The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-04-04
RAILROAD WORLD.

~
1t is announced that the grading on the
Atlanta and Rockmart division OF the
seaboard Air Line railway will be COM
pleted by April 15
T. ]. Anderson. general manager of the
Southern Pacific. with headquarters at
| New Orleans, denies the runor that he
is to go with the Frlsco-Rock Island.
1t is believed in some quarters that the
American Locomotive company recently
purchased large block OF stock of the
Rogers Locomotive company. The Rog-
ers people will not admit there is to be
any change In the company.
The pension system of the Atlantic
] Coast line is now in effect. 1t provides
that each man who has been twenty-five
years In the service of any company in
the system shall be placed on the pension
roll at 25 per cent of his average salary
| of these years and Is privileged to en-
gage in any other occupation.
A Mobile special to the ST. Louis Globe
Democrat says:
| 1t is reported here that the Illinois Cen
trail railroad people have secured control
of the Mobile, Jackson and Kansas City
road, which operates between here and
Laurel, Miss. and is building toward
Jackson, Tenn. 1t is also reported. that
| the Illinois Central is building the branch
| between Decatur and Pontotoc None OF
the officials of the road are in the city
| and the report cannot be denied or con-
| hrmed.
| The st. Louis Globe Democrat has the
| following to say about A. j. Davidson.
who becomes the chief Of the Frisco sys-
! tenn:
/ Mr. A. j. Davidson who becomes the
chief of the Frisco. and will make his
headquarters in st. Louis. is the general
superintendent OF the system, with office
| at Springfield. He was showered yester-
day with congratulations from all sides,
| and the selection is regarded - a triumph
| for the operating department Of the SER
| vice. Mr.. Davidson is comparatively a
| young man to assume the duties of such
a responsible position, but II is generally
admitted that he is well qualified. and
that he will receive the united support
menced his railroad career In 1880 as sta
| tlon baggage agent for the Chicago and
Alton at Lexington, Ill. In 1884 he went
to Waco Tex, as operator for the Cotton
Belt, and subsequently he became chief
| clerk to the superintendent and later
| train dispatcher In 1888 he was appointed
| chief train dispatcher for the San
| tonic. He was next promoted TO trainn
ter. In 1898 he was appointed division
| perintendent of the Gulf, Colorado
| Santa Fe at Fort Worth. Upon the
| organization of the Frisco in 1893 he CT
to ST. Louis as superintendent of trs
portation, under the Yoakum regime
1901 he was promoted to general SUI
intendent of the entire system, with he
quarters at Springfield
The Wall Street Journal says:
The February earnings of the Rock
land group of railroads, due shortly. will
not make a very favorable exhibit.
Rock Island proper will reflect In net
earnings the result OF continuous cold
weather and curtailed traffic on all lines
north Of Kansas City, and the correspond
Ing decline in earnings southword, due
to the falling off In volume Of tonnage
at junction points.
Frisco proper made good earnings In
| February, but Eastern Illinois operated
under the same difficulties as in January
| Gains In Frisco were about Offset by
losses on Eastern Illinois. The statement
| as a whole will be better than for jan
uary. but considerably below what the
management hoped for during the winter
| months
During March there has been, we are
| told a gradual recovery in gross on all
| these lines, and gross Is running heavier
than last year. The heavy repairs and
the very heavy cost of operation incident
to winter damages must be reflected in
| net for some time to come.
The actual net cost of the extraordi-
nary damages on this system 10 placed
at about s., 50OO 900 to 8, 100000.
| This guess takes account of loss In
gross. repairs, and requirements. and
power of engines The motive power de-
| partment of Eastern Illinois was very
seriously impaired at one time. but traf-
| fc Is now coming down to normal.