Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-27
DISSOLUTION NOT IMMINENT
30 Declare Railroad officials Regarding
Western Passenger Association.
ORGANIZATION MEETS NEXT TUESDAY
Passenger Men In omaha insist that
the Central bureau IL Indis-
pensabIe for humble
1itb of Reasons.

IF-N
Rumors Of the dissolution Of the Western
Passenger association we're heralded in
railroad circles yesterday. The reports
which come from Chicago, the associations
headquarters, state that the organization
is to be disbanded Monday.
While It is admitted by local traffic men
that some minor differences may exist be-
tween some Of the roads comprising this
association, 1t is not believed that the as
ISOLATION is to be disbanded and several
officials have positively stated that II a
dissolution is contemplated 1t will not be
made Monday, for the association has a
meeting billed for the day following. A
number Of local railroad representatives
will attend that meeting.
At this meeting the affairs of the asso-
citation will be gone over thoroughly and
efforts made to settle all differences. Of
whatever nature, and place the association
on the most Harmonious basis. 1t is urged
that no serious problem, such as would
warrant the statement that the association
is threatened with dissolution, confronts
its members.
Talk of ~Disbnnding.
Since the Rock Island withdrew from the
Western Passenger association there has
Defu more VI less Ndih VI - ulobahdihbf
but traffic men in Omaha declare that such
ak is idle. II for no other reason, said
one official. the association would be held
together In order to preserve intact the
several bureaus dependent upon II, such
as the clergy, the excursion and the mile
age bureaus.
Like the Intermileage association, 1t is
maintained that the Western Passenger
association is a permanent thing and can
not be done away with. For instance. 1t
"a pointed out that in making special rates
where the lines Of several roads are to be
traversed the association fills an indispens-
able Office. This is one function, 1t is
urged, which only the association, as the
central body, can proftably perform.
To abandon it, therefore, and return to
the old. complicated system, officials say
would be utter folly. 1t is very much I'M
like the immigration bureau, whose disso-
luton could be brought about and possibly
will be without seriously impairing the in
terests which It was organized to take
rare Of.
Grown to Big Proportions.
In addition it is argued that the Western
Passenger association has grown to extern
sive proportions, having a large plant with
200 or 800 clerks at headquarters and a thor
ough system OF operation, and II would be a
movement OF far-reaching and disastrous ef-
fects to abolish 1t. At least half a dozen
traffic men in Omaha we're interviewed
Thursday concerning the report, all OF them
men whose roads are in the association, and
each made the same answer, that there was
no possibility of the dissolution OF the asso-
citation, though some in closest touch with
the situation admitted that minor differ
ences possibly existed which would be
aoLa, 49, ~ tho ,,oot9nn In ChIoar. 1noo
day. What the nature of these differences
were they declined to say.
Schedule for New Acquisition.
The Burlington has arranged its schedule
TO go into effect on its new acquisition, the
Kansas City & Omaha. The tables will
show service between Alma and Sutton,
which is on the main line, and plans have
been so arranged that direct connections
will be made with east and westbound main
line trains.
The line is divided into four sections for
purposes of convenience. From Alma to
Sutton will be the first division and its
trains will connect with those going both
ways between Denver. Chicago and Omaha,
Another branch will extend from Sutton
TO Stromsburg, another from Stromsburg
to York and Fairbury via Paramount. The
fourth will be from Stromsburg to York
and Chester via Paramount.
The purpose of the company is to form
a line through that part OF the state from
north to south and to do this. of course, it
will be necessary to incorporate the old
line in some places. The Burlington's
schedules will undergo considerable
changes in that part OF the state traversed
by this line. but it will be the purpose Of
the road to make no alterations In its
main line tables
DeraiIinR blocking System.
The Northwestern railroad is experiment..
ing with q new derailing blocking system
with which it is designed to equip the en-
tire road. The block is supposed to pre-
vent trains from entering open switches
and colliding with cars standing on the
%sidings. a character OF wrecks that Is very
common.
Division superintendent Strickland, Road
master Walsh and other W men
gave the new devise a thorough test in the
north yards yesterday and they are emil
lnently satisfied that they have struck upon
the right system. General Manager Scott
of the road at st. Paul has ordered ten OF
the blocks installed at different places for
preliminary uses.
The block under consideration was In
vented by an Omaha man, c. NJ. Mitchell,
2Slb Douglas street, and a conductor on
the Union Pacific. The block is made of
pressed or cast steel, seven-eighths Of an
inch thick. hve inches wide and thlrty-six
inches long. curved from the point which
rests on the rail and the outer edge OF
the ties about eight inches frop the rail.
There is a one and one-fourth inch hange on
the inside OF the block, which Will lead the
trucks away from the main line. It IL
secured at the outside end by a journal