davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
Thousands Are Affected by Re.
cent Railroad Economies.
Quarter of Million of Employees
Idle or on Part Time.
PUBLIC WILL APPROVE
4 Fair and Impartial Investiga.
Sion of Conditions Needed.
Other Items of Interest i'm
Railway Circles.

Two hundred and fifty thousand
railroad employees either are out OF
work or are on reduced time.
Th1s Is conservative estimate, and
is based upon figures given by repre-
sentatives Of the big railroad systems
OF the country. 1t is claimed the rail-
roads are justified in closing stations
and shops and reducing the number
of trains by the lack of business, and
1t is true that conditions in many Of
the states, particularly those of the
middle west, are not such as to re-
quire shipments as extensive as thos.
made in more prosperous times.
Long strings of empty freight cars
lie on sidetracks at the large terminas
stations. Frequently trains are pass
ed, made up for the most part of
"empties,'' returning from points
where they delivered shipments The
number of freight cars in the United
States is 100000. 1t is believed THAI
100000 of these are not in use at all.
One system which owns $4,000 freight
cars has 80 per cent of its entire
equipment idle.
1t is confidently asserted by rail-
road officials that if a fair and impair
tial investigation be made by the In
terstate Commerce commission, as re-
Gently directed by the president, the
public will approve heartily the econ
omies which have been made or are
contemplated It is pointed out that
there is no business house in the
world, large or small which, in time
of depression, does not adopt a policy
of retrenchment. Should this not be
done, financial difficulties follow.
It is said further, not with an in
tention to scare, but with a serious
appreciation of the situation, that 1t
is not all plain sailing with some of
the roads by any means, and that the
greatest care must be exercised IN
their financial management to pre-
vent a disaster. This condition makes
a reduction in expenditures imperative
and confidence is expressed that the
government investigators will justify
this policy.
The following statement given out
by the general manager of one of the
large systems may be regarded as
typical of the conditions which exist:
Our company owns approximately
$4,000 freight cars, 1900 of which we
have standing idle on sidetracks. We
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
PROGRESSIVE GOoDLAND.
The Commercial Club Is Booming a
High School.

Goodland, Kan. March 4.-The
Goodland Commercial club called a
citizens meeting at the Walker opera
house for the purpose OF interesting
the citizens in the matter of new
county high school for this city.
The meeting was well attended and
a programme was rendered by the
pupils attending the present high
school Addresses were made by
several of the prominent men of the
city in which they set forth the many
reasons why a new school building
was needed. In taking vote of those
present for the voting OF the $4,000
bonds for this purpose not a vote was
cast against the proposition. Good
land, Kan, is the largest and best city
in northwest Kansas. the people here
thin1.-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04

estimate that our surplus eo,1fpment.
in addition to these 1000 cars
amounts to $4,000 empty cars in ex-
cess of our orders. making a total OF
1900 cars idle, or about 80 per cent
of our entire freight equipment
We have not made any material re-
duction in the number of locomotives
in service, owing to the necessity of
keeping engines at work in order to
move the large number of empty cars
we have on our lines belonging to 9TH
er companies and diSpOsing of them.
Our empty mileage during January, as
compared with the previous month ON
this account, increased about Is per
cent.
I find it is very difficult to deter
mine just how many men have been
laid Off on account of the slump in
business, but I find that my records
indicate that there have been $500
salaried men dismissed from the ser
vice on this account since November
1, and I should say, approximately
that number of additional train ano
engine men, or a total of about 5000.
This system employs about 10000 I
should say that dismissals in the same
proportion have been made by other
systems.
The disposition on the part of rail-
road operators is to believe that the
effect of the presidents order to the
Will ne 10 make the 1n01A
dissatisfied with the present wage
scale. Attention is called to the fact
that on the Rock Island system an
increase was made in the pay of ais
classes of employees beginning in No
vember. 1906. this increase ranging
from 4 " to 20 per cent.
Similar increases are claimed to
have been made by other systems. But
these high wages, it is contended,
could only continue while prosperity
existed. Moreover, attention is called
to the large additional expenses which
have been forced upon the roads by
the state and federal enactments or
the past two and a half years. Rail-
road commissions in many states have
ordered more trains, or the construc-
ton of additional stations or the like.
More exhaustive returns, necessitat-
ed by the Interstate Commerce COM
mission. There is now entering into
effect the law fixing the hours of labor
of railroad employees.
The railroads will obey the law be-
cause they dare not do otherwise. A
been possible, but with the people
awake, there must be obedience.
This will mean that more men must
be employed 1t will mean that the
pay of men now in service will be re-
duced. for they are paid by the hour,
out even Dy ecOnomlz1ng IN THIS dlrec-
ton the operators claim their ex-
penses will be Increased.
The railroads have been hit in an
other direction. They have been COM
PEELED to reduce freight rates by or
der of the Interstate Commerce COM
where interstate traffic was
involved, and by order of state rail-
road commissions where interstate
traffic existed. They also have had
their passenger fares reduced by law.
''The public ought not to forget
said a we'll known operator, 'that the
of road are responsible in a
general way to the people, but in a
specific manner to their employers,
the stockholders. The latter demand
a return upon the money they have
invested, and if we do not get it for
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
Mrs. Patrick Campbell.

