The age-herald., 1897-11-16
Railroad Men a Unit For Such
 a Policy.
THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Caused Much Annoyance by Unnecessary Regulations-Fast Time to Be Made Over
 the Southern on Winter Schedule.

disappeared, the railway officials, mer- chants and others more or less affected by the regulations are discussing the advisability of having the United States government take hold of such matters in the future.
 The opinion seems to prevail that more uniformity in enforcement could thus be obtained without entainng unneces- sary hardships, of which the railways have complained.
 Some time ago the Commercial club sounded the keynote when it decided that it would be better for the federal government to have charge of quaran- tine regulations in the future.
 Railroad Men Talk
 Sperintendent c. A. Wickersham, of the Alabama Great Southern railroad, said when asked concerning the mat ter:
 q am in favor of the United States government handling such matters. It would not only relieve the railroads of great deal of unnecessary trouble, but would secure uniformity between the states.
 
 regulations works untefd hardships on the railroads and entails coneids rable loss am of the opin.on that ignorance as to the manner of enforcing local quaran1fnes caused the roads the great inconvenience.
 "As to the financial loss sustained by the Alabama Great Southern, we will never be able to estimate the amount "The main trouble seems to have been experienced in the local quarantines es- abolished by the smaller towns. The difference in the demands of the sev- eral state quarantine regulations also caused great inconvenience. 'I am satisfied that the Alabama Great Southern railroad company would willingly join with the people in an ef- fort to have the government assume charge of all such quarantines in the future"
 Assistant Superintendent B. M. Starks of the Louisville and Nashville road was equally as strong in the hope that the federal government would be induced to take charge of the enforcement of all future quarantines. He said:
 The Local Quarantines
 '"rhe division from Decatur to Mont gomery has not had to. contend with as much as some of the other roads. Our great trouble was on account of the local quarantines established by the smaller towns. This caused us great inconven- isnce, and at the same time financial loss. "A very good illustration is furnished by the two Decaturs. New Decatur Quarantined against our cars and the needed switching could not be done in our ya ds there. In, old Decatur We were not hampered by such restrictions. The only difference, in the two towns is an imaginary Nine drawn on certain street. This not only caused inconvenience and entailed loss, but it is absolutely ridicu- 7ous.
 'If the government could be induced to handle such matters these conflicting qua.antines would be overcome. am satisfied that the law department of the Louisville and Nashville read would as- sist the people willingly in an effort to have the UEIted States take absolute charge of such matters. The Louisville and Nashville is always on the side of the people and sides with tn m in this instance
 Superintendent A. J. Frazier, of the Southern was found to be on the side of the government assuming control of quarantlnes.
 Undoubtedly there would be more uni fornity," he said though,fully, If the United States govesnment would take charge of theze quarantin;s
 ''The present mode of operating the many local quarantines caused the roads great inconvenience and entailed much loss. believe this would be the means of preventing the smaller towns from infiicting petty ann9yanees.
 T am in favor of the government talk ing charge of these ma tiers, and I am pretty certain that the Southern road will lend the people all the assistance in its power to secure that end" Seeking More Time
 In connection with the demands of the interstate commerce commission re- garding the equipment of railway cars with automa tic coup,es and air4brakes. many of the roads are filing petitions for an extension of time. Among the local companies which have done so are the Alabama Great Southern and Southern. Yesterday the time expired for the filing of these petitions, which will be heard in Washington on Dec. 1.
 l.. and M. Earnings
 The comparative sta ement of the gross earnings of the Louisville and Nashville railroad for the first week of November has been tssusd by Comptroller Cush- man Quarter.
 The pas0ensrT traffic shows a d crease over last year, but the Height business was very satSsactery:
 1897 1896 1895. Freight .... ... s3O2,475 s265,27O ss1s ,45o Pas1.nger ... .. 61,925 73,125 S7.57a M.scel'ous ...... 25,1So 25,045 26 345
 
 Totals ... .... s3S95S0 $36i, 40 s43S, ,37e 1Shs g cs,s earnings fer the same p,riod during 1s96-95-s4 are as fellows:
 1896 1895 1894 Freight .. .....$ g. 205 *s16.S75 $1232k Passenger ........ *11, 200 25.650 260