The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15
Gossip Of RalIWaymea

Tho San Francisco transportation.
club Will elect beard OF directors to-
morrow. which in turn will elect. q
president and other officers This COM
ing election has created more interest
than any heretofore held by the club.
due. to the fact that the two leading
candidates have each a large follow
ing. S. F. Booth. general agent of the
Union Pacific. is said to have the
strongest showing. and his opponent,
v. NJ Smith. traffic manager OF the
South San Francisco Belt railway. who
is extremely popular. to make the tight
Booth and says he hopes his friends
Will vote for the Union Pacific man. The
steamshipmen say they ought to have
the presidency, as since the club has
been organized they have not had a
president, and as they have large
membership they are entitled to recog-
milton.
1t is not likely. however, that q third
man will be brought out as candidate,
as the struggle has narrowed down TO
Booth vs.. Smith.
Manufacturers of fruit Jars in the
east have been endeavoring to convince
transcontinental lines that shipments of
jars from the east to the Pacific coast
can be made in double faced corrugated
fiber board boxes with less risk OF dam
age than in ordinary wooden pack
ages. Well informed transportation
men believe that this is simply a sub
terfuge to obtain a reduction in the
rate, the fiber board package weigh
ing considerably less than the wooden
box. It is said that this application
has been rejected number of times by
the transcontinental lines It seems.
however. that a certain firm. with other
eastern manufacturers, has interested
the higher traffic officials and that 1t
is probable their applications will be
granted II this happens IL will even
tually be the means of the adoption
of the fiber board package TO the ex-
clusfon of the wooden box. This will
materially reduce revenue and will
probably arouse bitter opposition on the
part of those transcontinental off1cials
who are not in favor of the innovation.
The Santa Fe is spending $500. .0ee
on strengthening the Franklin tunnel.
and 1000 feet have been cemented and
concreted, which represents the most
important part of the work. 1t was in
this section of the tunnel that the fire
broke out last year and tied up the
oOtt lOI NEARLY SIX IHOHl05. rapid
work is being done on the other por-
ton OF the tunnel. The work Is being
done under the direction Of n. C. Phil
lips, and 1t is believed that when CON-
pleted the Franklin tunnel will be one
Of the safest in the country.
Permanent arrangements have been
made by Barneson & Hibberd for reg
ular monthly service from San Fran
$r
will put this port In a position to COM
pete with northern coast ports and TO
enter successfully into competition with
Seattle for a share of the Alaskan trade.
As an inducement for the Inauguration
and the maintenance of this monthly
service the transcontinental lines have
joined IN an effort to secure through
traffic TO Alaska via San Francisco. IT
Is, expected that this will influence an
increase in tonnage for Alaska and will
put San Francisco more prominently
before the shipping public With ad-
ditional tonnage more reasonable rate
can be procured from the water line.
which will lend much help to the mer-
chants of San Francisco to build up
trade with the far north
Beginning with the sailings of the
vessels of the Pacific Coast steamship
company for the south March % the
only port IN Los Angeles county will be
San Pedro. This means the elimination
of Port Los Angeles as a stopping or
starting place for passengers.
The Laguna railroad, running from
Yuma to Laguna dam. will be opened
for service March Is and daily trains
will be operated between the two
points.
j. 7. Callahan. general agent of the
Nickel Plate in Chicago. will remain
here until Tuesday. when he and Jay
". Adams will leave for the north on
tour of inspection.