The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-29
RAILROAD WORLD.

vice-President J. T. Harahan, of the Illinois Central says that his company is In favor of building a union passenger station in Memphis. and will Join with the other Memphis lines at any time in such an enterprise. The matter is now under consideration by the St. Louis and Iron Mountain management, and that company is expected to take the initi. ative. George J. Gould informed the people of Memphis some time ago that he was willing to join with the other rail. 1 roads in building a union station in that city. He said further that if union sta, ton was not built the Iron Mountain would spend $20OOOO in the erection of a station for its own use.
 Chicago, Burlington and Quincy mail train No. 8 recently made the run from Burlington, Ia.. to Chicago. 2O5.6 miles, In 2o2 minutes net running time, or at the rate of 61.1 miles an hour. The train was received late from the west and left Burlington late. There were five cars In the train, and the engine was No. 15sO Columbia type.
 Burlington Is about 50 feet lower than Chicago, and the first forty miles of the run is mostly up grade. with numerous grades of 21 to 26 feet per mile Only two stops were made-one of five minutes at Galesburg and one of six minutes at Men dota, both for water and oil The TOT miles between Galesbury and Mendota were covered in 75 minutes or at 6S & miles per hour; Mendota to Aurora. 45. 4 miles, was made in 40 minutes, or 6S i miles per hour; Aurora to Clyde, 2s.9 miles, in 26 minutes, or 66.6 miles per hour
 It does not seem to be generally under stood by those outside of railroad circles that the Big Four" Cleveland, Cin- cinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway company, office in this city is a general office. Such is the fact, however, and w. F. Greaves, who Is in charge here, is the general southern freight agent of the system All business done in the south by his road is done through this office. Even the commercial agent with headquarters in New Orleans reports di- rectly to Mir. Greaves
 In addition to his regular office force MT Greayes has travelling freight agents whose headquarters are the Birmingham office
 The importance of this office should not be underestimated. While the Big Four lines do not come into Blrming- ham they have five. crossings with south ern lines having entrance to thls city. These crossings are at East St. Louis, Mattoon, Cairo, Louisville and Cincin- natl. They also run a through sleeper from Memphis to Buffalo, N. Y.
 The action of the Big Four'' in open ing this general office Is beginning to be effective in forcing other roads to fol- low suit. Soon all the important nor thern and western roads will be obliged to have Birmingham offices.
 Superintendent H. M. Fickfnger of the southeastern division of the St. Louis and San Francisco railway, with headquart- CTS in Memphis, was in the city yester- day. He stated that the business of the road was in excellent condition.
 J. W. Kelly, passenger agent of the Ocean Steamship company with head quarters at Boston, Mass, was in the city yesterday.
 Daniel Linsey, southwestern agent of the Pennsylvania railway, was in Bir- mingham yesterday.
 Coleman Merewether. of this city, land and industrial agent of the Southern railway, has returned from trip to Mo- bile.