The San Francisco call., 1908-03-20
Gossip of RaiIwaymen

Railroadmen are keenly interested in
the arrival of the fleet, for about 200
men will be paid off who will go east,
and naturally there is much competi-
tion to procure that business.
Phil K. Gordon, who has had a great
deal of business with the fighting men.
speaking of them, said: The sailor
is a peculiar combination of childish
simplicity and shrewdness. 1t is his
desire not to be taken for a simp1eton
that leads him into grotesque mis-
takes. A few weeks ago a number of
sailors were paid off at San Diego. and
a well known railroadman boarded the
different vessels and interviewed the
men. He was beautifully dressed, had
on light tan kid gloves, a lovely pam
anna hat and patent leather shoes.
The jackies surveyed him carefully
and heard with respectful attention
all he had to say.
Did you say" asked one. that your
trains are lighted by electricity"
Yes. sir. The train is as light as
MONDAY in the dead of night"
Then how in thunder can a man
sleep? He'll be thinking he's on watch
all the time growled the old salt.
AT this point came small railroad
man in unpretentious garments.
Say, boys, are you going ashore?
he sang out. Come along and have
glass of beer"
He booked a tickets and the jacl<ies
confided to him that they knew a bona
fide railroadman when they saw one.
"As for that other fellow they said,
me couldn't Nstring us with his electric
lighted trains. That was a dead give
away. Why, he's a sure thing gambler
We spotted him at once
The Visalia electric line will begin
operations in a few days between vi
salia and Lemon Cove, via Exeter. Tho
district between Exeter and Lemon
Cove has been given over largely to the
cultivation of citrus fruits, and the new
line will place that section in close
communication with the county seat.
Visalia
The Visalia electric railway owns its
own tracks in the city of Visalia and
also between Exeter and Lemon Cove.
and has obtained trackage rights be-
Southern Pacific. 1t is estimated that
next season 250 carloads of citrus fruit
will be moved from this section.
Railroadmen who have been east
report that business is picking up on
the Atlantic seaboard and in the middle
west, and the fact that the Pennsyl-
wanna COhc HciuS are running Dl pei
cent of their capacity is an indication
that the steel industry is reviving. The
manufacturing interests are hopeful of
return of good times and the fact
that they are receiving larger orders
than they have at any time during the
last 10 months is regarded as a har-
binger of better conditions. Farmers
also say that the agricultural pros
poets are good throughout the middle
nd f,1I fc oh
servable among all classes.
The people of Fresno intend to take
up the cultivation of citrus fruits. and
it is said that several hundred acres
of the foothill land will be put into
oranges. lemons and grapefruit. The
Fresno people say they have as good
have asked the Southern Pacific to
make the Pollasky branch trolley line
and extend it along the foothills to
Lemon Cove.
| George Miller. who has had charge of
! the validaticn bureau of the Southern
Pacific, has resigned to join the forces
of the Yosemite valley railroad. Miller
will have headquarters here and work
up business for the road.
The reports of the passenger de-
partment of the Southern Pacific re-
gardicg the arrival of colonists shows
that since March l to March Is more
than 1000 people entered the state
The bulk of the immigration is to
northern California.
Arrangements have been completed
/ so that 8the Goldfield- San francisco
train will leave Goldfeld at a. m
/ instead of $3.50 a as at present, and
will arrive here an hour and a hall
/ later than the schedule now in force
The date of the change will be an
nounced In few days.
The engineering department of the
Western Pacific reports that track lay
ing has been resumed toward Sar
Francisco and is now four miles efron
the city.
J. r. Hayden, industrial commission.
er of the Santa Fe. has returned from
ST Louis and Kansas City.
H r. Judah, assistant general pas
senger agent of the Southern Pacific
who has been suffering from a severe
cold. will leave for Paso Robles to-
morrow for short stay.