former conven-
tons, the principal discussion will be on the
subject of freiSht-car eouplers. No men
have so thorough and intimate knowledge
OF the workings and requirements of these
devices as those whose daily toll consists in
handling them.
The mechanical officials and office eX-
perts of the great railway systems have, as
all know, spent much time and labor in eX-
aiming the numerous coupling devices
brought forward, with a view to their me-
chanical correctness, strength, endurance,
cost, etc.
THOSE WHO HANDLE THE TRAPS.
But who has ever heard a word on the sub
jet from the thousands of intelligent men
who earn their bread by handling these I'm
ger traps, and who. from this experience,
ton or rejection of coupling device than
those Who do their railroading in offices and
couple cars by mental process alone?
The average switchmsn can say all there
is to say Of each and every device now in use
for coupling freightears for the average
Swltchm1n has worked for a dozen different
railroad companies and handled three times
as many different styles of car-cOuplings.
Their opinions on this subject if made
known "a uS in q
question that has too long remained open,
involving far too much suffering ana death
to tralnmen, and any recommendation from
such body OF men as met IN convention at
Buffalo is entitled 10 respectful conSidera-
ton.
PASSENGER AND TICKET AGENTS
General Passenger Agent Goodwin Of the
Southern Pacific has received a communal
ton from a. j. Smith, Secretary of the
American Association of General PaSsen-
ger and Ticket Agents, now holding its BIZ
ennlal meeting at Denver, stating that the
next annual convention of the association
will be held in this city, commencing some
time in March next.
J. +. Fuller, formerly Passenger Agent
for the Chicago and Alton in this city, and
for the past year connected with the Mkt
can Central in the capacity of Assistant Su-
perintendent, arrived here yesterday.
Grading Is nearly completed OIL the Phoebe
extension of the Union Pacific. Track lay
ing viii not commence later than October
LIST.
H. A johnson. General Agent of the
freight department of the Union Pacific, has
gone to Fresno.
THE REPORT Is DIsCREDITED.
W. H. Snedaker, general agent of the Den
yer and Rio Grande Western, has returned
from Los Angeles. He does not believe
that the press dispatches announcing the
sale of the road which he represents TO the
AtchisOn, Topeka and Santa Fe emanate
fro q ral i1l la fhRr4nh ha
latter road may have secured control Of the
Colorado Midland.
Chief Engineer Rood of the Southern Pa
cifc has re turned from trip to Oregon to
inspect the work in progress at Cow Creek
Canyon, at which point the Southern Pacific
lines were severely damaged by the rains
last winter.
{. ST. John, General Manager Of the
Chi, ago and Rock Island, arrived here last
evening from Portland,
W. ID. Sauborn, General Agent of the
Burlington, left last evening for Salt Lake
City.
RECEIVING TIE LIoY's SHARE.
The SaPas Fe people have made the
-AATFgest shipments of canned goods ever sent
cut at one N1e from this Coast On Thurs
day last Special Santa Fe train left San
Jose, carrying 100000 pounds of canned
fruit. The Santa Fe men ale receiving the
lions share Of fruit shipments from the
Santa Clara Valley this year. Last year the
fruit went another way.
L. B. BradeD, Travelling Freight and
Passenger Agent of the Chicago and North
western Railway, and for several years
staff oned in this city, has resigned to accept
the SUPPLEMENTARY Of the United States
Sampling Works at Helena, Mont Bis sue
cessor has not yet been appointed.
Work on the Southern Pacific lines at Cow
Creek Canyon is being pushed rapidly, and
about three and half mIlrs Of the washed
out section have been replaced with a road
of standard character. Iron bridges Will
take the place of the wooden structures.
Assistant General Manager Curtis of the
Southern Pacific Company arrived last even
ing from FL Paso,