The San Francisco call., 1909-09-05
Gossip Of Railwaymen

lie walked into the Office at No. 30
III Powell street The name. Thomas
L Cook & Son." painted on the win
dow was evidently the attraction. As
soon as he entered the office he ap-
peared to be at loss as to whom he
wanted to see. Carleton C. Crane of
the New York Central lines came to
the front and politely asked If he could
assist in any way.
"I noticed that you sold Cook ex-
cursion tickets from here" he said.
land I would like to inquire about
Doctor Cooks next excursion to the
north pole"
We'll, now. let ma see." said Crane.
putting on an important look. Mr..
Stokes. just when do you expect to
start that next north pole tour?"
Stokes, The man from Cooks.
looked up in surprise.
"Ah-um-er-well, just s soon as
we get definite information about the
route" he answered. There is choice
OF several routes, but we want to use
the one that will give those who take
the trip the best chance of seeing
everything in that partof the earth. I
think in a few days we will have our
new folder out"
"All right" said the stranger, I'll
be around later in the week"
In a decision of great interest TO rail-
road officials and shippers disposing
of reclamation case the interstate
commerce commission has held that "a
| through rate regularly published be-
tween points and available under tar
liffs over several different lines is not
nullified as to one such route by the
failure OF participating carriers to
agree upon divisions over that route"
While some railroads assert that the
ruling was not required because the
lprinciple involved always has been in
sisted upon, others consider it timely
as ii is a forcible reminder to freight
traffic officials that. they must adhere
conservatively to published tariffs on
all occasions. It is alleged that this
has not been done by some lines, and
in disagreements over divisions the
initial road has been disposed to charge
more than the legal tariffs allow. Those
that have lived up to tariffs under
all circumstances say that by so doing
has no division might insist on its local
rate, and the initial road would have
to pay more than the through rate.
The tendency would be to prompt the
latter to deviate from an agreement
1t is, however. prohibited by the ruling
just made. If a participating carrier
insists upon its local rate. the road
upon which the traffic originates must
pay it even though it be more than the
through rate and wait until it has a
chance TO reciprocate in kind.
r. L. McKellar. assistant traffic man
ager of the Southern railway accom-
panied by II. r. Higgins, the newly ap-
pointed commercial agent of that road
reached this city yesterday and will
open the new Office in a few days. 1t
is not definitely decided but it is prob
able that the office will be in the
Sheldon building.
The annual meeting OF the Ameri-
can association of general passenger
and ticket agents is to be held in To-
L@edo, o.. September IA and Is.
The British board of trade has pub
lished statistics showing that not a
single passenger in the United King
dom lost his life in train accident
during 1908.
No new moves have been made in
the import rate war and the situation
is the same as 1t was at the time of
the fling OF tariffs, which become ef-
fective this month.
Although rumors have been circu-
lated and statements given out that
certain interests had taken steps to
force an adjustment of the quarrel and
the beginning of new deal on a new
basis, they are wholly unreliable and
have no official status
1t is customary in October or Noyem-
Der for the traffic officials of interested
roads 10 get together and reach an un-
derstandinS as to what the rates shall
De Tor the ensuing year the tariffs then
promulgated continuing In effect for
that period. OF course, IL is realized
that the present demoralized condi-
ton can not go on forever, and there
is seeming hopefulness that when
the time arrives for arranging for
another year it will be possible to do
so upon basis that will end all fur
ther controversy.
More than 15s,0oo efficiency tests
were made by the Pennsylvania rail-
road during the first six months of
this year, and practically perfect
record was made by the EMPLOYEES
These figures are shown in a report
issued by the company. The average
number of tests each day was S62.
and Of the total for six months. 90 &
per cent were perfect. In the 4-1O of i
per cent of failures are included cases
where enginemen passed signals by a
few feet before stopping their trains.
and similar cases. which, though tech