Mrs Patrick Campbell the dis
tinguished English actress will ap-
pear at the Grand on march IL. Her
present American tour is under the
direction Of Liebler & Co. She will
be seen in the role of Paula Tan
Queray in 1.-THE Second Mrs. Tan
queray' one of several Of the famous
characters in which she has won her
greatest fame. Mrs. Campbell made
q profound impression with theater-
goers Of this country upon her pre-
vious visits to these shores. and her
temperance here is especially i'm
portant, not alone on account of her
fame as an actress and her interest
ing personality but especially SO as
she will give Topeka theater-goers an
opportunity of witnessing her in a
play that has created such wide COM
ment as 1.-THE Second Mrs. Tan
queray." It affords glfmpses of the
quiet, tense manner which Mrs. Pat
rick Campbell utilizes so effective
ly in her most moving scenes. Few
artists know so well how to express
much by mere suggestion. Experts
may differ as to whether Mrs. Camp
bell is really beautiful woman, but
at any rate she gives you the i'm
preston that she Is beautiful where
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
ABOLISH OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Threatened Change at Chanute Has
Been Effected by Santa Fa.

Been Effected by Santa Fe.
Chanute. Kan. March Al. c..
Ramsey, who has been trainmaster
for the Southern Kansas division Of
the Santa Fe Railroad company left
yesterday. for Kansas City, to take
the run as passenger conductor on
trains Nos. 203 and 204 between
Kansas City and Tulsa. The Office of
trainmaster, which he had held for
several years has been abolished. The
order became effective yesterday. Mr..
Ramsey bumped Conductor Record.
The work which Mr.. Ramsey and
his Office force has been doing has
been turned over to Assistant Super
iutendent J. F. McNally. Mr.. Nc
Nally has moved from his Office down
the hall into the one formerly occu-
pied by Ramsey. No change has
been made in the forces Of either
office at present, except that Frank
Wickstrom goes back to work for the
roadmaster.
Railroad men say that the abolish
1nent of the Office of trainmaster
here is what was to be expected.
This division is about the only one
on the system which has been carry
ing au assistant superintendent and
a trainmaster. It has been necessary
here because Of the great amount of
construction work and improvement
which the company has done on this
division for several years.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
PROMINENT OFFICIALS LET OUT.
Missouri Pacific Road Makes Another
Sweeping Reduction.

Kansas City, March 4.-The Mis-
souri, Pacific railroad has announced
that it will close indefinitely its COM
mercial offices in Boston, Cairo, Birm-
ingham and New Orleans. cut of
fees that remain open and all of the
foremen employed in the shops at
Sedalia have been laid off indefinitely.
kilograms were sent from the head
quarters of the Missouri Pacific rail-
road in st. Louis Saturday summarily
discharging eight or more employees.
Two on the list are in Kansas City,
M. D. DarnaIl, commercial agent, and
s. e. Lowe, travelling passenger agent.
The list includes L. D. Knowles. gen.
eral agent, Milwaukee; G. McAdams,
commercial agent, Memphis; J. C.
Forester. commercial agent, Gin
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04

vogue of "Way Down
East" which will be presented at the
Grand on Sunday night. The SIM
plicity of the story appeals to every
body, the broad fun Of the inimitable
Hi Holler, the comedy of the other
characters, the realism of the various
scenes the wonderful stimulation of
the blizzard, the strength Of the COM
pany and the power of the third act
scene; these things in some measure
will tell why 'Way Down East" fills
the theater season after season. Added
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
BIG CUTS ON MISSOURI ROADS.
Recent Reports Show Ten Thousand
Men Out OF Employment.

