Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-01-09
MAY LET AGENTS co
Big Railroads Said to Be Planning
Dispensing With Travels
ing Representatives.
FORTY THOUSAND MEN AFFECTED
One of the Results of Consolida-
ton of Great Sys.
TENS.


circles yesterday to the effect that
plans for the adjustment of approx
mately 10000 travelling passenger.
freight and district agents were being
considered by the big railroad systems
of the country. The abolishment of
these agencies, it is thought. would be
the greatest reform ever brought
about by railroads of this continent.
1t would cause saving of millions of
dollars q year to the lines, besides es-
tablishing condition of affairs never
before known in the history of the
world.
The deal by which the Erie, the
Great Northern, the st. Paul and the
Northern Pacific lines wepe brought
together under practically one control
gave revival to these reports, which
were circulated more or less at the
time the agreement to do away with
the payment of commissions on pas
senger business was entered into by
the lines of the country.
Many Find orher Positions.
When the anti commission agree
ment was formed predictions were
made that the next money-saving re-
form would be the adjustment of
these agencies. Fearing that their
heads might come off in hurry
many of the travelling agents hunted
up other positions
The financial powers behind the
railroads have long attributed un-
steadiness of tariffs more to the oper-
atoms of the soliciting agents than to
any other officials of the roads. Some
officials have had said seriously that a
soliciting agent working for SO a
month could cut rates in the face of
an anti-cut order from his president
without losing his position for dis
obeying instructions. The numerous
consultations and the formation of
understandings that have come
about within the last year or so have
made it possible and. some officials
say, practicable. to do away with the
agencies without iDjuring their
sources of revenue.
Says aIIAgents VIII go.
In talking of the conditions now
existing former railroad official said
IF were a betting man 1 would
not hesitate minute to wager a
goodly amount that the number OF
soliciting agents will be cut down to
almost nothing within the next
year. The roads are pooling as
sure as there is sun, and
when they are in their little agree
ments why should there be competi-
ton? If competition is knocked out
the solicitors would not be any more
| useful to the lines than statuettes OF
Cleopatra would be. Pm glad I'm not
a soliciting agent with a big family
and small bank account"
Railway Omciais' visit
General Superintendent A j. Hit
Supt. G. l. Nichols, of the Illinois di-
vision, and Trainmaster W. S Tins
man. of the Rock Island road, arrived
| car 900" on q tour of inspection
They left for the east at noon today
Supt. j. F. Gibson. Trainmaster G
r. Morrison and Roadmaster III. M
North. of the c., NJ g. st. p, came in
last evening in private car and left
again this morning.
| Depot Practically Completed
The new e., B &c Q. depot is now
practically completed and Supervising
Architect A. Harlev left yesterday fol
Chicago. The only element of uncer.
tainty that now prevents ths>fixiug OF
q definite date for its occupation is
the arrival of some of the furniture
which is in course of manufacture.
Track Laying Done.
The laying of track on the ID r. /
& N. w. was completed up to the
village of Carbon Cliff today, and it il
thought Rock river will be reached by
| the end of the week.