The San Francisco call., 1908-05-12
Gossip of RaiIWaymen

81 want ticket to Richmond" said
an amateur sportsman, "and 1 want it
where I, can get the most fish"
Well. what part of the wharf do you
want qticket for?" inquired the wag
of the Santa Fe ticket office.
The middle part of the wharf
think Is the best. Sell me one for
there"
When the fisherman landed at the
wharf he looked about him. and ap-
preaching Mike Brown, special officer
of the Santa Fe. who was engaged In
an animated discussion with Captain
Harry .Laurentzen, drew him aside and
then putting his finger to his lips
asked him in an undertone:
where do you fish here?"
In the bay" roared Mike Where
do you suppose-in my bath tub?"
ITO think" exclaimed the sportsman
afterward. that so simple q question
should call forth such an outburst of
own fishing grounds when I am on a
railroad wharf
The transportation companies while
employing an enormous force OF So
Hcitors for freight business. have at
last realized the fact that good service,
just treatment 10 the public and prompt
payment of claims Is of more advan-
tage in soliciting freight than the en-
tire force of contracting freight agents.
j. C. Stubs, traffic director of the Har-
riman lines, has. 1T is understood. in
structed ]. NJ. Brewer, freight claim
agent of the Southern Pacific, to add
to and strengthen his staff in the en-
deavor to bring about new and prompt
methods in the adjustment OF claims
for overcharge, loss and damage. Other
Californian lines will be obliged to
follow the same course. or, failing to
do So. will lose considerable of their
patronage. This departure from for
mer methods was probably brought
about by what ]. c. Stubbs was told
when on his recent visit here. Stubbs
called on all the leading shippers and
wherever he went he heard complaints
on the dilatoriness OF the Southern
Pacific in paying claims. He was told
fatty that 1t was owing to this that
traffic was being diverted from the
Southern Pacific and that n radical
change in the settlement of claims was
necessary It is now said that Stubbs
is OF the opinion that the methods en-
pIoyed by the inspection department
and also by the auditors department
are entirely too technical, and that
these departments must not be per-
mitted to drive away traffic from the
railroad, as they undoubtedly have
done in the past. This ruling will be
followed by other roads and the inspec-
tion and auditing departments of all
lines will be shorn considerably Of
their power.
The Southern Pacific reports that
the business into the city last Saturday
and Sunday was extremely heavy. and
last night and yesterday the home
ward movement set in. Some idea of
the travel can be had when the Santa
Fe train which left here at s o'clock
Sunday night had 459 passengers. All
trains out of the city will be crowded
to full capacity for the next few days.
structions TO run all trains, especially
the overland in two sections whenever
necessary A large number OF Pull
mans and standards have been accum-
ulated and 1t is hoped that there will
be sufficient for all requirements. The
entire movement has been the heaviest
on record in the history OF the Southern
Pacific and has been accomplished
without accident or delay.
ss'-s
Trains of the Cananea, Yaqui River
and Pacific began running into San
Bias last week. and. according TO re-
cent reports from that part OF Mexico,
Hartman has over 1000 men at work
on the road, building TO the south.
Recent Western Pacific track reports
show that the rail Is AZ miles from
Oakland pier and there is a gap of
only 2s miles between Sacramento and
Marysville.
H. C. Gardner. passenger agent Of
the New York Central lines at Port
land. is in the city.