The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-12
Gossip Of RaiIwaymsn

Leroy May. assistant ticket agent OF
the Southern Pacific at Stockton, is an
esthetic young gentleman, and is as
neat about the Office as he is in his
person. It can be imagined how per-
turbed was his gentle spirit when he
had to gaze day after day on some fly
specked tickets in his case.
There were tickets there as clean
and as fresh as when they came from
the printers, but some of the Pennsyl-
vania brand, from long standing on the
shelves. had attained an appearance
of great antiquity, combined with an
air OF rakish raggedness.
Leroy May tried in vain to sell the
tickets. but every one going east had
a preference for some other route. Last
Thursday an italian wandered into the
office and wanted ticket to Europe.
May snatched a Pennsylvania tick
eft from the case. Then arose a diff
Guilty. The Italian objected to ticket
which looked as if it had been picked
out of waste paper basket
why, it's cheaper than a new one,"
explained the versatile May, and the
thrifty Roman, after studying over the
matter, decided to buy the ticket "as
shop worn"
Next day four other Romans entered
the Office and demanded four of those
shop worn" tickets.
Come around later" said May, and
with a brush and ink soon had them
on the bargain counter.
Every general agent in town is now
preparing to send some of their shop
worn tickets to Leroy May.
1t is announced by the Santa Fe that
the opening of the Belen cutoff will
take place about February /. This will
be welcome news to the shippers of
California, who have been desirous to
obtain better time on their shipments
between eastern points and California
terminals. The Belen cutoff makes
connections between the Santa Fe.
Kansas and Oklahoma line and the line
in New Mexico, avoiding the haul over
the Rocky mountains that is necessary
via La Junta and Albuquerque. The
cutoff will reduce also the expenses of
the operating department Of the Santa
Fe, as the grade in the Rocky noun
tains was such that locomotives could
haul only a limited number of cars
over the country traversed by the old
route. 1t is estimated that the cutoff
viii be actually a saving of Is hours
in transcontinental traffic. The cutoff
extends from Belen, on the main line,
to Texico, on the Oklahoma line, and
is $50 miles long.
A special train carrying President
Diaz of Mexico, S. M. FELTON,, president
of the Mexican Central railway; C. r.
Hudson, vice president and J. n. CAL
braith, general manager, left the City
OF Mexico yesterday for Manzanillo.
The train is to reach Guadalajara early
this morning, and will be at Manzanillo
tonight. The principal celebration over
the opening of the Manzanillo extern
sion will be held in Guadalajara tomor-
row, when there will be banquets and
speeches.
The opening of the Manzanillo extern
sion is one of the most important rail-
road events of the year. 1t means
much to the neighboring republic and
also to this city, as it will afford cheap
err means of communication to markets
that have been closed to us practically
owing to the expense of reaching them
Already excursions have been planned
to the City of Mexico through the port
of Manzanillo, and steamer lines will
be established to that llarbor, not alone
from this city, but from northern ports.
True to it's generous instincts the
Transportation club announces that it
will keep open house New Years eve
to the wives, daughters and sweet
hearts of members. There will be a
pEOS anu w dilST hnelSS
has promised to deluge the rooms with
his voice. There will be refreshments
of all kinds. The feature of the night
will be an enormous bowl. with punch
a Ia Avila, and sandwiches a la Billy
Webster. No time limit is set for the
leaving hour.
Colonel George G. Fraser has re-
turned from the east after a gigantic
struggle for the millions Of a departed
relative. 1t is understood that when
the colonel comes into his Inheritance
he will devote a large sum toward en-
downing an institution for has beens''
in the baseball world, and also for UNI
pires who have suffered in the grand
cause.
ROBBED BY SNEAK THIEF-Berkelcy Dec
11.-While returning home from shopping tour
last night Mrs. S. l.. Serpa of 1922 rairvIew