Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-13
CLOSER TRAFFIC RELATIONS
Gre At Northern, Northern Pacific and Bur
lingtOn Passenger Arrangements.
ROCK IsLAND EMPLOYEs ARL AeeMEvED
Reduction Of Number of EmpIOyes
Impose More Tasks Upon
Men Left I'm the Com
pany's Service.

Relations between the western Hill roads.
Great Northern, Northern Pacific and Bur-
lington, are gradually becoming closer.
Plans have Just been announced by the
Burlington which remove another barrier
between complete interchange Of passenger
tranic and bring perfect union Of these in
terests one degree nearer. Hereafter the
Burlington and Great Northern will OBJ
serve an interchange Of passenger trafnc at
Spokane, Wash, and the Northern Pacific.
which has been in direct ommunicatlon
with the Burlington in the passenger bus
mess, viii therefore be brought into the
same relation with its twin. the Great
Northern.
This marks a decided innovation, for as
long as the Great Northern and Northern
Pacific have been under Hills domination
they have observed separate trafic arrange
ments as II they were controlled by abso-
lutely distinct powers.
Locally this interchange Of tranlc be-
tween the Burlington and Great Northern
Is regarded as merely the stepping stone to
plans for running through Burlington trains
over the Great Northern's route, as is now
done over the Northern Pacific. The prom
ulgation of an order OF this character is
expected to come within the near future.
By the new plans Just announced the Bur-
lington will be able to transport its pas
sengers through to Tacoma. Vancouver and
Nanaimo. B. c., and other intermediate
Puget Sound points via Spokane. The inks
in this route are the Burlington to Billings,
Mont; the Northern Pacific to Spokane and
from there on the Great Northern.
Retrenchment on Rock Island.
Trouble is said to be brewing among the
Rock Island employees on various western
divisions. The men are aggrieved, 1t is
reported, at the retrenchment policy re-
Gently introduced. many features Of which
have had unwholesome results, the men
consider. For one thing, the pay rolls
have been cut down wherever possible. The
reduction in the force Of employees, there
fore, is said to impose more arduous tasks
upon those left in the service Of the COM
pany. and this promises serious trouble. un-
less the company can be induced to recede
from its frugal position. While the Rock
Island is lessening it's force, other roads
are increasing theirs. is the argument pre-
septed. and the men protest against this
sort OF policy. Section men and engine
men In switchyards have been let out, the
result being, so far as the latter PROPOSE
ton is concerned. that trainmen are re-
quired to perform the work Of the switch
men. which Is always an Objectionable fea-
ture.
At Fairbury such changes have been made.
much to the dissatisfaction Of the en-
ployes, and 1t is reported that grievance
committees are being called into communi-
cation and that some action will be taken
before long calculated to restore normal
conditions.
Union Pacific T~eIegraphers.
The committeeman of Union Pacific teleg-
rapherB who have been in biennial session
at the Arcade hotel for over two weeks
have presented a statement OF their griev-
snces to General Manager Dickinson, who
is expected to act upon them within & day
or two. tn committee is not ready to
disclose the nature of these grievances, to
which It refers az minor and pertaining to
routine matters. The committee is still In
session and word was given out yesterday
that the meetings would last indefinitely.
Name for Train Wanted.
John Sebastian. general passenger agent
Of the Rock Island, offers a prize Of 500
for the most suitable name for the Rock
Islands new California limited train. The
person who wins the prize must combine
the significance Of the trains equipment.
time, service and the route along which It
passes. A number Of the local passenger
railroad men have plunged into the COM
petition. each sure Of winning, but none
will consent to the publication Of his name
until he captures the trophy.