The herald., 1894-10-17
NEWS ABOUT THE RAILROADS.
The Official AK Again Whirls
on the Southern Pacific.
The Southern Pacific's Coast Road
and Its Effect on This City.
A Hot Contest for Control of tho Santa
Fe System Anticipated at the
Meeting Next Week.
News Notes.

Mention hiss heretofore been made oi
the proposed changes to take place on
the Southern Pacific road on Novembe r
let. Retrenchment in operating ex-
psnses 10 the cry all along the line, and
the following San Francisco dispatch
indicates that the head chopping is to be
on Wholesale scale:
SAN Francisco, Oct. 16.-The South
ern Pacific, has dismissed all the bag
gsgemen employed on the trains as 8
development of its policy of retrenoh
ment. In the future the agents of Wells.
Fargo & Co. are to handle all baggage in
connection with their express matter.
The salary of baggageman is $50 a
month, and on the overland and Oregon
runs there are about 20 men employed.
Wells. Fargo & Co.'s men receive be-
tween 800 and 800 month, according
to their run, and their salaries will no:
be increased with the work.
Division Superintendent Wilder said,
in reference to the change: "This is an
experiment, and if it works out all right
we will try the plan on the Los Angeles
/
will not attempt it. On the three main
lines there are almost 20 men handling
baggage, and we think thGt they can oil
be dispensed with"
This economical turn will not the
Southern Pacific monthly saving oi
from 500 to $1,000. The wages OF 20
baggagemen at $50 a month would
amount to $1,000. This sum will be
hn -. 4 4.
salaries OF the Welle-Fargo men. AT
present all trains which so out from the
Oakland pier have baggage and expresu
car attached. and il is conceded that o
man haa ell he can attend to in the
handling OF single car.
The scheme, it is said, was put in op-
Grafton about elk months ago. but it was
voted failure after very short trial.
AN OLD SERVANT.
Robert II. Pratt, who for over 13
years has been general superintendent
of the Pacific system OF the Southern
Pacific, and who 10 well known in this
city, will step down from Office ia De-
cember, his resignation to take effect
then. Since 1866 Mr.. Pratt has been
with the Central and Southern Pacific
of construction of tho Central Pacific.
and from 1859 to 1871 superintendent of
track. Then he filled the position OF
perintsndent for seven yeara of the
Salt Lsks division, and from 1878 to
1881 was superintendent of the Sacra-
mento and Oregon divisions and of the
California Pacific road and branches.
He was appointed assistant general su-
~ ,rto of So &C
the Southern Pacific in 1881. Aa every
effort is being made TO curtail expenses
no successor will be appointed.
THE SANTA FE MEETING.
The contest for control OF the Atchin.
son, Topeka and Santa Fe system, rep
resenting $500 miles of road and nearly
$3.50, 900, coo of securities, which will
take place on Friday week, will be q
keen one. The reorganization commit
tee, representing the present board oi
directorB, which includes the several
recently elected mem bers and which
declares thst It has no connection with
or responsibility ior ".he mistakes and
misfortunes OF the previous adminisJra-
tion CT the compan7'a affairs" has, says
the Railway Age, asked the stockholders
for their proxies, on the ground that the
directors have the intimate knowledge
of the present condition and needs OF
the company that makes this continu-
ancs OF much importance.
The protective reorganization COM
mitiee representing more particularly
some of the stock holders. appeals to the
stockholders to send their proxies to be
ueed in electing IAN entirely new board
Of wi nj viii
the past management" and opposed to
the policy OF continuing the property in
the hands of receivers. Is is o contesi
of financial giants, involving widely diff
ierent interests and proposing widely
different remedies for the present un.
fortunate condition of things, and the
result cannot yet be predicted.
THE NEW COAST ROAD.
An interesting communication hat
besn received from K. w. Nuttall {.
Grande valley, San Luis Obiapo county.
1t is especially valuable in that it illus
trates the prevailing spirit in that sec.
tion regarding this city. and the more
intimate relations that will exist when
railroad communication is still further
developed.
"Southern and Central California are
go bound and knit togsther," Gays MIR.
Nuttall, "thus il ia little wonder that a
deep interest is being manifested in the
connection coon to be made with Los
Angeles by the completion of the coast
line now in couree of construction. By
many Los Angeles is not only regarded
as more favorable market for dairy and
late products, but as the financial center
which will form the basis OF future de-
velopmente. San Francisco is purely a
commercial city with its chief business
in the hands OF an unprogressive class,
or have but little taste for industrial
enterprises. With the southern me-
tropolis it is different, for the knowl-
edge of its marvellous growth end ap-
plication of scientific improvement is
Htill marvel to the western world, and
@ re buke to the silurian tastes of its more