The San Francisco call., 1908-03-27
Gossip Of RaIIwaymen

"E. r. Cooper the We'll known rail-
road engineer said an old transporta-
ton man. rs perhaps more typicaily
American than any man | ever met.
He is never at a loss for an expedient.
never misses point and can think
out more schemes in one minute than
scan other men in the course of life
time.
when met him he was an engi-
neer on the Northern Pacific. living at
stones Prairie and building the road
between Tacoma and WilSeson. One
day he was balancing his books and
complained he could not account for So.
u have been over the blamed ac-
counts he said. and ] am blessed If
can balance them All this trouble
over paltry s.
@He went to the door of the shack
and. seeing a man on horseback. said
TO him:
~T,n bet you SO that ! can beat you
in a race to this fence. You ride and
run Distance so yards.
Done cried the man.
when the horse was about 10 feet
from the fence ne SHE'D and the rider
was unable to come near the fence
Cooper touched the goal. and bal
anced his books
Cooper" continued his friend. lis
an irritable fellow and his nerves
would be tried by the hogs which over
ran Stones Prairie They would
scratch themselves on the supports of
our frame shack which would shake
as if ii were going to fall down. Cooper
would have liked to kill the hogs and
eat them but Stone owned them and
/ there would have been row.
I'll get rid of the brutes, said
Cooper. I've thought out plan.
He roasted a lot of potatoes and
threw them out red hot. The pigs
swallowed them and started to run
with their mouths wide open in what
ever direction they were headed.
~ guess he remarked ceolIy, as he
watched the raging. swine. that / will
be able to do some work today and not
be scared to death every few minutes
by Stones pets.
A E. Roome, superintendent of tele-
graph lines for the Hartman roads. re-
turned yesterday from Sonora Mexico,
where he inspected the telegraph line
along the Sonora railway and also on
the extension toward Guadalajara
"Epes Randolph" remarked Roome,
is building a splendid road, and there
need be no time limit on that bed.
The terminal at Empalme is one of
the finest on the Hartman lines All
the buildings are either of granite or
reinforced concrete and the section
houses are of brick. The road to
Guadalajara will, when finished be
one of the best on the continent" This
part of Mexico has lately entered largely
into the cultivation of citrus fruits
and vegetables. and the new line will
| open up a wonderfully rich mineral
| and agricultural country
Paul Morton" remarked a railroad
man. should have been a soldier He
has commanding way of doing things
and though he is arbitrary no one ever
! questions his measures. When he was
assistant general freight agent of the
Burlington there was good deal of
| talk about redistribution of the work
and office changes. Not one of the
| higher officials tackled the job, but one
morning in walked Morton, and said:
Here, Jones, you take this desk;
Smith. go thege.' and so. on down the
line. The whole Office was reorganized
in FIVE minutes and not a kick"
Some time ago a concern in the east
made complaint to the interstate com
meree commission pertaining to the
rate on ground iron ore from Iron
Ridge junction. Wis. to California ter
ninals. The transcontinental lines had
in effect some years ago a rate of SO
cents per 100 pounds on this COM
modify. The complaint asked that this
rate be restored. and in order to dis
pose of it the Santa Fe will publish
rate of so cents per 100 pounds. mini
mum weight $4,000 pounds, from Iron
Ridge junction TO Santa Fe terminals
| in this state.
One of the largest concerns dealing
in agricultural implements has made
application to the carriers throughout
the United States for q mixed carload
rating that will include all agricultural
implements and vehicles of all descrip-
tions As these large concerns gem
iserally obtain what they seek. it is
probable that this application will be
granted.
The entertainment committee of the
Transportation club announces that it
will hold a ladies' night in the rooms
of the club on April %.
L. E. Stanton. contracting freight
st. Paul. is in Los Angeles on company
business.
man of the Santa Fe will leave today
! for Los Angeles on their way home.
E. E. Calvin. general manager of the
Southern Pacific. left yesterday for the
southern part Of the state.
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