Amador ledger., 1907-08-16
TOM JONES DROPS OUT
OF SOUTHERN PACIFIC,

Sacramento News, Aug. H.. Thomas
K. Jones has resigned as Division
Superintendent of the Southern
Pacific lines at this point. This in
formation was known here for several
days. but the formal announcement
from the general offices of the COM
pany will not be made until today.
Not since the summary dismissal of
j. b. Wright, Mr. Jones' predecessor,
has piece of railroad news created
profounder surprise. Jones grew
into the railroad business in Sacra
mento. AS assistant to Col. Wright.
he was for long time during the in
cumbency of the latter the active IN
fiuence in the operation of the divis-
Ion. Throughout the whole Southern
Pacific system on the Pacific Coast
Jones was rated one of the best in the
business. He learned to know the
lines under his direction as il they
were book. He could, under pres
sure of necessity or occasion, do any
work that anybody under him could
do. At his Office or on the road he
was equally at home. Jones also de-
veloped knowledge of the handling of
men that was often of exceeding value
tn his employers. He commanded
discipline, but he knew all about the
vicissitudes of raiIroadipg and was
reasonable while insistent. He was
part of the operating torce of the
division rather than the director of
it. This valuable quality manifested
itself in the efficiency of his working
force, which is not outranked by any
other in the Southern Pacific service.
Things we're proceeding IN a very I'M
satisfactory way in Arizona when L.
X. jones was called to take charge of
the division. He promptly restored
the division to a high condition of
efficiency and when he left the terri
tory to accept the SUPPLEMENTARY of
the Sacramento division everybody
felt that the promotion had been
earned.
AS every shipper knows to his
sorrow, there is and has been
a severe congestion of railway traffic
on all California railways. So bad
has this condition become that the
mercantile community has united
time and again IN mighty roar of
protest, Tut the protesting failed to
move the cars. Superintendent Jones
brought into action every resource at
his command, but the freight came
on faster than the equipment could
move it and a congestion on all
lines was the result. Sometimes he
succeeded in clearing the lines on
important routes, but blockade soon
followed. The renewed outcry of the
shippers was carried to the Eastern
offices of the corporation and General
Manager Kruttschnitt came to the
Coast. 1t was probably as a result of
his observations then that something
over month ago II. l.. Scott, assist
ant to Kruttsohnitt in the Chicago
office, was dispatched hither to clear
up the situation if he could. Scott
consulted with Jones, and the latter
detailed his assistant, Brown, to go
over the lines with the Eastern man.
70 hoI h,r 4
about how the blockade could be
raised. He practically took charge of
the division and proceeded to put his
decisions in force.
But when the months record came
to be made out it was discovered that
the congestion was worse than ever.
The Eastern plan had failed. 1t Is
said that there we're several hundred
more ears scattered along the roads
East and West and the outlook SEEM
ed hopeless.
Whetehr this showing impressed the
Fastener with a sense of the propri-
ETY. of saving his face with his supe-
rioIs or whether heshad other reasons.
the fact is that he sent in a report 10
the general office that he was unable
to show a better result because
Superintendent Jones had refused to
render him efficient support. 1t is
said that he pointed to the fact that
Assistant Brown was sent out with
him, whereas Jones himself should
have gone. 1t may be that Scott's
first impulse was to throw the blame
of his failure on the shoulders of
number of minor employees in the
operating department. 1t is said that
he requested Jones to dismiss num-
Der of the men here and at Sparks
and elsewhere, and that Jones de-
clined because in the list we're some
of the most efficient train and yard
men in the corporations employ.
ID. Burkhalter will succeed L. H.
Jones. Burkhalter is we'll known in
Sacramento, where he formerly served
the company as assistant to Col.
Wright.
A News representative sought yes
terday to secure a statement from L.
r. Jones. Mr. Jones said that he
would like to be obliging. but he did
not feel that there was any occasion
for public discussion in any matter
relating to himself. 1.-The company
is endeavoring to adjust its manage
mant with tha view of getting the