The herald., 1898-03-10
LOCAL RAILWAY MATTERS
GENERAL FREIGHT AGENTS MAY
MEET AT CORONADO
Canadian Pacific Makes Another Cut
in Rates-Santa Fe Spending
Barrels Of Money

The gathering Of the notable general
freight agents of the country, which was
to take place at Monterey on
the 21st Of this month, may convene at the
Coronado hotel, as the management is try
ing to secure the assembly for that place.
The body is known as the Transcontinen-
tai freight bureau, and controls all or the
rates and classifications In the west. 1t
can make or ruin any merchant by the
changing of the amount to be charged on
certain commodities, or by changing the
and has about autocratic
powers in the world of commerce. The
fact that seems to be unqestioned that the
meeting will result in a general elevation
of rates and changes of many Kinds in
classes has caused much anxiety among
merchants of this city who have not kept
their stocks up to the limit. The associa
ton will, it is officially stated, extend the
privilege to any jobber who wishes of ap-
pearing before the meetings and arguang
any view he may possess.
ANOTHER CUT IN RATES
The Canadian Pacific is giving more ex-
tent Of travel for the price asked than has
ever before been the case with an over
land road. 1t has just made another cut in
the rates to the east via Victoria of $25 to
st. Paul and of $36 to Chicago. The old
rate of $40 to New York remains. These
prices enable persons in Los Angeles to go
from here to New York or any one of the
places named for from twenty to thirty
dollars less than by the Southern Pacific
or the Santa Fe. This gives the patrons of
the Canadian road sea voyage from this
city to San Francisco, another from that
city to Victoria, and thence by rail across
the continent. The reduction has caused
a marked increase of east-bound travel
by that route and 1t is conceded that an
other reduction will bring the Southern
Pacific and the Santa Fe into the war.
SANTA FE IMPROVEMENTS
The Santa Fe company, before the ar
rival Of next year, will have spent in this
part Of the state something like $500, 900 in
improving its roadbed, putting in new
bridges and making all other improvements
that will add to the safety and comfort of
its patrons. This policy was formed some
time ago, and was largely planned for this
part Of the system by the late X. H. Wade,
the former general manager. Mr.. Nevin
has carried out the project in good man.
ner, though most of the work now will be
done east Of Barstow. Over five hundred
miles Of new rails will have been laid be-
tween Barstow and Albuquerque, leaving
the entire line with sixty-five pound rails.
Forty-one steel bridges to replace wooden
ones are called for and fully two hundred
trestles will be removed and their places
will be filled by solid roadbed, or by cul-
verts. A million new ties have been picked
in creosote and placed in position and as
many more will be used. This has neces-
STATED the erection of three new plants
for creosoting, ,.one each at Las Vegas, Bel
mont and Albuquerque. The road will be
widened, new water supplies created and
an attempt will be made to place 1t in all
respects on an equality with eastern lines.
A great portion of the labor of carrying
out the improvements in the best possible
manner has fallen on the shoulders of
General Superintendent Wells, whose ex-
ecutive ability has proved itself equal to
all demands.
NOTES AND PERSONALS
Railroad contractors in Santa Barbara
are busy preparing to resume work on the
gap between Elwood and Surf on the
Southern Pacific coast line. Several hun
dred head of horses and mules have been
sent to Surf and the Pacific Improvement
company is forwarding great quantities
of implements.
The Southern California railway is hav-
ing the depots along its line painted and
put In proper shape.
The Valley road graders have had to stop
work in Bakersfield on account of a mis-
roadbed, which has given the men job
of cutting through hill uselessly The
delay will be very brief until the proper
line can be established by the engineers.
d. B. Robinson, president of the st. Louis
and San Francisco railway, who Is in this
part OF the state. was for some time presi-
dent OF the Santa Fe road. He is one of the
most accomplished railroad men in the
country.
The Brotherhood of Railway Engineers
are to give ball at the Depot hotel In
Kern City on the evening of the 18th.
=. w. Thompson, general excursion agent
OF the Rock Island road, arrived in the
city last night.
g. B. Ochiltree, who is the commercial
agent for the Southern Pacific at Riverside,
is in the city on a brief stay.
THE OJAI EXCURSION
On Saturday morning at o'clock an ex-
cursion will leave this city to celebrate the
opening of the Ojai railroad, extending
from Ventura through the DIAL valley.
reaching the town Of Nordhoff Captain
John Cross, who has built the road, has ar
ranged all the details to insure an enjoya-
BILE trip. 1t is thought the opening of this
valley to railroad transportation will re-
suit in much commercial benefit to this
city.
The people of Nordhoff have been work.
ing for some time on the matter, various
committees having made all ARRANGEMENTS
for the entertainment of the visitors.
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