Recent Reports Show Ten Thousand
Men Out Of Employment.
st. Louis, March ACCORDING to a
recapitulation of statements of Mis-
souri, railroad officials, published here
today, about 10000 employees in the
operating. mechanical and clerical de-
partments have been dismissed recent
ly to offset revenue losses suffered by
the roads. It is estimated by the state
railroad commission that probably
5000 Of the present unemployed men
have been laid off in the last fifteen
days.
The Chicago & Alton management
announced today that it's 100 passenger
train collectors would be dispensed
with. Employees retained by the Got
been required to lay off five days each
month without pay until further no.
tice. Sweeping retrenchments have
been ordered by the Gould interests
operating the st. Louis, Iron Mountain
& Southern and Missouri Pacific roads.
The operating officials of the St. Louis
& San Francisco road met today in
Springfield. Mo-, to reduce operating
expenses until the crops begin to move
next fall. The Missouri. Kansas &
economies, which, according to one of
the officials, have cut down operating
expenses $4,000 a month.
The Louisville & Nashville. the Mo-
bile & Ohio, the Southern railway and
many other roads operating to the
cent cut in the wages of all employees
not Identified with labor unions. The
Wabash has laid off many men and
curtailed its repair work. A high off,
cial Of one Of the principal Missouri
lines said that the roads terminating
in st. Louis have economical to the
total extent of " million dollars
month.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04

them they will employ somebody who
will. There is no question that We
have been guilty of abuses in the past,
but the intention and effort nowadays,
is to obey the law. The administra-
ton in Washington has impressed up
on US what we may expect if we fail
to do so. At the same time, it seems
to me to be very short sighted policy
to attack the railroads from motives
of revenge, for 1t should not be for
gotten that the prosperity of the
country is indisso1ubly bound up with
that of the common carriers
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
ADJUSTMENTS
Robert Edeson Tonight.

Thoroughly American and typical
Of the best type of modern plays
Classmates, in which Robert Eide
son will be presented at the Grand to-
night by Henry B. Harris, should be
one of the most popular of the sea-
sons attractions. Mr.. Edeson comes
here direct from four months en-
gagement at the Hudson theater in
New York, where the play created a
sensation and was one of the big hits
Of the season. CLASSMATES" is gem
orally acknowledged to be the great
est success of Blossoms career and is
peculiarly interesting for the rea-
son that it is the first play to treat of
life at the national military academy
at West Point. Mr.. Edeson is sup
ported by notable cast including
Pauline Anthony. Marjorie Wood,
Maud Granger, Wallace Eddinger,
Sidney Ainsworth, Frank Mcintyre
and Lawrence Eddinger.
seWay Down East
There are many things to take into
reckoning when accounting for the
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
NEW TRAINNASTER APPOINTED.
e. c. Wills Selected for Missouri Pa
cific Position at Coffeyville.

Effective today, E. c. Wills, for
merly of Wichita and for the past
year trainmaster of the main line of
the Missouri Pacific railway from
Coffeyville to Osawatomie, has been
appointed trainmaster of the entire
southern Kansas division of the Mis-
souri, Pacific railway, with head
quarters at Coffeyville, succeeding c.
S. Welsh, trainmaster Of the D. NJ.
& A. division. who has been trans
ferred to other duties.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
SANTA FE NOT WE'LL OFF.
Vice President Jansen Says Road Can
Not Offset Higher Costs.

