The San Francisco call., 1909-12-28
Gossip of RaIIwaymen

n RoBABLY one of the largest excur-
sions leaving San Francisco for
New Orleans viii leave here for the
Mardi Gras carnival January 29. The
carnival begins February and will last
eight days special rate has been
made by the Southern Pacific.
S E. Burkhead, assistant superin
tendent of the International and Great
Northern, has resigned to enter the
service of the Denver and Rio Grande
at Denver.
The Central passenger association has
decided not to discontinue reduced
fares for conventions during 1910. The
effect will be, it is believed, to compel
western roads to abandon their plans
to do otherwise.
The bulletin of the American railway
association says that December 10 the
total surplus of cars on the lines of the
United States and Canada stood at o.
49, an increase of 1892, or about 45
per cent. The growing surplus of box
cars is mainly responsible for this in
crease, which is shared in by every sec
ton of the country. In addition short
ages were reduced by 5000.
Continued accumulation of idle cars
was shown in the reports from the
northwest. In that section there was
an increase of 9,514 cars The unsettled
conditions brought about by the switch
mems strike were considered largely re-
sponsible for this fast growing surplus
In the middle west there was also
letup in freight traffic. In the middle
Atlantic states and on the New England
lines freight offerings were practically
A. Canadian
lines reversed their recent demand for
cars, an increase OF more than 90 per
cent taking place in available vehicles.
The total shortage of cars is 1888,
as compared with 27,496 three weeks
ago Every section showed a shortage
decrease with the exception of the Vir-
ginias and Carolinas-
f. E. Calvin, vice president and gem
eral manager of the Southern Pacific,
will spend the remainder of the holidays
with his family in the southern part of
the state.
Asa result of a decision just reached
by officials of the western railroads,
homeseekers, fares to the west Will be
advanced next year The maximum rate
from Chicago is advanced So, which viii
make the rate to the southwest $35,
instead of $50, with corresponding adj
yances to the northwest The St. Louis
basis is to be raised from $25 to S21.50.
Kansas City rates will be advanced
likewise by s2.50, and from st. Paul
the increase will be 81. To points
which take less than the maximum rate
the fares will be as heretofore, fare
and a half plus 50 for the round trip.
The other rates >for next year will be
the same as for the last two years. 1t
is proving impossible to get the roads
to agree on &c per mile as the mini
mum basis for special rates, as has
been the desire of some of the lines.
The California and Colorado lines wish
to retain their homeseekers' colonist
and tourist rates, and the smaller roads
will not give up their special excur-
sions.
r. J. Mckay. the newly appointed
general passenger agent of the Chicago
and Alton, Toledo, ST. Louis and West
ern, Iowa Central and the Minneapolis
and St Louis, is to be given a banquet
by the many passenger agents of those
roads next Wednesday evening The
banquet will be held in the tower room
OF the Union League club of Chicago.
A. p Stewart general agent of the
Chicago and Alton in this city, received
his invitation yesterday and i'm
mediately wired his regrets. saying that
| the new DOSS AudOC a 6iCdt III Will
him on his recent visit to this coast"
Figures just prepared by the Atchi-
| son. Topeka and Santa Fe railroads
statistical department show that the
loss to the Santa Fe in Oklahoma due
to the two cent passenger rate law,
was S130.309 for the year ending No
vember 80. 1908. on interstate business
alone. 1t is further asserted that, al
| though the Santa Fe carried 237,441
more passengers in that year than dur
| ing the preceding II months. the total
passenger earnings showed loss OF
| s65,525 in the comparison. Owing TO
| the compulsory low freight rates, it Is
stated, receipts from freight traffic for
! the year ending June 80, 1909 showed
decrease of more than 100000
| ]. A. Robinson. Southern Pacific agent
at Santa Cruz, is in the city on official
! business.
w. d. Stubbs. genera agent of the
| Wabash. with office at Portland is
spending the holidays with his family
1 in this