The San Francisco call., 1907-06-28
In Railway Circles

{" HE operating officials of the
Southern Pacific say that the
freight situation has returned to
normal conditions, and for a few
days at least they add that the mer-
chant has been unable to exercise his
privilege of grumbling. They declare
that freight is moving with as much
regularity as the ferry tower clock and
that the movement of freight cars out of
Sparks is to be highly commended. For
the last 10 days an average of 243 loads
have left Sparks, and 90 Pacific fruit ex-
press cars which are being hurried to
the southern part of the state. AS for
the condition nearer home, 1t has as
sumed halcyon appearance for the
operating department, and the follows
ing figures were quoted yesterday in
support of their contention: There were
1853 cars in the San Francisco yards,
rs in Oakland for the city, 101 on the
coast division and 304 in the north
ern district. All these cars, they say.
could be put without any inconvenience
in the San Francisco yards and could
be cleaned up in five days. Merchants,
too, are given their share of credit, for
they have shown a praiseworthy spirit
in Fastening the work of unloading,
for on the 25th of this month 399 cars
were unloaded by the consignees, and
on the 26th $50 cars were set free. The
freight situation all over the country
has greatly improved, and H. j. Mer-
rick, superint tendent of transportation
of the New York Central lines, in his
weekly circular declares that cars are
being returned promptly from the lines
in the west and that shortly the freight
nny he l,o1
ager of the Santa Fe, who has been in
Chicago. in speaking OF his visit there
said yesterday:
IT met all our people in the east and
they. in common with others. think
that 1t is not an advisable time to en-
ter largely into new construction. /
understand that we are still working
on the Belen cutoff, putting in stations
and preparing to open the railroad for
traffic. 1 am also given to understand
that we will shortly begin extending
the Albion and Southeastern, which is
part of the Pacific Northwestern and
will also begin work north from Will
Its and south from camp 5. The situ-
alton at the Franklin tunnel, which has
been giving us considerable trouble,
improved greatly, and understand that
the heavy timbering is in, so that the
gangs can get to work. The tunnel has
been out of commission since last .Janu-
ary.y
-
The next. two weeks. will be some
what anxious periods for the Southern
Pacific officials, as the Colorado river
is at it's highest flood during this time
and dozens of locomotives and hun
dreds of cars with vast quantities OF
ties and rails have been assembled in
case of danger from the rivers rise
In order to insure the safety of the
dam which; the Southern Pacific built
along the banks of the Colorado. a rail-
road was built on it, and this trackage
is being patrol1ed constantly, so tina;
If there should be the slightest break
cars with earth and rock would be
rushed to the spot and the damage re.
paired before it assumed serious pro-
portions. The Colorado is the second
largest river in the country when a,
flood height. the only larger one being
the Mississippi. If the dam withstands
the June and July rise of the Colorado
the work of Randolph and Cory To
curb the river and keep it in its proper
channel win be regarded as complete
success.
Harold Boyd of the passenger de-