Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-01-06

train has pretty we'll kept up its repu-
tation. The east bound train has
been about on time, but there is no
reason why it should be late. IL
starts out Of Los Angeles on time, IL
has to wait for no connections, and It
has a clear track TO Ell Paso. Sunday
the west bound train was only a few
minutes late, and it was thought a
new leaf had been turned over with
the new year, and the train would be
on time. The reformation did not
last, for on Monday, the second, IL was
announced that the west bound limi-
ted was annulled. Inquiry as to the
trouble brought the statement that
no one knew what IL was, the train
was still on the Rock Island, aud no
one knew when IL would get through.
As a railroad the Rock Island is a
false alarm. It has one Of the best
advertising experts In the country.
It's stocks cause great excitement on
Wall street, but It's trains do not get
over the road. II its operating de-
partment was as we'll managed as its
advertising department it is probable
that people would ride over the road a
second time. AS IL is the average
man who rides from the east to Cali.
fornia over the Rock Island wants to
return over some other route. The
Southern Pacific is a great deal better,
but Is far from perfect Trains are
often, but not regularly, late, and the
only reason given is a 'delay on the
coast division" or some similar
excuse. Occasionally there is a train
10 the ditch, and all trains have to
wait until the track is cleared. Re
Gently a man left San Francisco for FL
Paso on No. 10, the east bound pas
senger train, aud told his experience
to the LIBERAL. The train left San
Francisco Eve minutes late. 1t had
no connections to wait for, and why It
should start out Of a terminal late
was q mystery. The train kept losing
time, and there appeared TO be no
reason for 1t doing SO. The passenger
did not sit up that night to see the
train lose time, but when he woke up
the next morning 1t was more than an
hour late. The train was then on the
best piece Of track owned by the
Southern Pacific, rock ballasted,
heavy rails, and the train al so
smooth that the passenger could sit
at the table and write his opinion Of
the operating department, which was
not hattering, % the train, which
could easily have made sixty miles an
hour over this track, was running
about forty. The train was late into
Los Angeles, waited a long time, and
pulled out late. The next morning at
Tucson it was about two hours late.
Between Tucson and El Paso the
traveller found the only up to date
operating department on the line.
Time was made up, and the train
pulled into Ell Paso only twenty
minutes late. In all probability each
division superintendent made a re-
port to the general manager or that
day that entirely justified all the de-
lays Of this train. 1t is a mighty poor
train dispatcher and superintendent
that cannot make a report that shows
all delays to have been entirely I'M
avoldable. II President Hartman
would start his secret service men to
work Investigating train delays 1t is
probable he would find some interest.
ing facts, when comparing the reports
of his secret service men with those OF
the train dlspatchers and superinten-
dents. II a few men should ride Over
the road at various times, note every
delay, every time and place the train
was late, the places along the road
where time might be made up, and II
was not, note where time was made
up, and many other interesting facts
that might appear, 1t is probable that
, their reports would show an entirely
different state OF facts than what ap-
r pear on the regular reports. He
B might be able to make as great i'm
> provement 10 the train service as hC
has has made in the locomotive en-
gineers, by teaching them the impor
lance OF watching for signals. Tit
general manager and the other Inn
poEtant officers Of the road are neve
troubled by the delay Of trains, 70
, they generally travel 10 a private ca
l. on a special train.
. The Liberal is In receipt OF a sum
mary Of the weather for the month o
December, prepared by p. w. ClapT