The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-05
RAILROAD WORLD.

The Southern railway Is soon to let the contract for fifteen new passenger coaches. The Seaboard Ar Line Is said to be asking prices on four or five express cars and on combination cars.
 The gross earnings of the Louisville and Nashville railroad for the month of July amounted to $2.S59,S40, against S3,- D2402S for the same month in 1903; s2,- 7Os244 for July 1902 and $2.S11, ,2so for July, 1901.
 The Babington bill enlarging the pow CTS of the Louisiana railroad commission has been approved by Governor Blanch- ard Under the new laws the commis. sion is given power over telegraph and telephone companies operating in the Btate
 As soon as the classification of claims is completed the Texas Southern will be sold under a decree of the Marshall dis trict court.
 The Wall Street Journal reports for the third week of August gross earnings of forty-four railroads make an aggregate showing of $s,60s,2l5, against $s, 473,sS9 for the corresponding period of 1sO3 This Is an increase of $129376, or 152 per cent. An extension from Ardmore to Wauri- ka, I. T., is to be built by the Rock Is- land. It will open up one or the richest sections. of the country in the Chicka- saw nation, and give Ardmore straight line to Lawton.
 The Pennsylvania system, with the block signal system on the Indianapolis division completed, now has a complete block signal system from New York to St. Louis.
 Both freight and passenger service is now being operated by the Rock Island over it's own rails from St. Louis to Kan sas City. An additional passenger train has been put in service between these two points.
 Following the announcement that the vote so far canvassed among the members of the Amalgamated Association of Street Railway Employees at New York unani- mously favors a strike on the 'LY roads. Vice President Bryan of the Interborough railroad Is having daily conferences with the police officials in Gotham.
 James c. Cantrell has entered upon his duties as assistant general freight agent of the Seabosrd Air Line, with headquar- ters in Birmingham He arrived here Sat urday from St. Louis, where he has been the western agent for the Seaboard MT. Cantrell has been connected with the Sea- board for about twelve years, and is we'll known and popular in railroad circles.
 T. w. Evans, who has rendered his res- ignation as roadmaster of the Southern railway, was yesterday presented with a beautiful double case gold watch, chain and charm by the employees of the road way department. A committee of twelve called at the residence of MT. Evans, at bH Twenty-third street. yesterday morn- Ing and made the presentation. MT. Evans replied In a few appropriate words. thank ing the committee for the gift
 MT. Evans has been roadmaster of the Birmingham division of the Southern rail- way for nine years. He was with the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia railroad before that system was absorbed by the Southern.
 MT. Evans will remain in Birmingham. entering business here. He rendered his resignation on August 1.
 From the Wall Street Journal.
 The decrease of 51s per cent in the gross earnings of Louisville and Nashville in July was not due to any special causes that affected that road in particular. oil record for the month of July slight de- creases in gross earnings, as result of the fact that the trade between the seasons this year was slightly less than In 1903. If anything the south reflects this fact with less force than do the north and the northwest.
 It may be stated that the officials of Louisville expect to break records this year both in the amount of traffic car ried and in the net receipts from trans portation. The road is not entering upon any particular period of economy, and it Is probable that it will spend at least as much in maintaining the property this year as in the past. Transportation ex- penses will probably run about the same as last year, wher high prices for coal prevailed, and when railroad labor was restless and in many cases exorbitant Tn It's demands. The company expects. however, to have more gross revenue for It's use and to carry It's business at about the same initial cost as last year.
 The directors have not decided what the next dividend will be- It Is due to be declared some time in January, 1905, and it will depend upon the earnings of the intervening months whether the div ldend Is raised or continued at PIE per cent. If the earnings and prospects justi- fy an increase the dividend will proba bly be increased. This company is one of the few that is in positino to declare a larger dividend without violating the un- written rule, "a dollar for dividends and a dollar for the property"