Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-03-10
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Railroad managers in Chicago are be-
coming worried over the rapid decrease in
tonnage. 1t is stated that the average
| falling off in revenue freight tonnage for
the Chicago roads for the month of De-
cember was fully 20 per cent as compared
with the tonnage of December. 1906.
Heavy losses have been sustained i'll mer-
chandise, iron, steel, vehicles and furni-
ture. Flour and grain shipments are the
only ones which ara growing.
Whether or not railroad is liable for
damages when it fails to get shipments to
destinations in time to save the shipper
from a falling market probably will be
tested in a suit which the Rosenbaum
Grain Company is threatening to bring
against the Frisco road for S42, 900 dam
ages. 1t is alleged that the Frisco failed
to deliver 100000 bushels of grain in time
for it to be taken to Russia in the steam
er Nordphallen.
According to the records of the Inter
| state Commerce Commission there were
| 7,432 derailments on railroads in the
| United States during the year ending
| June 80, 1907. These accidents resulted
| in the death of 515 persons and the injury
| OF $685.. This was an increase of 1871
| derailments over the previous year, with
a proportionate increase in fatalities and
injuries. A study of the causes shows
that little more than two-thirds of these
accidents were due 10 defects in equip
ment, the remainder to defects in road
way. The trouble is attributed largely TO
the enormous increase in tr; &c, which in
recent years has exceeded the carrying ca
pacity of the roads. neeessitating the use
of every car and engine capable of rum
ming. and subjecting the permanent struc-
lures TO unexampled strain.
The North Carolina Supreme Court re-
versed Judge Long of the Superior Court
| in the $4,000 fine imposed on the South
ern railway for selling tickets above the
pa cents mile established by the Legis-
| lature. The higher court holds the Grim
| inal proceedings void. saying that where
| a civil penalty is prescribed against a cor
| poration. followed by the creation of a
| csiminal offense against the agents of the
| corporation. the civil penalty first pre-
scribed relieves the corporation of punish
| ment by indictment under the criminal
| offense created against the agent.
Lehigh Valley officials have announced
| thai the famous Diamond Express, run
| ming from Philadelphia TO Buffalo, will
| be taken of within few days. Re
| trenchment is being made on a 10 per
cent basis and the withdrawal of this
| famous train is a part of such program.
| A number of men are to be released and
| cuts made in the freight and general pas
| senger service The Altoona shops of the
| former are practically closed and cuts
| in freight and passenger service have been
made by both roads. In the last week
| NOR than fifty trains have been taken
off the local service of the Reading road
and fifteen from the Pennsylvania.
According to the estimates of the Rail-
road Gazette. 500 miles of new railway
were built during 1907. This was exclu-
sive of Second. third and fourth tracks.
| sidings and electric lines. The total is
Is per cent less than for 1906, though the
| year began with conditions promising
| larger construction than ever before. The
| amount spent on new equipment exceeded
| that of 1906 b. % per cent, approximg. =
| ing S441. 100000. The figures show a
practical cessation of building in the old
er railroad States. excepting Pennsylva-
MIA. The main increase was in the South
| and Southwest. Texas has for some years
| led all the States in railway mileage.
having at present a total Of 1901.