The San Francisco call., 1907-03-09
Gossip of the Doings
of Railroad Men

General Superintendent w. S. Palmer
of the Southern Pacific has again is
sued a warning note as to the freight
situation and urged merchants to un-
load cars promptly. Another conges-
tion is threatened. Three hundred and
fifty cars are being received daily in
the San Francisco yards and only 800
are being unloaded. According to the
statistics in the general once there
were 883 cars in Oakland yesterday.
457 on the Western division, SIS on the
coast division and 1913 in the San
Francisco yards. making a total of
3473 cars to be unioaded here. The
company has not as yet increased the
demurrage charge, but 1t is asserted
that unless there is a change for the
better the railroads will have to in
crease the exaction from 81 a day
to So. The merchants who unload their
goods promptly are in favor of the
increase, for they say that the slow
ness of others works harm to them
John A. Gill of the New York Gem
trail lines has just returned from Los
Angeles, and In speaking of the orange
situation said that the growers had
no trouble in securing cars.
"They are not, however, altogether
in happy mood" he explained, for
the reason that the tie-up of the Salt
Lake line. the Santa Fe and the South
ern Pacific has delayed the transit of
the fruit East. About 150 to 400 cars
are packed day and you can we'll
understand what 1t means when there
is a delay of day or two in getting
the cars East.
There is one noticeable thing about
the citrus movement. The fruit is al
ready being iced to preserve 1t, as loss
is feared through delay. The shippers
have every reason to be pleased with
what we are doing in the way OF re-
turning refrigerator cars. The New
YorrA Central lines send the cars back
TO California as soon as they are un-
loaded, and do not wait for any
freight"
Walter H. Cline has been In Hum
boldt County preparing data for the
use of r. r. Ritchie and says that Eu-
reka is booming. Everybody has
money there" he declares. "and the
storekeepers pay cash for their goods
and do not ask credit.
"Of course the lumber men are look
ing forward to the completion of the
railroad which will give them a line to
San Francisco, but the storekeepers do
not seem to be so eager about 1T They
are afraid that with a fast train SER
vice to the bay many people will be
tempted to do their shopping In San
Francisco. The road is now eleven
miles below Pepperwood and there is
a big force of men employed on grad
ing and laying track. 1t is said that
before eighteen months have elapsed
the road will be Joined with the Cali
fornia Northwestern, and Eureka will
then be one days distance from San
Francisco"
Among the notables who have lately
called upon General Passenger Agent
James Horsburgh Jr. Is D. L. @. Van
Roggen, an engineer in the service of
the Shah of Persia. who Is interested in
the Ahwaz irrigation scheme. Van Rog-
gen will examine the canal system of
this State. He is a Hollander and
brings letters of introduction to the
railroad people. He intimates also that
he desires to have his children edu-
Gated in California rather than in the
Land of Roses. Van Roggen will prob
ably make tour of the State IL the
railroads will furnish him with trans
portation.
Sam B. Sweet, general freight agent
of the Lake Erie and Western Railway
with headquarters in Indianapolis. is
in the southern part of the State and
will be in the city shortly. With him ia
Duke Nicholson, general agent of the
Red Lines, with headquarters in Chi
cago.
>~-~~-~>~-~~~~~-~~->~~~-~~ ~-~~~~->~~~~~~>>~~>>>>s
dicial officers. both of the United States
and of the several States. shall be
bound by oath or affirmation to sun
port this constitution; but no religious
test shall ever be required as a qualifi-
cation to any office or public trust un-
der the United States" This is all the
constitution says on the subject.
POSTAL CARDS-M F. G., Oakland
Cal. Postal cards were first adopted bv
Germany. BY an act of Congress, June
s, 1872, the Postmaster General was
authorized and directed to issue postal
cards to the public at cost of / cent
each. The first cards in the United
States were issued in May. 1873.
DISINFECTANTS-M " N, Ala
media. Cal. There is no more effectuaI
disinfectant for the sickroom than dry
earth. 1t is the best thing to use In
spittoons or other vessels about such q
room. Black loan is better than clay
or sand 1t should be dried In an oven
and kept dry for use. The best LIQUID
disinfectants are diluted carbolic acid,
thymol and camphor. Chloride OF lime
is good in vaults and cellars, but dis
agreeable In sickrooms.
MARK TWAIN-Sam Slick City.
Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Mark
Twain" was born In Florida, Munroe
County, Mo-. November 80, 1888.