The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-10-31
RAILROAD MEN In SESSION
SHIPPING HIGH EXPLOSIVES ONE
QUESTION DISCUSSED

~ the American hallway Associates
~-Cssnpsaints That Merchants Hold
ears Too Ions No Organixed Pie
IS Vet 20 cut Dswn OperstinE Expenses
One hundred N se~venty-ive delegates
OF the American Railway Association got
together nj the Waldorf Astoria yesterday
for the semi annual meeting of the associa-
alton. the different railways composing
which operate 23s, t57 miles OF road. The
delegates TO the association comprised
nearly all the principal operating officials
Of tho railroads Of the country.
W. G. Brown. senior vice-president OF the
New York Central, is president. and he was
in he chair at the sessions yesterday. The
meeting disposed of "a variety Of busine
affecting the efficiency Of the principal
railroads. Perhaps The most interesting
event Of the day was an address by Major
r. W. Dunn Of the Ordnance Department OF
the United States Army. who discussed
the regulations adopted by the association
relative to the transportation OF explosives
and ~infismmable materials.
About 5000 freight cars loaded with
explosives are constantly being rolled
aroun this country. and one Of the dele
gates present at yesterdays meeting ex-
pressed the opinion that a man who was
constantly travelling about on our rail
roads wOuld pass a carload Of explosives
about every fifty miles. TIN American
Railway Association a long time estab-
lished a bureau for the purpose Of providing
for, the safe transportation Of such ma
~teriais. and Major Dunn 10 at the head
OF IL. To the regulations made by this
bureau both the makers Of explosives
and the railway, employees engaged in
transporting. explosives have to conform.
The bureau has established at south Am
boy. N. D.. a laboratory for the purpose
Of testing new explosives as fast as they
are put on the market. and determining
the conditions q which they can with
safety be moved.
The question touching the proper manu-
facture Of steel rails for railway use was
discussed at some length. Strength. re-
sistance and wearing qualities were the
three elements taken up and the report
Of a committee that recommended an
improved distribution of metal between
the head and the base Of a rail was heard
and then referred back to the same com
mittee with authority to employ experts
on the matter.
A matter that derives special importance
from the many steam roads nov equipping
themselves with electricity was the ques-
ton Of a standard location for the third rail
80 that electric cars from one road may he
successfully handled by other roads.
Inc freight car shortage ina mas Dppn
bothering the business OF the country has
q close relation to an elaborate report Of the
committee on car efficiency, whose report
and recommendations were intended to
improve the conditions surrounding the
movement Of freight cars. In France the
law obliges c~onsignees to move their
goods from cars within twenty-four hours
after they have been received. Much more
latitude is allowed the c~onsignees in this
country and the railway people complain
skas L., .hAaa I.nal.xAt .l.lny. 3D.. fsn,ak,
cars Of the country are tied up when they
might be kept moving. Statistics show
hat the average lumber Of miles covered in
q day by American freight cars is twenty
FIVE. II the French law prevailed here, il il
help, the efficiency OF the cars now in service
could be q~uadrupled. All the same. Amer
lean business men complain that they are
forced TO remove their goods from cars
much too soon to suit their convenience.
At yesterdays meeting Daniel Willard,
vice-president Of the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy, was reelected first vice-presi-
dent OF the association. whose next meeting
will be held in this city April 81. 1905.
While il 10 understood that at various
private conferences OF officers of the differ
ent big roads. the question Of reducing the
number of employers OF the roads was dis
cussed. IL was asserted that nothing definite
was agreed upon. The representative Of
one OF the biggest systems in the Fast had
thist to say:
We have not determined upon any
campaign OF retrenohment. II IL true.
however, that We shall lie low for a time.
Any work that We have entered upon will
be prosecuted. but on the other hand. e are
not going to branch out in any new under
takings for the present"
Regarding the big Western roads it seems
probable from what could be learned yester-
day hat no extensive reductions in the
operating forces will he ordered mnt:! after
the crops are moved. When that il done,
however. it is extremely likely IN the
roads will pull in their horns until money
10 less tight than IL il at present.