The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-16
RAILROAD WORLD.
The Wall Street Journal says:

The Wall Street Journal says: By a certain amount of economy in | operation combined win a fair advance in gross seaboard Ar Line has materi- l ally strengthened it's surplus after charges as compared with last year. The l surplus for the four months shows an increase of over 300 per cent
 The economy is largely in maintenance of equipment, which has been materially reduced this year. In this the company , is in line with othes railroads in the same territory. The southern lines ap- pear to have decided that retrenchment is wisdom, and most of them have halt ed in the policy of heavy expenditures from earnings.
 The position of the seaboard Air Line | in respect to earnings and outlook at the 1 present time is fairly good. It is in line to share, to some extent, in the progress of the south as the country develops. ! Any great advance in wealth, in indus trial life, or agricultural development 1 should reach the Seaboard, now that its lines reach Birmingham and now that l the southern lines are held in a way that l insures peace.
 There are two fundamental weaknesses in Seaboard Air Line. One is that it's l financial strength has never been great and is today readily measured. Another 1 is that 1t has no coal traffic worthy of the name. Coal should have been reach ed some years ago. Experience has taught that the lack of a fair coal ton mage and fuel supply is an important dis ability. Seaboard Air Line should do much better when the Birmingham tom mage is secured. Feeders to coal proper ties are essential.
 The financiering of this company is in the hands of Blair & Co.,, and the Nor l ton Trust company. No one will speak with authority on the vexed question of 1 future extension. It is known tha. new capital Is to be raised, but for what pur- pose Is not known.
 l c. A. Cowles. general agent of the Nor folk and Western in Atlanta was in the city yesterday. He is accompanied by J. IT. Wilson of Philadelphia, travelling freight agent of the same road.
 A. G. Palmer, formerly general agent of the Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron com pany, is in the city. He had charge of all the traffic department of the company and was thrown in close touch with the railroad men, with whom he was very popular.
 J. P. McCuen, superintendent of the route, is in the city.
 T. L. Hutchings, special railway ad- juster for the Aetna Insurance company with headquarters in Chattanooga was in the city yesterday.
 H. c. Macklin, purchasing agent of the Seabord, is in the city. He is here look ing after the coal supply for his road which purchases much of its coal in the Birmingham district. He is also looking after the supplies for the Birmingham end of his road. General Storekeeper Dickinson of the same road is also in town.
 W. F. Burbank agent for the Empire Line. a fast freight at Cincinnati is in the city.
 J. H. McAllister, commercial agent of the Norfolk and Western at Chattanooga, is in the city.
 Edwin D. Sompayrde, insurance inspec- tor of the Southern Railway at Washing ton, was in Birmingham yesterday on a tour of inspection. The company is carrying large portion of its own insur- ance now, and the inspection of the risks Is very close and careful. w. H. Collins special agent of the rail- road department of the Aetna Life In- surance company's accident department. with headquarters in Selma, is in the city.
 J. R. Murray, superintendent of bridges and builders of the A c. s. with head quarters at Tuscaloosa, is in the city. l.. K c. Closer, route agent of the Southern Railway with headquarters in | Birmingham, is in Selma.
 The Chicago Tramp company, a the- atrical organization en route from An niston to Tuscaloosa, missed connection in Birmingham, and missed the regular parade fin Tuscaloosa yesterday It went to Tuscaloosa yesterday afternoon on the Queen and Crescent.
 w. H. Tinsley, special agent for the Louisville and Nashville railroad at Louis vile. was in the city yesterday. M. NJ Richey, assistant general super intendent of the Southern railway, will probably return today from Atlanta, where he went to attend a meeting of the board which has charge of the new pas senger station which is being completed.
 All of the railroads are making arrange ments for extra equipment with which to handle the Christmas travel, which is al- ways very heavy. The through travel is light compared to the local travel, and for that reason the additional equipment will be principally coaches.
 The extra equipment will be put on by the various roads agout the first of next week, as the travel does not begin to show a material increase until about that time. For the two weeks following the travel will be very heavy on every line.
 Special rates have been announced by all the roads, and many inquiries are being received about them at the passenger of fees. The indications are that the travel