Not Offset Higher Costs.
The following plain statement con-
corning Atchisons affairs is made by
Vice President Jansen:
"Our earnings are off very decided
1y, and we have not been able to make
a corresponding reduction in operat-
ing expenses. The latter amount to 10
per cent Of gross earnings.
LESS than a year ago our employees
were granted an increase which ap-
proximated S2,500,O00 a year. If wage
reductions are neceS Sary there can be
no other recourse for the employees
than to cooperate with the managers.
cit has not been any one man or one
legislature or one law that has been
responsible for the decline in bust
ness"
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
EARNINGS FALL OFF.
Pennsylvania Lines Report Big De-
crease In Receipts and Expenses.

IN6CcIptS IIApcIIScS.
Philadelphia, March 4.-The month
ly statement of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road company, giving a comparison of
earnings and expenses Of the lines
east and west of Pittsburg for the
month of January, shows a large de-
crease in the gross and net earnings,
and in the expenses as compared with
the same month last year.
The gross earnings of the lines east
of Pittsburg, directly operated, show
a decrease of $2,O2O,400; there was
falling off of $1.135,600 in expenses,
and the net earnings show a decrease
Of $666,800.
Lines west of Pittsburg, directly
operated, show a decrease in gross
earnings of $1,652,800; a decrease in
expenses of $1,O71,100, and a decrease
in net earnings of $581.700.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04

to this Is the fact the cast is kept up
to its original standard of excellence,
while the production is made more
elaborate each succeeding year.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04

cinnati; H. D. Wilson, assistant gem
eral passenger agent Memphis, and
Louis E. Edward. general passenger
agent, Boston.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-04
OFFICIAL CONVICTED
Division Superintendent Held Re-
sponsible for Fatalities.

Los Angeles, March 4.-Fsor failure
to provide a fiagman or safety gate
at the street crossing in this city
which was recently the scene Of IA
tai collision between a train and
street car, Judge Frederickson today
fined Thomas Cullen, superintendent
of the Salt Lake railroad. $15o or 10
DAYS in Jail The charges against R.
E. Wells, general manager of the
company were dismissed.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08

Money obtained wzs=E labor is never
hard to get rid Of
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08
W. B. ALLISON PASSES AWAY
Death of Senator Causes Surprise
Through Iowa.

Dubuque, Ia.-William Boyd Allison.
senior United States senator from Iowa
died at his home. 1874 Locust street,
this afternoon. While he had been in
declining health for some time, his con.
dition was not regarded as critical, and
his death came as a great shock. Death
was the result of heart weakness.
In January of this year Senator ALI
son passed through a serious illness, la
grippe and complications, but regained
much of his old-time vigor, and was en-
abled to 60 through the work of the re-
cent session OF congress. He was in
personal charge of the emergency cur
rency bills and appropriation
He remained in Washington until the
close of the session, May 80, when he
returned home in this city. Senator
Allison was somewhat weakened upon
his return from Washington, but there
was nothing in his appearance to indi-
cate the end was approaching.
Senator Allison was born at Perry,
Ohio. March ., 1899, the son of John
and Mary Allison. His boyhood days
he spent on the farm, which was his
birthplace.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08
AUTO TURNS 3 SOMERSAULTS
Lands in Bough of Tree-Gccupants
Have Narrow Escape.

New York.-United States District
Attorney Baker of Washington, who
successfully prosecuted the govern
ment land frauds in the Northwest, and
bride of two months, and several COM
p~anions on their honeymoon, had a
miraculous escape from death today
when their automobile, running down a
sharp hill near Liberty, N. Y, got out
of control and plunged over a precipice
300 feet in height. The machine turned
three complete somersaults in the air
and lodged in the boughs of a tree
thirty feet below the brink of the preci-
pice, where it hung upside down, the
occupants still in the body of the ma
chine.
All were badly bruised and frightened
but none seriously injured with the
exception of the chauffeur. His skull
was fractured, one ear torn off and he
sustained other injuries.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08
OIL FIRE STARTS VOLCANO
Whole San Geronimo Field Will Be
Burned Out.

