The San Francisco call., 1908-05-19
Gossip of RaiIwaymen

He is a bosun's mate and has served
his country for 90 years, but when he
has the opportunity he rides on the
| railroad. pays fare and gets into trouble
rather than join his ship.
He was working his way to Third
and loudly upbraiding the company for
mot having a train later than o'clock.
I &c If they knew their business, he
commented. they would run a train
to Santa Barbara at midnight. There
| is nothing l like so well as to ride at
night, and sit up and smoke and talk
and know that some other guy is hold
| ing watch. and you are travelling like
| a real gentleman.
How does it happen?' asked Sam
TAFT of the Denver and Rio Grande,
that you are not with your ship?''
It's just this way. / felt it was
UP to me to ride. and L didn't just feel
| like going aboard Up comes the pro-
/ vost guard when I was sitting in a
swell, and says, Get out of this.
Shorty. Get aboard
My friend, says ], you are mis-
taken. l don't belong to the boat you
are discoursing about. 1 am on the
| independence
Stow that swag.' says the provost
/ know you, Shorty. Get aboard
AS you recognize me we'll all take a
drink and you have never seen me. I'll
go down to Santa Barbara by train on
my honor. So don't worry"
Have you the price?" asked an in
terested listener.
Have l got the price? OF course I
have. Do you suppose Hartman will
carry me free on account OF my great
personal beauty?"
1t is understood in well informed railroad
and financial circles that Victor Morawetz,
chairman or the executive committee Of the
| Santa Fe. is about to retire TO devote, his
nection with the election of Paul Morton as
| of the executive committee has led to the
thought that probably Paul Morton is to assume
| the craftsmanship of the executive committee.
| As chairman of the board It will not be nee
essary for him to resign from the presidency
| ley will, it Is said. still continue TO be presi-
dent of the Santa Fe and will in that position
carry out the policy of Paul Morton, who will.
! in fact, be the head OF the Santa Fe
1t is said that the Southern Pacific com
pany Will seek shortly TO market large
block of its preferred stock to raise funds for
new construction and betterments The policy
OF Hartman for some time has been to meet meet
| his financial needs by sale of stock rather than
| bonds, and banking interests now assert that
$25, 100000 preferred stock held in its treasury
1t is also stated to be the intention to recon-
mend the abolition OF the redemption clause on
Its preferred stock. by the terms OF which this
s STOCK may be Gale called in at 10 at any time
ssdore oelore July l. 1910 this redemption clause
| stock would advance sharply and would make
the rights on any new offerings of 1t much
more attractive. II Is thought possible the new
offerings of preferred stock viii be made to the
present share holders at par. The total author.
lied amount Of preferred stock is S10o 600 900
Of which 1850 $40 was taken In 1904 and
| $50. 295, 123 in June of last year by the share
Standing s and n leaving Sslspcs out Of
approximately s25.o0o.ooo available for sale.
/ II. p. AnewaIt. assistant general freight agent
of the Santa Fe. has returned from Arizona
and New Mexico and reports revival in the
mining industry. He says a large acreage has
been put into cultivation shs spring and as
| dustry of Arizona 80 carloads OF oranges were
sent from the Salt river valley last year and
l2o carloads this year
The eastern railroads are finding that their
| asphaltum tonnage Is not holding up to last
years, principally on account of the fact that
the bulk of the coast product. 1t is expected
/ that this condition will obtain for the next
| u months. Producers somewhat fear
ful that the Trinidad output win obtain such
headway In the east that there will be trouble
IN re-estabilshins the coast product In the good
graces Of the eastern consumers without sacri-
hcing prices They are certain that in view
OF the present cheap rates they cannot look fur
ther TO the railroad companies for assistance
The bridge the Santa Fe is building across
the Colorado river between Needles and Yuma
viii be finished in about three months SThe
i road from Wickcnburg east TO the river has
been built. but not from Parker station west
| 20 bengai on the main line. 90 miles. The land
on the California side of the river is srsreptibIe
| to the highest cultivation and government en-
gneers are now at Parker experimenting with
water wheel. invented by an engineer named
Ensign which can lift enough water to irri-
gate 10000 acres. His invention avoids the
building OF dams and works Of like nature which
makes irrigation projects expensive
|
Twenty-nne thousand barrels of California
wine nave gone around the Horn and via Panama
during the last 80 days. This Is 500 carloads
lost to the railroads owing 70 the small demand
| for wine In the east. This Is attributed to the
| prohibition wave.
W. 4. Bisseli of the Santa Fe has returned
| from chicago and says there Is better tone
In the eastern markets with promise of n
I SneedY reSImnfinn nf lusfness