Birmingham state herald., 1897-01-24
nfWS OF THE RAIL.

The promised train party to be given by Master Mechanic Harry ". English, of the Birmingham Railway and Electric company, with members of the press as the especial guests, has been set for Tuesday evening. The invitations sent out readfas follows:
 Dear Sir:
 You are invited to d train party to be hotel corner, 2 D. m. The object is. to exhibit a brand new train, consisting of an engine and two cars, rebuilt at our shops and to entertain the guests sby a trip over our lines of railway
 a Respectfully,
 "H. w ENGLISH,
 Master Mechanic
 The verbage of the above invitation would sound egotistical to those not ac- quainted with the sender. It would seem that he desires praise for himself but knowing him as the writer does, he can assure the public that Mf.. English real desire is to give justice and credit where it rightly belongs. MT. English knows he has splendid corps of 'workmeff on his pay roll, and it is his desire to show the public the fruits of one of her indus tries s @re-N's-se ->' -A-'-s s>' Among Birmingham's live travelling passenger agents of late years the writer recalls to memory such men as WIFI F. Adams, Sandy" McGregor Sam Ray
 
 one time or another were connected with the roads now comprising the Southern. They were hustlers, and no mistake, and the unfortunate who fell into their clutches might just as well go and buy his ticket, as 1t was. to use an everyday expression, "all over." "'s 7s-Ani 4s.sr- 2 In J. P. Biilups these men have an ablo and worthy successor, and one fully com petent to take up the work where they left off. Joe is a Mississippian, young sud fr1lf .f- 6a tal n make a first-cass passenger traffic man. Since his arrival here from Columbus, Miss, he has made many friends, and his work has been eminently satisfactory to his superior officers Keep up the good work, Joe, we are watching you. Vice-Presdent s. D. Caldwell, Of the Western Transit company, the Central s
 lake line, has resigned on account of i'll health.
 Reports that President Blair of the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway com pany, is in the city arranging reorgan- ization scheme, is emphatically denied by members of the reorganization commit tee. MT. Blair is still in the west. As yet no action has been taken by the conn mittee.
 President Claus Spreckels, of the San Francisco and San Joaquin Railway company, cODIlf1lS the report that the road intends to effect an eastern connec- tion with the Santa Fe by building to Mojave on the Atlantic and Pacific. It is probable that the connecting link will be completed within twelve months. The foreign interests in the Kansas City, Watkins and Gulf railroad are con sidering a number of important improve ments which will increase the systems business. One of these is a belt road around the city of Lake Charles, La. It is also proposed to build an extension nection for through business will be made with the Illinois Central. This route has already been surveyed andD President Watkins is arranging for the early prose- cution of the work.
 Steps to end the Ohio soft coal rate war have been taken by representatives of the seven roads comprising the Ohio Coal Traffic association. An entire read justment of rates will be made on a basis that will render the traffic more profita- ble than heretofore. A final agreement would have been reached, but the re- ceiver of the Columbus, Sandusky and Hooking, road wanted time to study the matter, and the meeting adjourned to a week from today. to Columbus. ''-i'1 ,.o, The Philadelphia and Reading Railway company closed a deal with the Pennsyl- vania Warehousing company for the pur chase of the large storage Warehouses at Callowhill and Sixteenth streets for $187,000. The property is to be used for the storage of flour and other cereals. The Reading company will take possess sion immediately. It is said that owing to the laxity of Readings new charter the company intends to engage in the stor- age business on large scale.
 The western lines fear that the pro- posed reductions of the 'Soo'' in pro- portional rates from the Atlantic sea- board to St. Paul may result in lower rates to the entire middle west Unless the "Soo' shall decide not to make ef- fective the proposed rates, it Is probable that not only Chicago-St. Paul lines will make corresponding reductions, but that the Atlantic seaboard- Chicago rate of 75 cents first-class will come down to 50 cents This would bring about a reduc- ton of Chicago-St. Louis rates, and effect all the business of the northwest south west and west.
 STRENGTHENING THE TRACK, ."..
 One of the worst places on the Balti- more and Ohio for curves has been be- tween Tabb's station and Meyers Hole, few miles west of Harper's Ferry. Re- gently, however, the company has ap- propriated $S0,000 to straighten the track at this point. The present grade is s tha vii al1ru fl1r