Tampico. Mexico.-In the San Gero-
nimo oil field the furious oil fire has as
sumed an unexpected and fierce out
look. The tunnel work, which was to
be dug with the view of diverting the
flow of the oil, had been begun when
a terrific blowout of the burning we'll
occurred. Earth and rocks were shot
into the air hundreds of feet, and a vol
cano was formed in a few minutes.
The crater of this volcano is about
1900 feet r The newly created
miniature mountain is about 100 feet
high. The burning oil is now running
down the sides of the volcano, filing
adjacent low places, increasing the dan
ger of spread of the flames to the tropi-
cal forests.
Unless the fire is subdued soon, it is
feared that lot only the entire San
Geronimo field, but the coast oil fields,
will be drained to feed the flames.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08
PYTHIANS GET DOWN TO WORK
Ten Thousand Men in Line in Parade
of Uniform Rank.

Boston.-The Knights of Pythias,
5000 strong, and the Pythian Sisters,
numbering about 500, today facet the
Red Letter day of their convention.
The sessions were formally opened
with addresses by d. Sydney Wood
worth of the grand lodge of Massachu-
sets, Gov. Curtis Guild, Jr., Mayor
Hubbard, Supreme Chancellor Charles
A. Barnes and others.
The spectacular feature of the week
was the big parade of the uniform rank
this afternoon. Nearly 10, 600 men
were in line.
Business sessions of the supreme
lodge were formally opened today by
Supreme Chancellor Charles A. Barnes.
No business was transacted, however,
the meeting adjourning Immediately
for the day to allow the delegates to
watch the parade.
The first of the competitive drills of
the three companies of cavalry was
held this afternoon on Franklin field.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08
GUTHRIE GETS SCARE.
Gets Report That Band Of Night
Riders Would Burn Town.

Guthrie, Ky.-Great excitement was
created here last night at l1:45 o'clock,
and there was very little sleeping after
that hour, caused by a telephone mes
sage to the night telegraph operator at
Russellville, announcing that a band of
night riders, three or four hundred
strong, had passed through hat town
on their way to Guthrie with the deter
mination to burn the town.
The message caused widespread alarm
and every man in the city was aroused
and instructed to arm himself and 60
on guard duty.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08
WILL PROBE RACE RIOT.
Naval Board Wants Facts in Fight
of Seamen With Negroes.

Norfolk, Va.-The board of inquiry
was today appointed to make a thor
ough investigation of the trouble OF
yesterday between negroes and United
States m The board will repopt
as SOC as possible. The defense is
that the sailors were gathering wild
cherries when n of the negroes stole
a hat and neck scarf from under the
tree belonging to a sailor and running
off, fired into the sailors.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08

Pearly Watts shot and seriously
wounded George Franklin at a church
meeting near Brookhaven. Franklin
is a brother of Oscar and Will Frank
lin, Lincoln county whitecappers par
doned by Gov. Vardaman last fall.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08

Two young white men, James Bentley
and Ed Breedlove, were placed in Jail
at Brookhaven on the charge of white
Gaping negro employees of the Butter
field Lumber company, near Norield.
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08

the premises was, and in my remarks
had intimated that l was not in accord
or sympathy with the situation as some
others saw it, and that l might resign.
l afterward concluded not to entertain
further thought Of resigning from the
board, and in no uncertain terms told
my fellow associates on the board, in
effect, that 1 would do my duty to the
college and the administration, as I saw
it, but that I would be judge as to what
l conceived to be my duty and best in
terests of the institution. 1t was agreed,
as 1 understood it, hat we all turn
away from and try to forgive and to for
get the past troubles as best we could;
that President Hardy was to recognize
the absolute necessity for conciliatory
methods, and that the restoration of
good feeling with everybody and every
thing was to be the order of the day,
but that if anyone was not inclined to
accept his situation under the circum-
stances, and give the administration
official support and cooperation, that
the thing for all such to do was to re-
sign. I told Mr.. Hardy in the presence
of the full board that l would have been
glad for him to nave heard every word
that I had said concerning him and the
college situation, for | had said nothing
offensive, but had only expressed my
position and conviction, and under the
circumstances l was ready and willing
The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1908-08-08

The Delta Fair association mas fixed
Greenviile as the place and the week
beginning Oct. II as the date for hold.
ing the delta fair. The indications
point to q successful display OF the
PRODUCTS of the delta