The San Francisco call., 1908-09-06
Gossip Of Rai!waymen

and it is recorded of him that he COM
mences his daily labors at $3.50 a. NJ,
stops at IL p. m, and then signs for
something 10 DO in the hour interven-
ing before he goes TO bed.
What is the secret of my being
able TO work. said Jacobs TO Billy
Webster 1t is my excellent health
Has any one ever heard OF my be-
ing i'll? Why is it that / enjoy this
robust health2 Why. is il that my
frame. mental or otherwise, never
tires?
You see that black bag?" he con-
tinued. pointing to a satchel which
looked as if it belonged to an under
taker.
Yes" said Billy, wonderingly. Il
never see you without it Do you keep
well on the folders of the Hartman
lines?'
no, sir: that bag is never without
a bottle of distilled water and lister
inc 1 drink the distilled water for
purity sake. and whenever I come in
from being abroad I use the listerine
as a precaution against any microbe
lodging in my throat It's easy and
convenient TO carry, and, Billy, If you
would only do as [ do you would be
able TO work for % hours at stretch
and take pleasure in it."
Thank you. Jacobs" replied Billy,
stifiy. i am railroadman."
The California Association of Traffic
Agents will hold their annual meeting
on September Is at the clubrooms of
the transportation club, when the Of
fcers for the ensuing year viii be
elected. There is a great deal Of rival
" for the coveted position, as the asso-
citation. contrary to other associations,
never finds fault with the management,
and each retiring president is present
ed with some valuable memento, either
dining room chairs or an icechest-lat-
ter preferred.
Henry Avila is the present president,
and has conducted the affairs Of the
Office so well that not more than 100
suggestions have been made daily as to
how much better the business of the
association would be managed il every
body was in charge. Henry Avila is
determined TO retire But there is a
strong sentiment against his retreating
from a position where he can be kicked
at
E. H Torpey, who has the reputation
Of having the longest repertoire of
stories in the Transportation club, is
mentioned as a probable candidate, and
so are '. NJ Smith and Colonel George
@. Fraser.
". E Johnston, excursion agent of
the Westinghouse route, holds,
perhaps the record among railroadmen
Of being always on the move. He has
travelled 1.61S.534 miles in the last eight
years and ten months, and as there is
every reason TO believe that his health
will not give way for many more years
10 come. he will have accomplished
easily 100000 miles before he settles
down TO a quiet life.
Il read the other day of an express
messenger" said Johnston, who had
Travelled quite bit, but his record does
not equal mine. / have made 446 trips
across the continent and must have
looked after 10000 people during these
journeys. 1 sleep one night week in
a hotel. Thursday nights. that is when
the train is on time. Often l come
into San Francisco on Friday from
Washington and pull right out after
reporting 10 the Office 1 always leave
Washington on a Friday and reach
here on Thursday, start back on Fri
day and reach Washington on Thursday.
and have never had an accident, which
proves Friday is as good as any day
10 start on q journey.
I make - round trips every six
months. No. I have no fixed abode.
The truth is 1 know no home except
car, and 1 am afraid that if 1 gave
up travelling l would be mighty un-
comfortable to miss the rattle, rumble
and motion Of a railroad train"
Felix Martinez a. Courchesne and
Peyton Edwards have been dubbed lei
Paso's dauntless three" for they are
considering the building q road from
st. Louis to San Diego, with Ell Paso
as the pivot The matter of millions
has nothing to do with construction.
for the road when completed will pass
through the rich Pecos valley and the
Panhandle country of Texas, and would
make 1t at least several hundred miles
shorter 10 St Louis than any existing
road II is claimed that the three men
of Ell Paso have no doubt of their abil-
ity TO build the line. and are said to
have the backing Of the Rock Island
people on that part of the road be-
tween El Paso and a connection with
the Rock Island in Oklahoma. 1t is
asserted also that franchises have been
obtained in the principal towns
through which the railroad viii pass,
and bonuses also have been paid.
The Kansas City. Mexico and Orient
is now operating trains across the Red
structed $500 foot bridge. Work is
proceeding rapidly in closing the gap
between Elmer. Okla, and Benjamin,
Tex which il is said will be done some
time in November. The Orient viii
then have a continuous line in opera
tion from Wichita. Kan, to Sweet
water, Tex, 434 miles
The California wine association has
invited the members of the California
Association of Traffic Agents and their
friends to visit their place at Wine
haven Sunday. September 90. The
visitors viii be given an opportunity
Of seeing how grapes are crushed and
wine is made. Captain W. @. Leale has
offered the association the use of the
steamer Caroline for that occasion.
well known railroadman who has
returned from Ely. New. says that two
Of the units of the concentrating plant
are running in fine shape. and as there
is every prospect Of q rise in copper
the people of Ely feel that their town
will be one OF the most prosperous
mining places in the country.
The construction of the Albuquerque
and Eastern from Moriarity on the New
Mexico Central TO Frost and from that
point west 10 Albuquerque and thence
north to Hagan. has been decided upon
When the line is completed ii will be
turned over to the New Mexico Central,
and the New Mexico Central and the
entire enterprise viii be reorganized.
II will have the lowest bonded in