Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-11
CUTTING EXPENSES
RAILROADS MAKING BIG REDUc-
TloNs IN OPERATING AND
OFFICE FORCES.
Milwaukee Follows Retrenchment Pol
icy of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Trav-
cling Man Injured at Burlington
Railroad Notes.

The Milwaukee is following the ex-
ample of the Burlington in it's retrench-
ment policy and is laying off men all
along the line. Light freight traffic
and a desire to economic during the !
dull season are given as reasons for
the big reductions being made in the
operating forces by the railroad COM
panies
1t is announced that the accounting
department of the Burlington lines in
Missouri will be removed from st.
Joseph to Chicago July 1. Two hundred
men are employed in the department.
The offices of auditor, auditor of
freight and ticket accounts and assist
ant transfer of the Missouri lines will
be abolished in furtherance of the Bur-
lington's retrenchment and centraliza-
ton scheme.
The reductions in the local offices of
the Burlington have been few but a
number of trainmen have been laid
off.
Will Reduce Force.
+ AS a result of recent conference OF
the general officials and the superin-
tendents Of the Milwaukee it is said
that this company will reduce it's force
to a minimum within the next month.
Superintendent e. I4aas returned from
Chicago yesterday. A number of extra
brakemen have already been laid off
and the time of the car repairers cut
down. Still further reductions are an
ticipated in the local force within al
short time. All over the country the
railroads are cutting down their oper-
ating forces.
Wireless Teleeraphy.
Wireless telegraphy promises to sup
plant the present methods of commun-
ication on at least one railroad. Ofti-
GERS of the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific road in Texas are now expert
menting with wireless biography as
a means of communication between
moving trains and divisional head
quarters. A number of freight ca
bosses have been equipped with the
wireless instruments and the expert
ments so far conducted are satisfac-
tory Wireless telegraphy may prove
of much value to the railway COM
panies as it will allow instant commun-
ication between trains on any part of
the road and the offices of the COM
pany. Accidents occurring between
stations, where telegraph offices are
out of reach, may be communicated
readily by the new method.
For years the railroad companies OF
the country have been anxious to i'm
prove upon the old form of Geographic
communication The telephone has
come into general use in this way.
The liability of misunderstanding
telegraph messages on railroads is the
cause of the attempts of the managers
to get system that will allow officers
and employees to communicate more di-
rectly and more quickly with one an
other
Rock Island Makes Record.
the Rock Island has established a
new record for fast time between
special train of five cars carrying the
Anna Held Company, left Omaha at l
a. M, arriving at Chicago at II O'Clock
noon. The actual running time was 9
hours and IS minutes and as the dis
lance is 400 miles the average speed
was nearly so miles an hour. Stops for
water were made at Atlantic, Brook
Ign, West Liberty, Bureau and Nor
'ris. Engines were changed at Valley
junction and Rock Island and 20 min
utes were lost at the latter place while
the members of the company ate
breakfast.
A performance such as this, made
without any special attempt to 'break
a record" speaks volumes for Rock Is
nd lie
without saying that speed of nearly
mile minute for 500 miles is pos
sible only when engines and men and
track are of the highest standard.
Fell Under the Wheels.
| John Peak, Creston travelling man,
while stepping from Burlington No. 4
| at Burlington last night, fell partly
under the car and had his left foot
crushed by the wheels. The injured
man was taken to the hospital where
| the shattered foot was amputated.
Mr.. Peak passed through the opera.
i ton in a satisfactory manner and it is
believed that he will recover He is
4 about sixty years of age and it is said
has had two sons killed on the rail
road. He was hurrying to get off the
\ car platform and another travelling
! man jumped off the platform of the
next car at the same time and acct
i dentially knocked him down under the
II wheels. The train was coming to a
i stop at the time of the accident.
Prohibit Liquors.
1 In a recent bulletin issued by the
Milwaukee attention is called to the
fact that in arranging for society and
general excursions the sale, giving
away or using of Intoxicating liquors
on the trains is strictly prohibited
On the outgoing trip liquors may be
carried in the baggage car but none
of the packages may be opened during
the trip. On the return trip the car
rying Of liquors is forbidden.
:. Notice to Girls.
Notices have been posted in the pas
senger depots of the city giving warn
ings and directions to young girls
travelling alone Girls are especial!
!; warned against the worlds fair city ant
are urged not to go to the city with
out having previously secured place
to stop The notices are issued b.