The morning call., 1893-08-23
HEADS MUST FALL
Southern Pacific Men the
Victims.
GREAT REDUCTIONS IN VIEW
Every Employe on the Road Who
Can Possibly Be Spared Will Be
Given His Discharge.

eve expect TO cut off a head wherever
we can possibly spare ii" were the words
with which General Manager Towne yes
terday announced the Inauguration of a
reduction in the forces of the Southern
Pacific road that will be sweeping in its
application and will involve all depart
ments of the road from the clerks and
other attaches in the big building at the
corner of Fourth and Townsend streets
down to the trackwalker and section-hand
The move to rtd duce the operating force
will be new one comparatively as the
management has heretofore contented it.
self by shortening the hours of labor and
reducing expenses that way as far as possi-
bic, but the prevalent hard times and the
lack of finances which affect the road are
probably the cause of the resolution to
adopt the extreme measure noted.
AS has been stated the reduction will in
clnde all departments of the road, and as
consequence engineers, fTemen, con-
ductoTs. bTakemen and switchmen, together
with ali other like employees, must neces-
sarily suffer with the rest.
The company, as Is we'll known, only a
few days ago paid its employees their
June wages. Nearly all of them must be
more or less in debt for the necesSaries of
but little will remain TO meet the period of
unemployment that now bids fair to con-
front them.
When Mr.. Towne was asked TO name an
approximate figure as to how many men
would be affected by the proposed move
he declined 10 do so, stating that that would
be difficult estimate to make, but when
the reporter suggested 2000 lie remarked
that at least that number would feel the
effects of the new departure, and the prob
ability is that fully 5000 heads will fall be-
fore ths decaptati0n ceases unless veIv
material change for the better shall occur
IN the meantime.
The reductions heretofore made have
been quietly ACCOMPLISHED, few being let
out here and there and in such manner
as attracted little attention, but the
present emergency dem ands far more
active movement in discharges. Where
one or two have heretofore been the suf-
ferers from now on scores will probably
be the rule.
Inquiries at some of the other depart
mens for figures as TO the extent of the
upheayal failed to elicit any definite nfor-
nation, those who are in position 10 know
just how far reaching the move will BE-
proving very reticent when approached,
and some OF them asserting that they knew
nothing about it,
The shopmen and others, who recently
suffered q reduction in time, will not
escape me RFuefdl Ihll OF Tue ak. out tlelr
num- bers will be dec mated along with
those of other departments.
In most instances there is nothing to
prevent the company from making such
reductions as it NAV deem necessary. 1t
has an agreement with many branches of
its operating force as regards the amount
OF wages 10 be paid, but, of course, an ac-
tiOn OF the kind contemplated would in no
way violate a contract of this kind.
The Chicago and Alton has submitted
proposition TO She Western Passenger AS
socatiOn of rates for the Grand Army
encam mpment at Indianapolis on the fol-
lowing basis: From Kansas City to ST.
Louis S3 70 and sc 25 from Chicago to
Kansas City, the total of these $40 10 be
added to rates authorized TO Western Pas
senger Association lines by lines between
st. Louis ana Indianapolis and lndianapo-
lis and Chicago This makes a rate of
SIS 70 offered for the trip from Kansas City
TO st. Louis, thence TO indianapolis, thence
20 Chicago and back to Kansas CITY. or the
route can be changed the other way.
telegram from Santa Cruz states that
Claus Spreckels has ordered a survey to be
made OF au extension of his narrow-gauge
road from Watsnnvllle to COralitos, but IN
quiry at the offices of the Spreckeis Com
pany. on Market street, failed to develop
any particulars. the gentleman in charge
there stating that Mr.. Spreckels had been
in the country for about two weeks and
noted since his absence. The proposed or
rumOred extension penetrates a section of
the country devoted 10 beet culture, il is
said.
The Southern Pacific has issued new
time card by which trains II and IS, run
ming between the city and Los Angeles,
are changed on the schedule. The in
coming train will arrive one hour later
than heretofore. and the outgoing will
reach Los Angeles an hour and half be-
hind its present time. This change is
attributable to the fact that heretofore TWO
trains-a fast mail and a mixed local
have been ran on the west side of the
river. The fast train only made two stops
between Tracy and Mendoza, but under
the new card IT will stop at all stations,
the other train hencefortb carrying no
passengers.
j. A Muir, division superintendent of
the Southern Pacific at Los Angeles, is in
the city.
Vlce-President Stubbs of the Southern
Pacific thinks that the Western Passenger
Associa ton is arranging the proposed $50
rouDd-trip rate between here and Chicago
by spondence, as no action was
taken in the matter at the meeting last
Wednesday.
Traffic Manager Leeds speaks in conf
dent terms of The outlook for the San Joa-
quin Valley road, and says the gentlemen
who have the matter in charge will have a
surprise for the public within ten days.
Sickness has prevented him from giving
the matter his accustomed attention for
several days, but he says everything Is
moving along nicely in the matter of SUBJ
scriptions, etc.