The San Francisco call., 1907-01-06
Gossip of Doings
of Railroad Men

T. R. Ryan, general freight agent
of the Mexican Central Railway is in
this city, and says his line is as hard
pressed for cars to move freight as
any railroad in the United States
Mexico, he remarks, has never been
so prosperous as she is today, and
business is increasing in every direc-
tion. Ryan came to the city for the
purpose of installing r. c. Burns as
general agent of the Mexican Cen
trail in San Francisco.
There is more or less uncertainty
among the merchants as to the exact
application of the new rule-or re-
adjustment of the old rule-allowing
5o-foot cars to come west of Albu-
querque and Ogden. The rule as
amended. does not apply on shipments
destined to points on the Southern Pa
cific north of Ashland, Ore, when
routed via Portland. and reads:
Freight cars, whether of railroad or
private ownership. in no case will be
received for transportation when
length is greater than So feet, out
side measurement, over sills. Any
provision of the tariff or Western
classification affecting shipments load
ed on equipment of greater dimensions
is hereby modified accordingly" This
rule becomes effective from January
81, and while the Southern Pacific and
the Santa Fe have signihed their in
tention to let the cars come west dur
ing the intervening period the penalty
of 20 per cent to minimum weight
must, under the tariff and rule of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, be
assessed.
1t does not seem to be as generally
understood as it should be that copies
of all tariffs are on file at stations
and agencies of all the railroads in
the United States, and that the rules of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
provide that these shall be open to
the public. The laws governing the
transportation of freight provide a
penalty for any deviation from these
tariffs. A great many complaints are
made from time to time that railroads
do not protect the rates named on
their bills of lading. They cannot do
so, as this would be a discrimination,
which is expressly forbidden; and so it
is with the other rules of the tariffs.
such as minimum weight, length of
cars, etc. In other words, the tariff
is the law. and Ignorance thereof is
no excuse. as the merchant and the
shipper are entitled to free and full
access to the tariff at all times.
G. E. Babcock. vice president of the
Los Angeles and San Diego Beach
Railway, passed through the city yes
terday en- route to his home in San
Diego.
c. r. Robinson of the passenger de-
partment of the Southern Pacific has
returned from the City of Mexico.
I'VE have something to learn from our
friends in the neighboring republic
he observed, about treating shop
pers. The stores in the City of Mexico
are a revelation. They are beautifully
furnished. and instead of making Gus
toners walk on plain boards several
have the finest carpets. It looked as
if one were entering some private
abode ine tead of a trade place Stores
like those they have in Mexico City
add to the pleasure of shopping. One
is tempted to buy there"
The Southern Pacific will continue to
give half fares within the boundaries
of the State to clergymen and the
members of their families and also to
army officers and the members of their
families.
The Southern Pacific announces the fol-
lowing reduced round-trip excursion
will be in effect from Eastern points:
Summer excursion tickets from Chi
cago to San Francisco and Los Ange-
les and return via direct routes in both
SIS; from Missouri River
common points, s60 from Sioux City,
S62; from Denver, 500; from ST. Louis
and New Orleans. $69; from Houston,
$50.
Sale dates of these tickets will be
from June 1 to September Is, 1907,
final return limit October 81 There
will also be special rates made for
the Mystic Shrine convention, to be
held in Los Angeles on May to IL:
for the conference of German Baptist
Brethren (Dunkards) at Long Beach,
May is to %; for the Eclectic Medical
Association meeting at Long Beach,
June IS to 81. Rates and particulars
will be announced later.
Townsends Cal. glace fruits and cam
dies at Emporium. Post and Van Ness,
1850 Suffer ST. and 1903 and 1920 Va