Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-18
Hard Task Accomplished.

operating ratio with normal hainte-
nance charges fell from 81 to IS pei
cent
Hard Task Accomplished.
''In May. 1912. after operation of the
Sinaloa division had been suspended for
over three weeks, 1t was deemed advisa-
BILE to move 'an obtainable equipment
north to Empalme, Sonora, near Quay
mas, where conditions were tranquil.
There were only a dozen locomotives at
division headquarters in Mazatlan. Sina-
loa. 2T5 miles south of San Bias, Sinaloa
the north end of the division, and a total
of some 500 cars within reach. 1t was
feared that insurrectos might cripple the
movement by burning bridges between
trains. Not only did bridges have to be
hurriedly cr!bbed. but water tanks had
to be repaired. some. having been rid
died with bullets.
Monday morning the procession start
! ed with q train order reading somewhat
as follows: All engines on division run
extra to San Bias, with right over all
southbound trains until 10 pm. Friday,
May ~, and protecting carefully against
following aims Some sixty hours later
the senior vice president renewing his
yardmaster days, tied up the last train
on the main track, at San Bias, and then
issued an order congratulating the Sina-
ioa division, through its superintendent,
on a performance easy anywhere else
but most difficult under the circum-
stances.
Regular traffic was not resumed for
several weeks. Meantime a cruiser
train was put on. Passengers rode In
the caboose. No cars were left at sta
tions. but freight offered was loaded in
day the train tied up wherever night
overlook ii. The danger of encOuntering
a hole instead of bridge precludes much
night running in times like these.
Often Run Without Orders.
"A train dispatcher is not startled i
his wire suddenly goes down before
the orders are completed. He know:
from experience that the wire may no
come up until perhaps tomorrow. mex
week or mayhap next month or mex
year. Occasionally the attacking banG
will take possession of the locomotiv,
and burn some or all of the cars in
the train. Usually. however in thu
course of week or two the wir,
comes up. and a conductor asks TO
running orders from an office man.
miles from where last located. Sucl
primitive conditions have developed
splendid initiative and resourcefulnes
on the part OF omclalS ana employs
of all grades.
''Ofttimes this has meant -dauntless and
unfiinching exposure to rifle or cannon
fire. Habtua.ly it has entailed incon
venience and physical hardship. Off
Gals who normally use comfortable bus.
ness cars have taken to- small motor
cars, to track velocipedes. to push cars
or have travelled many miles on foot.
March 5. 1918, the state OF Sonora re-
VOTED against the newly established
Huerta government, and seized that por
ton of the Southern Pacific railroad o
Mexico lying north of Enpalme. For ST,
weeks the officials of the road were pow
erless Operation was carried on from
Hermosillo, the capital OF the state o
Sonora, by the state officials, with six
locomotives and other equipment forcibl,
seized. Methods of alleged confiscatioI
of railway property in the United States
are perhaps crude after all. Six weeks
of such operation gave the state officials
their fill. Outgo sd exceeded income tina
the road was Internationally returned t,
its owner"