The San Francisco call., 1907-01-19
Gossip Of the Doings
of Railroad Men

The commercial bodies of San Fran
cisco. Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland,
Seattle, Tacoma and other Pacific Coast
terminals are awaiting with anxiety
the decision of the Interstate Com
merce Commission in the Spokane rate
case. The railroad companies have al
ways made rates to Pacific Coast points
where no water competition existed.
by the isthmus Cape Horn much
lower than those to intermediate points
where no water competition existed.
This has been justified by the conten
tion OF the railroads that transconti-
mental rates to water ports were not
fair Inasmuch as the companies had
their tracks laid TO the ocean, however,
they explained, they decided to reduce
rates to meet the ocean competition.
The railroads further allege that differ
ent lines have found 1t necessary in
handling trans-Pacihc and coastwise
business to put all their ports on prac-
tically the same rate basis in order to
compete not only with one another but
also with Canadian ports. None of
these terminal and transoceanic reasons
applies, it is set forth, to intermediate
points, which are controlled by local
conditions.
In reply to the argument that the in
terror would develop more largely un-
der such rates Spokane demands, the
railroads ask for examples where de-
yelopment has been retarded by the
rate situation.
DR.. F. K. Ainsworth chief surgeon
of the Southern Pacific. has returned
from an extended trip to the East. He
visited all the principal hospitals in
the Eastern cities to gain ideas as to
the new railroad hospital that is to
be built near the Panhandle.
James Kent, who was chief clerk of
the Chicago and Northwestern. has left
the service of the railroad company TO
engage in private business.
The Southern Pacific, in response
TO an appeal from w. III. Bancroft. gen.
eral manager of the Oregon Short Line.
who said he was unable to give assist
ance to aid the residents of Nevada
with coal, forwarded 200 tons to Cover
nor Sparks to he distributed. The coal
heached Reno at l o'clock Friday morn
ing. The fuel was hurried off from one
of the Southern Pacific collieries and
rushed 10 Reno without delay.
John ]. Byrne. assistant passenger
traffic manager of the Santa Fe, who
has been expected in the city for some
time was one of the unfortunate per-
sons tied up on the coast line by a.
washout. Byrne is coming to the city
to consult with Charles S. Fee, pas
senger traffic manager OF the Southern
Pacific, with regard to transportation
issued to persons within the boundaries
of the State. The Southern Pacific and
the Santa Fe want to work in harmony
in this matter and there is considerable
discussion as to the form of ticket that
will be issued by the railroad COM
panies to protect themselves from a
person unscrupulous enough to use
pass on an interstate journey and so
lessen the cost of a through ticket.
The Southern Pacific is entertaining
many fears that persons who have been
granted passes. half fares and the like
may use the pass and the half-fare for
an interstate journey and in order to
guard against this the company has
issued circular to all train agents and
conductors TO make full report TO
the head Office in San Francisco as TO
violators of company rules.
A. G. Wells. general manager of the
Santa Fe, is expected in the city. He
has been delayed by a washout on the
coast line.
The officials of the Santa lTe report
that the break in the Franklin tunnel
has been repaired and that trains are
running on time.
J. II. p. Mason with the first of the
personally conducted Washington sun
set excursions arrived in Riverside yes
terday and the passengers report hav-
ing had pleasant trip across the con-
tinent.
w. j. Shotwell, one of the directors
of the Western Pacific, says the con-
tract for the construction of 212 miles
of the new line viii be made known
in a day or so. This line is to be
built from the boundary OF this State
to a point in the Nevada desert
Townsend's Cal. glace fruits and can
dies at Emporium. Post and Van Ness