The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1910-06-30
RUMBLE OF THE RAILS
News Picked Up at Depot, Siding
and Round House.

Conductor Andy" Anderson of the
Iowa Central, has returned from
business and sightseeing trip through
Texas. Mr.. Anderson was a visitor
in both San Antonio and Corpus
Christi and is impressed with the cit
les and the surrounding country.
- - - a..#
The old Iowa Central bridge across
the Mississippi river at Keithsburg is
being torn down after serving its
term of usefulness. All traffic is now
directed over the new million dollar
bridge.
Conductor C. Bogard, of the pool"
crews of the Iowa Central freight ser
vice, has returned to work after sew
eral days rest Conductor Ted Hall,
who has been filling the vacancy, has
now returned to the extra" list.
- ~ -
HI. Fellers, engineers and firemen's
time-keeper at the Iowa Central, has
returned from business trip to Lem
on, s. u. Mr.. Fellers registered on
a piece of land.
- - -
Business in the local railroad cir
cles is increasing. From April list
until within the last two weeks bust
ness on the local roads has been very
slack and scores of men were laid
off. During the past two weeks the
business shows a slow but steady in
crease and the officials predict that
within short time business will be
as rushing as ever. The Iowa Cen
trail is preparing to take on more help
beginning with July LIST. The addi-
ton of help will probably be in all
departments, as the increase in bust
ness effects all departments. The
increase in business at the round
house is readily noticed. Before
April list the round house cared for
about 20 engines daily, and during
the slump this number dropped to
about s. Within the past two weeks
the number has increased until at
the present time from 10 to IL en-
gines are cared for daily. At the car
repairing department the workmen
are very busy endeavoring to catch
up with the multitude of work piled
before them. Many cars are repaired
daily and many more would be re-
paired If more help was had.
| - - -
Are railway operating signals be-
coming so numerous as to impair the
safety of operation? This question
is under consideration by a commit.
tee of operating experts that is ex.
pected to make report upon the sub
ject at the fall meeting of the Ameri.
can Railway Association. The com
mittee Is composed of officials ap.
pointed to look into the subject for
the American Railway Association,
and Maintenance of Way Association
and the Railway Signal Association.
If possible the committee is expected
to inaugurate a movement toward
uniformity in railway signaling in the
belief that it will promote safety of
operation. Thus far the committee
has not been able to reach an agree
ment. portion of it's members be-
lieving in a multiplicity of visual sig
nails and portion believing in few
and positive signals.
1t is also the opinion of many oper.
ating experts that one position of the
semaphore Of block signal should
mean the same thing on every rail-
road in the United States, in order to
prevent confusion when operating
men go from one road to another.
AE - - -
General Manager Hiram ]. Slifer, OF
the Great Western, was in Des Moines
yesterday attending the hearing OF
the coal rate cases before the state
railroad commission. Replying to a
query as to why the Great Western
and other lines were discharging
thousands of men and practically
suspending permanent improvements
for the summer and fall. Mr.. SlifeI
stated that II congress and sthe people
! insist npon resisting advances OF cur
/ rent freight rates thef must not bs
at all surprised II the companies mee'
{,the refusal BY reducing expenditures
and giving less satisfactory service