The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-12
THINKS RAILROADS
 WILL OPEN UP SOON
California Engineer Sees Con-
 struction Work Ahead
EVERYONE IS HOPEFUL
C. w. Hoehrig Thinks Action of Su- preme Court and Interstate Com mission Has Been Dis
 counted by Railroads

C. W. Roehrig, one of the most widely known engineers of the west. is in Bir-
 mingham attending a case in the federal court. He came direct to Birmingham from California, where he has been en- gagged on work connected with the Pa cific Northwestern railroad extension into the redwood forests of that state
 This line has as it's general manager Mir Porter. formerly of Birmingham who at this time is in Alabama on a
 visit.
 MT. Roehrig said yesterday that rail road construction is opening up out west and that engineers and contractors feel
 more hopeful at this time as to the out look than in several months. He said
 the western lines would surely be in the
 market for large tonnages of rails very
 soon. This Is of special interest to this city inasmuch as Ensley has for several
 years furnished great quantity of rails
 for the west. In speaking of general
 conditions relating to railroad work he
 said
 The railroad engineers and those who
 perform the greater part of the con struction are very sanguine over present conditions. By that I do not mean the
 momentary situation, but the work thai is now about to open. In California whence I have just returned, several million dollars worth of work is about to be awarded. While this does not in terest Birmingham In any particular manner, at the same time it proves tha, the railroads are awake to the situation and are preparing to start great i'm provements. We have many tentative jobs now before us involving many mil lions of dollars.
 Out west it is an open statement thai the railroads have been awaiting the for
 nation of the supreme court and the decisions of the interstate commerce commission relative to the new applica-
 tions made by the western lines. Ii
 seems to be the general impression, or
 some hint has been given, that the con ditions subsequent to the decisions will
 not be at all precarious. It is generally
 believed that the present administration
 will give a square deal to the railroads and upon this assurance the new work is being planned.
 "The western railroad men have a great deal of faith in President Taft and believe that no serious onslaught will
 be considered by him that will affect the commercial conditions of the coun- try. The roads that are directly in- volved in the rate cases are among the R,-ck Belt, for instance, in Texas and Okla
 homa, Is about to start a lot of new
 work, which will be in process wher these decisions are made. For that req son 1t is not to be considered that tn, western railroads fear the decisions tt any great extent Personally, I believ, everything at this time is fine and tina conditions will be better This country is bound to go forward and no set O. men can 'retard progress"
 In speaking of Birmingham MT. Koch rig said:
 T was perfectly astounded when
 read in California paper how this city
 had grown. Out west it was general,
 believed that great indications of growtf
 in that section would be shown not only
 numerically, but in percentage as well
 However, up to the present time Bir.
 mingham has any western city beater
 from percentage standpoint. I have
 been here before, but it was some time
 ago. I am, as a matter or course very
 much surprised to witness such rapi6 strides in any city. Birmingham is des tined to grow further and I will be glad to see it. I hope some time to visit Bir. mingham when she is truly and with.
 out question the Pittsburg of the south
 That day, to my mind. is not far dis taut"