The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-04
Gossip Of Railwaynen

estimated at about IL per cent, is a
ffairly accurate barometer of trade and
commerce. 1t is stated by officials of
the principal companies that the prog
ress Is felt in every department of the
express business. not only in the carry
ing branch, but in the money orders,
travellers checks. etc, as well
An attractive scenic publication has
just been issued by the passenger de-
partment of the Denver and Rio Grande
railroad. This is styled the Panoramic
FOLDER and contains a series of pic
lures in colors of scenes on the route
from Denver to Salt Lake City ar
ranged in proper order The reverse
side of the folder contains a compre-
hensive description of these and other
scenic attractions. thus forming an ex-
cellent guide for the tourist in the
Rocky mountain region.
Two more steps have recently been
taken toward the realization of the late
Cecil Rhodes substantial dream" OF
q cape TO Cairo railway. Ii is an
nouneed that Messrs Pauling e. Co.
will start work on the construction of
400 mile extension northward from
Broken hill At the other end Of the
| gap" is Halfaya 1910 miles south of
/
tum by the Blue Nile, across which a
new railway and road bridge is now in
course Of construction by the Suda n
| government. AS soon as the Sudan
government railway administration is
able to utilize this temporary bridge
for the passage of its freight trains IT
! intends to make a start with the
southwark extensions of its systems at
Seunar, a city of the eastern Sudan on
I -
Khartum. From Seunar it is also in
tended to construct branch line in a
westerly direction, doubling back at
almost right angle to FL Obeid. the
capital of Kordofsn. This railway will
cross the White Nile near the village of
Coz Albu Guma, about 1872 miles south
| of khartum, and the contract for the
construction of the road and rail bridge
at this point has been awarded
The Western Pacific has ordered so
baggage cars. so passenger cars and
a number of dining and buffet cars.
| Harry A Buck of the Pennsylvania
says that nothing viii ever induce him
! TO go on coroner's jury at Stockton
He was a witness of what happened to
warn the public.
Buck, when man dropped dead in
the street A doctor pronounced it to
be heart failure and the coroner held
an inquest. He wanted a jury and so
he went into the street and every man
he met he told him the facts of the
case, adding: Do help me out. 1t will
only take a few minutes.
One of the men who consented to
serve was the driver of a Wells-Fargo
/
let me hitch the horses to the post
and I'll be In
After hearing the testimony one of
the Jurors said his mind was not clear
on the heart disease question, but that
he had contrary opinion.
What is it then?' he was asked
80 The man was drowned.
Drowned@ cried the rest of the
jury. How do you make that out. He
dropped dead in the street
No. he was drowned. See his pores
are open. Clear case of drowning
"They argued and argued. Let me
talk to him. said the express driver,
I'll convince him.
Hours passed and the driver argued
on. The Wells-Fargo people became
alarmed and began to hunt for the
wagon and driver. He was found.
AT the request of the Wells-Fargo peo-
pie the jury was dismissed, and the
driver was released
Shortly after this incident the
driver was delivering package at the
asylum when he noticed a man in the
corridor.
WHO is that?' he asked
"'Oh, he is one of our guests. He
is harmless lunatic.'
He was the man who had held up
the jury with his theory of drowning"
According to the passenger depart
ment of the Southern Pacific the travel
over the fourth will be the heaviest in
the history of the company. Five
extra Pullmans were put on the train
leaving for Truckee Friday night for
persons bound for the lake and five extra
Pullmans will be added to the train
leaving tonight. There is an enormous
rush to Santa Cruz and the Southern
Pacific will be taxed to its limit to
carry the crowds that intend to stay
over the fourth A large number are
going to the Yosemite and a good book
ing is made for Shasta and vicinity.
San Jose will have also large num-
Der of visitors to its celebration.
Reports issued by the Pennsylvania
railroad show that the payments in
May of its relief departments on the
lines east and west of Pittsburg
amounted to more than $4,000, while
the total payments since the relief fund
was established in 1886 amount TO $685.
424,7275S. On lines east of Pittsburg
in May there was paid to members of
the relief fund who were unable to
work S65,717.50. To the families of
members who died the payments
amounted to Sf3,605 making the to-
tai payment on the lines cast $109,-
BETA The relief fund of sthe Penn
sylvania lines west of Pittsburg made
total payments for the month of s43,-
302.60, of which $19.937.15 was paid to
famiB s of members who died, and