The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-02
RAILROAD WORLD.


 A Dallas special to the New York Times says:
 "The Texas railroad commission has been informed that the Rock Island com pany, in order to thwart the commission in its efforts to make 1t furnish its secret agreement with the Southern Pacific company, and in order to reach the Gulf at Galveston, has made a trackage agree ment with the Santa Fe lines in Texas. An official copy of this new agreement will probably be given to the commits sion.
 Tt is known that the agreement ex- tends to the Santa Fe's Texas lines, and that the Rock Island will be thereby afforded an entrance into Galveston over the Santa Fe instead of using the tracks of the Galveston, Houston and Northern, a Southern Pacific property, as was or iginaly contemplated.
 ''The action of the railroad commits sion in declining to sanction the track age contracts entered into by the Rock Island with the North and South lines of the Southern Pacific is said to have led to this arrangement.
 While definite advices have not been made public on that particular feature, 1t is understood that the alliance between the Rock Island and the Santa Fe also applies to the Southern Kansas and the Pecos Valley system both of which are Santa Fe properties. If this be true, the Rock Island is enabled to obtain direct connection from the north with its Choc- Jaw line a point near Washburn, Texas, and with the Texas Pacific at Pecos
 Keen interest is felt in railroad, com mercial, and political circles to see what attitude the state railroad commission will take when the new agreement shall come before It. Should the commission reject 1t an interesting situation will be produced.''
 Houston special says: Traffic Man ager Stubbs of the Southern Pacific is now considering a cut in the steamship passenger rates between New Orleans and New York, and 1t is believed that this will be made in the course of few days. If it is made there will be a storm that may affect rail rates as well. There has been keen competition among the steamship lines during the past season for the business mentioned. and some of the Atlantic seaboard roads have had a disposition to mix in. In an interview General Passenger Agent T. J. Anderson is quoted as saying that the south has never had a really good rate. and that it was entitled to it. He admits that he has recommended a cut, but will not state what the figure is.
 From dispatch to the St. Louis Globe Democrat from Kansas City: A special from Joplin, Mo-, says: Northern Arkansas is to have a new rail- road, to be known as the Morning Star line. projecting from Yellyille to Newport distance of 100 miles, through the coun- ties of Searcy. Stone and Independence, opening up large undeveloped zinc mn- eral territory. The Union Trust company of New York has filed a mortgage on the right of way of the Morning Star for $4500,0O0. The route has been selected and work will soon begin on the new line.
 Beginning September 1, w. A. Rus sell, is appointed assistant general pas senger agent of the Louisville and Nash vile, with headquarters at Louisville, being the second assistant that had been named to aid Mir c. l.. Stone, in looking after the passenger traffic matters of the Louisville and Nashville.
 MT. Russell up to a few months ago was city passenger and ticket agent of the Louisville and Nashville at Louisville. Later he was appointed acting chief clerk to Mir. Stone during the illness of the then incumbent and upon the death of the latter was named to that position. After a few months service bis ahility was recognized and the new position above named was created for him.
 in tpn of the Big Four. with headquarters in, Birmingham, returned yesterday from a two-weeks' vacation.
 L. w. Collier, commercial agent of the Illinois Central in Birmingham. returned to the city yesterday after an absence of several days.
 Clinton Franklin, travelling freight agent of the Kansas City Southern rail- road, with headquarters in St. Louis. was in Birmingham yesterday.
 J. c. Halle of Savannah. the general passenger agent of the Central of Geor- gia railroad was in town yesterday. He said that there was nothing of special interest but that his road was doing a good business. and that the indications all pointed to an exceptionally heavy business this winter.
 Capt. Jack W. Johnson. former union ticket agent at the Union passenger sta tion in Birmingham, returned on Mon day night and was busy yesterday checking up with Mir. Luckett the newly appointed agent.
 Captain Johnson says that he has not yet closed any business proposition and that his plans are as yet indefinite, al- though he has number of proposals un- der consideration.
 C. A. Benscoter assistant general pas venger agent of the Southern railway. with headquarters at Chattanooga, was In the city yesterday. He reported busi- ness on his line as being very good