The San Francisco call., 1908-04-03
Gossip Of Rai!waymen

p D. Watkins. contracting freight
agent of the Illinois Central in New
York, was advised by w. III. Snedaker
that considerable machinery was to be
moved from that city to the Lagrange
mining company al Weaverville; that
he should see the officials of that cor
poration who had their headquarters
there and secure the shipment Wat
kins learned that the office of the min
Ing company was at lis Broadway,
called sent in his card and was seen
by Roberts Walker. He explained his
mission and Walker replied:
we are entirely willing that the
Hartman lines shall have the haul
from Denver west, but the Rock Is
land will have the business out of Chi
cago.'
Watkins insisted that the Illinois
Central was the better road to ship
by.
What objections can you put for
ward against the Rock Island?" said
Walker. 1T has always given us good
service. We have nothing against the
Hartman lines. In fact, we are favor
ably disposed toward them and we are
on friendly terms to Hartman and we
are doing all we can for YOU.
What makes you so favorably dis
posed toward the Rock Island?" asked
Watkins
We'll for several reasons laughed
Walker. In the first place I am as
sistant to the general counsel of the
company and Robert Mather, general
counsel of the Rock Island lines, is
also president OF the Lagrange mining
company
"Oh, L beg your pardon. cried Wat
kins, for trying to take away business
from your own lines. l did not know
oil vi rl,t a
cheerfully; wait a moment. want
you to meet Mr. Mather. He will enjoy
the idea of your trying to give our
business to the Illinois Central. No.
no excuses are necessary. But you
will not be offended if I tell you that
it strikes me as an exceedingly good
joke"
member of the Pacific Hardware
Metal association has made application
to the interstate commerce commission
for the same rate on wire fencing in
carloads as applies on other classes of
wire articles. such as barbed wire,
nails. smooth wire, spikes, etc. 1t Is
shown in the complaint to the commits
sion that to all other territories. except
the Pacific coast, wire fencing is
granted the same carload rate as the
other articles mentioned above. The
party making the complaint contends
that the adjustment is made In the
interests of one concern manufacturing
wire fencing on the Pacific coast and it
is alleged to be a discrimination against
jobbers who buy their fencing from
eastern manufacturers The decision
of the commission will be awaited with
interest by many dealers in wire fenc-
ing.
That American rolling stock is in
demand by foreign countries is shown
by the orders that have been filled
recently. The exports of cars, rails and
locomotives during seven months end
ing in January represents a total value
of $1S,900,0O as against $14.900,000 for
the corresponding season last year or
an increase in the demand by foreign
railroad constructors of $4,000
T. H. Williams. who has been train
and station inspector of the northern
district of the Southern Pacific, has had
his powers enlarged and will take in
the southern district as we'll p. J.
Kindelon, chief special agent of the
Southern Pacific, has also had his juris-
diction extended over the southern dis
trict.