The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-09
SEVERAL HURT IN L. & N. COLLISION Well Known Railroad Men In
 City Yesterday SPARKS IS OPTIMISTIC Horace Baker Says Business Is Pick ing Up and the Cry for "More
 Cars" Will Soon Be
 In Order.
SPARKS IS OPTIMISTIC

A Louisville and Nashville freight train, running short of air. rendering It's brakes useless, ran into a seaboard Air Line work train at Vigo, four miles from Piedmont yesterday morning shortly after 8 o'clock.
 Engineer Fortney of the Louisville and Nashville, Engineer c. W. Lee of the seaboard, and Conductor Reed of the seaboard, were injured, though none of the injuries is. considered serious Engi- neer Fortney's injuries are internal. En- gineer Lees back was wrenched, while Conductor Reeds foot was crushed. sev- eral workmen on the seaboard train were bruised.
 The freight was badly wrecked and it required several hours to clear the tracks. Superintendent Waite of the Seaboard was on the scene shortly after the accl- dent occurred. Much of the cargo of freight was badly damaged and the track was torn up for a considerable distance.
 There was rear-end collision between two freights of the Southern at Hol- combe, near Columbus, Miss, yesterday morning in which Engineer Lee Stevens. in jumping from his engine, received severe bruises. The cause of the accident has not been learned. As a result the Southern trains on that division were operated slightly off schedule yesterday
 B. NJ Starks, general manager of the Louisville and Nashville, was in Bir- mingham yesterday for a few hours.
 He declined to discuss the matter of several promotions with which the re- ports connect him. It is understood these promotions will be made among the "L. & N" official family January 1, next year.
 According to this report MT. Sparks will become third vice president Superin- tendent Brooks of Birmingham will be- come general manager, and one of the other division superintendents will sue ceed Superintendent Brooks.
 Mr. Starlks, however, discussed the bus mess outlook, which he considered ex ceedingly good He reports business rap idly increasing toward the normal.
 Horace Baker, general manager of the Queen and Crescent, passed through Bir mingham yesterday en route to Cincin- natl, after having made an inspection trip south of Birmingham.
 MT Baker is one of the youngest gen eral managers in the country, and an official universally popular. Mir. Baker stated that business was exceedingly good with the Queen and Crescent, and that his road had nothing of which to complain. Passenger traffic is fine and freight is increasing every day." he said. If present conditions continue you will soon hear a cry for more cars.'"
 A. R. Smith, third vice president, and W. A. Russell, general passenger agent of the Louisville and Nashville, passed through Birmingham yesterday en route to points south of here.
 MT. Smith will stop in Mobile, while MT Russell will continue his trip as far as New Orleans. The officials state that there is nothing unusual in their visits. Both were accompanied by secretaries.
 The call for the monthly meeting of the Birmingham Transportation Traffic company was issued yesterday. The or ganization, composed of railroad officials and agents having terminals in Birming ham, will meet Tuesday, December 15.
 The Birmingham Terminal company will hold very important meeting in Birmingham tomorrow. At the meeting the members of the company will dis cuss the formal opening of the new Terminal station, which will take place on or about January l, 1909.
 Several prominent officials will come to Birmingham to attend the meeting.