Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07

The Burlington system has ordered
ninety locomotives. seventy-ive for
freight and fifteen for passenger service.
In the hope of forcing the wage issue,
the boiler makers and blacksmiths on the
Gould lines were ordered out by their gen
eral officers. The management gave the
men until last Monday to return.
All lands of the Southern Pacific Com
pany included in the government grant
to the Central Pacific railroad in Cali
fornia, Nevada and Utah. with the excep-
ton of the timber property, will be placed
on sale not later than July l of this year.
The railroad company's holdings in these
States amount approximately to 6,000,-
600 acres.
A statistical article in the Van Norden
Magazine dealing with the deveopment of
electric railways in the United States.
says that the electric railways if stretch
ed out in one line would encircle lthe
earth, and that there are now onlyJ2jO
miles of horse car lines in operation.
According to the same writer, more than
1000 people were killed and AZ 900 in
jured on these trolley lines last year. In
rural districts the trolley car has taken
the place of the stage coach and the farm
wagon.
In the Supreme Court at Jefferson
City, Attorney General Hadley began
suits to annul the merger of the Wabash,
Missouri Pacific and Iron Mountain COM
panies and the Pacific Express Company
and to revoke the charter of the Pacific
Express and the coal and elevator COM
panies of the same group. These suits
are based on the alleged restraint of
trade, it being known that the stock Of all
the companies named is owned by the
Goulds in violation of the laws of Mis-
souri,.
The federal grand jury al New York
returned an Indictment against the Great
Northern railroad, of which J. J. Hill is
president, for giving rebates to the sugar
trust, on two counts, specifying payments
to Lowell VI. Palmer, the trusts traffic
agent. Following this it was intimated
that the United States attorney, Slim
son, would now proceed against other rail
road corporations concerned in grain and
ore rebates, as well as sugar, and also
against the express companies. At the
same time Attorney General Bonaparte
has instituted suits against number of
railroad companies for violation of the
safety appliance law, based upon inforna-
ton secured by the interstate commerce
commission.
The American Railway Association,
which includes nearly all the steam rail-
roads in the country, has decided to estab
fish ct Chicago a sort of clearing house
for freight cars. 1t will be under the
direction of the committee on car eff
cheney, of which Arthur Hale of the Bal
timore and Ohio transportation depart
ment is chairman. If the plan goes, into
general operation Mr.. Hale will have to
look after 100000 cars belonging to
800 owners. The clearing house is to be
experimental for awhile, but it is hoped
will become permanent.
The Pennsylvania railroad has engaged
the services of E. A. Sterling, formerly
of the Agricultural Department, as for
ester, this being the first instance of such
an Office in connection with an American
railroad. Under his guidance the plant
ing of trees, Systematically, on railroad
lands, is expected to furnish the cross-tie
supply of future years.
That the men employed in the opera
ton of trains and the signal system on
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad work an
excessive number of hours without proper
periods of rest has been brought out by
the commerce commission investigation IN
connection with the Terra Gotta wreck.
An engineer had worked for thirty-six
hours without rest. General Manager
admitted that accidents largely
occurred as the result Of the failure of
men to take the proper time to rest.
Notwithstanding that Vice President
Durham of the Ann Arbor railroad had
appeared before Federal Judge Taylor at
Toledo and had stated that the present
owners of the line knew nothing of the
previous rebates TO the Toledo Coal and
Ice Company complained Of the judge i'm
posed a fine of $4,000 on the company
for each of six counts out of the 155 in
the indictment. This in no way disposes !
Of the charges against the coal and ice