The San Francisco call., 1908-07-17
Gossip of RaiIwaymen

When there is any pity to be expend-
ed said an old railroadman. its al
ways the poor farmer. Little does the
public know what the railroadman has
TO suffer at the farmers hands.
Il am referring to a case in Yolo
county. My friend was typical wheat
farmer, and was always worrying me
about cars to move his crop. He had a
spur TO his place, and when the grain
began to ripen he began to kick. He
wanted no less than 10 cars to move
his wheat, and if he did not have them
he would have me fired, he kindly in
formed me.
II got him 10 cars and he loaded
up five cars and sent them away.
Il got after the other five and asked
MIN when he would send them out.
What do I know about your blamed
old cars?' he cried. 1 sent away my
crop long ago.
You asked for 10 cars, 1 said. Now,
what about the other five? They are
making a howl for them and want to
know when they can be released
Look here, young man, he bel
lowed. hang your cars. They are in
my way, spelling the scenery, and, be-
sides, one of my boys got hurt play
ing the part of pesky brakeman, and
l am thinking of suing the railroad
company for the injuries he sustained
Acting Secretary of the Navy Pills
bury has filed a complaint with the in
terstate commerce commission, accus-
ing several railroads with having
charged excessive freight rates on gun
cotton, saluting powder and cartridges.
1t would appear from the complaint
that the navy has a traffic director with
a knowledge of tariffs, for the COM
plaint shows a comprehensive under
standing of freight rates.
The Pennsylvania railroad is accused
of having oNercharged on a shipment
of 6.723 pounds of ball cartridges and
1870 pounds of saluting powder shipped
from Norfolk to Annapolis. On the
cartridges rate of $3.50 per 100 pounds
was charged, when, it is alleged by the
secretary, the rate should have been
IA cents per 100 pounds.
On the saluting powder, 81 cents was
charged, when "a cents is the proper
rate.
The Annapolis, Washington and Bal
timore railroad is also charged by the
secretary with making the same over
charge on these materials.
The New York, New Haven and Hart
ford. the Central Railroad of New Jer-
sey and the Philadelphia and Reading
are likewise accused of an overcharge
on 23.270 pounds of wet guncotton
shipped from Newport to Carneys
Point, N. ]. The secretary says that
the government was charged at the rate
of $1.07 per 100 pounds, and that the
rate should have been 35 cents per 100
pounds.
There were shipped out of this state
400 cars of green fruit during the
month of June which required $1,000
tons of ice to enable the pears. plums
and peaches to reach eastern destina-
tion in good condition. This means
used. which would make building 90
feet high with frontage of 100 feet
by depth of $50 feet.
The troubles of the Alaska Central
railway have finally eliminated and
the road is in the hands of receiver
The property is virtually controlled
by Il. Augustus Heinze. 1t was intended
to build the road from Seward to Ia
mana river. $50 miles. Forty-six miles
has already been constructed Con-
tracts had been awarded for the con-
struction of the first 1856 miles when
the crash came The company has four
locomotives and 40 freightcars.
C. H. Barlow, the new assistant
chief ,en ngineer of the Southern Pacific.
has already gone over the northern
district and is now in the southern
part of the state with General Manager
E. e. Calvin, making an inspection of
the lines.
]. A. Gill of the New York Central
lines has returned from Sacramento
and says that the hop crop looks well.
that it will be an average one and that
harvesting should begin about Au-
gust l.
C. w. Jennings. travelling nassanorA-