The San Francisco call., 1909-02-16
Gossip of RaiIwaymen

Few people are aware what loss
there was to journalism by the defec-
ton from its ranks of William Hood,
chief engineer of the Southern Pacific.
In his younger and more ambitious
days Hood determined to become a
Journalist. He desired TO reform the
press He wanted 10 leave his impress
on the minds of this and future genera
tions AS he welded a truculent pen,
combined with kind and gracious
demeanor, 1T was thought that as
framer of public opinion Hood would
equal Horace Greely If not surpass him.
Whatever opinions Hood himself had
on that subject he kept TO himself. and
it is not probable that he will give one
now.
He was assigned on an important
case and when his copy was turned
in the editor, who was of the old
fashioned kind, was amazed at the flow
of Language, and also of ideas
Calling in the future eminent en-
gineer he spoke as follows:
Mr.. Hood, this is an excellent article.
It is written admirably. But you do
not seem to be aware of the fact that
the principal demand of modern jour
nalism is accuracy and a strict adher-
ence to the truth.
II am afraid. Mr.. Hood, that you are
of too temperamental a nature to be
SucCeSSIul III 1Ou
adopt a profession which gives a free
rein to your fancy, and which does not
demand accuracy"
And that is how William Hood came
to be an engineer
The fght between the Pacific coast
jobbers and the eastern manufacturers
was fought to a finish at the meeting
of the transcontinental freight bureau
now in session in Chicago, and the
victory rests with the former. The job
bers succeeded In blocking the requests
of all the eastern manufacturers for
mixed carload rates on various articles
they made, and also their demand for
graded rates on hardware, iron and
steel articles. AS this coast does little
or no manufacturing of hardware, this
class of goods has to be imported from
Pittsburg, Chicago, New York and sea-
board points, and the Pacific coast Job
bers, therefore, asked the railroads to
keep in force the postage stamp rate,
while eastern manufacturers demanded
the graded rate. The railroads favor the
former rate. and not until the manu-
factories. which are founded farther
west. become important factors will the
graded rate be enforced. Requests for
graded rates on agricultural imple-
ments, wire cloth, scrapers and iron
washers were all denied, and the Pa
cific coast jobbers succeeded also in
eliminating from the structural iron
grouping bolts and nuts,
At this meeting a question which has
long been a source of trouble to the
importers and the inspection bureau
was settled, for at the request of the
jobbers on the coast the railroads con-
sented to make-a change in the matter
of forks. knives and spoons. and the
lines made this grouping read Spoons,
table knives. forks (exclusive gold and
silver plated goods), 1920 per 100
pounds, less than carload All the
applications for greater mixtures on
iron and steel articles and agricultural
implements were denied.
The transcontfnental freight bureau
cast and malleable pipe connections to
a basis of so cents per hundredweight
from Chicago and points west; IS cents
from Chicago and points east; so cents
from New York pier, that is the Mall
lory wharf. to California and north Pa
cifc coast terminals.
The less than carload rate on carpets
west bound has been raised by the
transcontinentaI fright bureau at the
present meeting from $3.50 to $3.50.
When the transcontinental freight
bureau adjourns this week George w.
Luce of the Southern Pacific and Ed
ward Chambers of the Santa re viii
leave Chicago for Washington to con-
suit with the Interstate commerce COM
mission on rate matters.