Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-01-30

4 proposition for a reduction of the
per diem charge of 90 cents for the use of
freight cars is being considered by the
American Railway Association. This is
due to the trouble with the New York,
New Haven and Hartford, and also to
the fact that the falling off of business
has resulted in plentiful supply of cars.
Owing to the fact that the Wisconsin
eight-hour day for telegraph operators
went into effect tire first of the year, the
railroads of the Badger State will close
many small stations as telegraph offices.
Where it is necessary to keep a night or
day man telephone will be installed.
Many of the large systems are preparing
to close hundreds of offices when the new
nine-hour day law passed by Congress
goes into effect.
The Federal Court at Montgomery,
Ala, granted an order restraining any OH
Ger or other individual from putting IN
force any of the rate laws passed by
the Legislatures extra session, action be-
ing taken upon the application of the
Central Trust Company of New York,
which owns the second income mortgages
of the Georgia Central, the Louisville and
Nashville and allied lines. 1t is alleged
that if the new laws go into effect the
roads will be unable to earn enough to pay
these obligations and that it will be de-
priving them of property without due
process. This order, which was issued by
Judge Thomas G. Jones. places Gov.
Conner and the State where it was before
the extra session.
The October report of the earnings of
the Union Pacific and Southern Pacific
railroads shows a substantial increase in
gross earnings over the same month of
1906. but OH account of fhe advance in
operating expenses the net earnings were
materially decreased. this decrease in the
Union amounting to S335,037, in the
Southern to 81 APO, 403. The increase in
expenses is chargeable principally to the
greater cost for repairs. owing to heavier
traffic. the expense of keeping up locomo-
tives of the heavy type now demanded,
and increased wage schedules.
The executive committee of the Order
of Railway Conductors and the Brother
hood of Railway Trainmen at Chicago
has determined to hold in allegiance the
demand for an increase in wages and i'm
proved working conditions upon sixty-ive
railway companies east of the Mississippi.
The vote of the men asked that the same
rate of wages and the working conditions
adopted for the western lines year ago
be put into effect upon the eastern lines,
but because of the financial furry and the
condition of the freight traffic the COM
mittee deemed it unwise to carry on nego-
tiations with the general managers of the
railroads at this time.
The New York, New Haven and Hart
ford railroad has adopted a new style
of sleeping car for the midnight ex-
press on its shore line. Instead of
berths, the car is divided into compart-
ments the size of the average single room
in a hotel. with two berths in each room,
and fitted with toilet conveniences. The
rooms open upon a corridor running the
length of the car and are so arranged
that they may be taken in suites. The
finishing is rare. the woods used being
such as tigerwood. which resembles the
markings of a tiger: jigue wood, Spanish
mahogany. coubaril, and a wood from
the Philippines of which the species has
not yet been determined by the experts.