Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-03-29

The French Compagnie Du Nord has
just put on the rails a six-wheeled loco
motive for drawing heavy loads up steep
grades. 1t is about 5215 feet long and
has a traction force of 2O13 tons.
The Pennsylvania railroad locomotive
No. 30O4, which Is known as the grass
hopper" because the, valYe gear and re-
versing mechanism are placed outside the
driving wheels, has been making expert
mental trips during the past month since
she left the company's shops. 1t is re-
ported that this great locomotive has prov
ed the fastest in the world.
A reduction of rates on California fru. t
has been agreed upon by the Santa Fe
refrigerator car service and the Armour
refrigerating service. 1t will amount to
SO car from Sacramento to Chicago
and $3.50 to New York. An important
feature of this new compact is a clause
providing that no rebates or special con-
cessions shall be granted to any shipper.
The Heinzes of the United Copper
Company, having sold out their Montana
properties for $25,000,O0O, have secured
seats on the New York and Boston stock
exchanges IN order to go into fnancier-
ing. Their first move is to put up 81,
600, 900 for the construction of a high
speed electrical trolley service between
Elmira and Rochester, n. Y. The line
will be 100 miles long, and it will be a
competitor Of the proposed Erie system
The Central Freight Association voted
against a reduction in the grain rates
from Chicago to New York The battle
was between the New York Central Lines,
which stood for reductions, and the Penn
sylvania Lines, which were opposed to the
measure. Debate regarding the PROPOSE
ton was heated, and it is possible indie
pendent action may be taken by one of the
Eastern roads. The management of the
New York Central Lines is heartily in
favor of competing with lake transporta-
ton.
The railroad workers of America num-
Der more than the entire voting popula-
tions of New Hampshire, Vermont,
Rhode Island, Delaware, Florida, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Nevada and Col
orado-nine sovereign States, combined.
Ii they had prOportionate representation
they would have fifteen Representatives in
Congress and eighteen Senator'S. These
workers, as a body, would make a city
nearly twice the size of Boston and more
than seven times as large as Indianapolis.
There is in the United States one railway
rmploye for every seventy-nine men, wom-
en- and children.
Representatives of the national unions
Of railway conductors, engineers and
trainmen TO the number of 400 have just
concluded a joint conference at Norwich
y. Y. for the purpose of bringing the
different branches of the service into
closer relations, and to improve the so
cial and moral conditions of members.
The annual report of the Wheeling and
Lake Erie, the Gould line from Toledo
to Pittsburg, shows a decrease of $93,-
1O4. 1t was over the management of this
line that Gould and Ramsey fell out.
President Delano says that the roild has
not yet begun to receive much benefit
from the Pittsburg terminal, but more
is expected in future.
Joseph Ramsey, Jr, former president
of the Wabash, is giving his attention to
the Lorraine Southern Railroad Company,
which was Incorporated to take over the
property of the Lorraine industrial rail
woy and to construct line from Lorraine,
Ohio, for the purpose of competing for
the heavy southern Ohio freight traffic.
The interstate commerce commission
has ordered an investigation of the rates
of the railroads engaged in transporting
oil from Kansas and Indian Territory,
the hearing TO be held at Kansas City,
Mo-, March ID This is ordered upon a
petition of the Kansas oil producers as
Sooiatiou which oharops that tho "a taS
are unreasonable and prejudicial.