The Monett times., 1922-02-17
FRISCO TO USE
ss,OOO,OOO IN REPAIRS
Extensive Rebuilding of Refrigerator
Cars at MOnett. Eighteen Loco
motives to be Rebuilt.

From the Springfield Republican
Embracing an expenditure for the
current year of almost eight million
dollars, the most elaborate program
of improvements and repairs in many
years was yesterday announced by
officials of the Frisco lines. A great
part of the work to be included in this
work of regeneration has begun and
the remainder of it wills continue
throughout the year, which means
that millions of dollars will find it's
way into circulation and that the
force of mechanics aid other laborers,
/ in Springfield, Monett, Fort Scott and
at Yale, Tenn, will be greatly aug
mented. ~,
The program calls for the spending
: of $7,890,351 by the Frisco on equip
ment and maintenance, more than $5,-
100000 of this amount to be spent in
improving the equipment, both freight
and passenger, in bringing it thor
oughly up to date and providing for
! the increased safety and comfort of
the travelling and shipping public.
Operations at MOnett.
Some of the most extensive i'm
provements are under way at Monett
where every refrigerator car on the
Frisco is being overhauled, improved
and to all intents and purposes made
new car. This will be good news to
the fruit growers, produce men and
shippers of perishable goods. New ice
bunkers are being installed or each
car, new roof is being placed on
each, the frames are being strength
ened, the insulation renewed and the
cars placed in first class condition for
the shipment Of fruit and vegetables.
More than 1900 cars are thus affect
ed. Each car is being given a splen-
did and brilliant new coat of yellow
paint. F. M. Darden, car foreman at
Monet, is supervising this work and
considerable other repair work IS be-
ing done under his direction.
The work is being centralized and
all of the refrigerator car work is be-
ing done at Monet for the reason
that greater efficiency is obtained, so
officials have found, by having the
same men work on the same class of
work each day as they thus become
entirely familiar with just what is
needed and what must be done. About
fifty men have been added to the
force at MoRett. 1t is expected that
this work will occupy the remainder
of the year by which time the Frisco
refrigerator cars will be the finest in
the country. So far as shown the
Frisco is the first great railway sys-
tenn to start on an extensive program
of rebuilding this class of cars.
Much New Equipment.
Some Of the subdivisions into which
the amount appropriated has been
placed includes the spending of ST.
431 ,422 on the bettering of existing
equipment; spending $204,35 on pow
er plants, machinery and tools; ap-
preparation Of $1,266,000 to buy new
equipment, which will include new
passenger coaches, steam derricks and
other materials needed at this time;
$87, 800 to be used in improving 25
coaches used on passenger trains of
branch lines, this money to be used in
placing wide vestibules on the coaches
high-beam platforms, steel trap doors
resurfacing the end sills, placing
steam heat in these coaches and re-
placing antiquated lighting systems
with electric lights.
Locomotives Being Rebuilt.
Eighteen locomotives are being re-
built at a cost of $600,000 Through
the improvements to be made these
locomotives will have increased ton
mage power and be more efficient in
every way. The locomotives now be-
ing thus equipped are used in freight
and switching hauls.
The sum of 100000 has been set
aside to rebuild $50 steel coal cars
placing entire new bodies on these
cars and making of them the latest
and most improved type of coal car
riers.
In connection with these improve
ments it is interesting to note that ,
the cost of tearing out an existing
lighting system and replacing it with
electricity amounts to $1,650 for car
thus improved, and that the cost of
tearing out the so-called Baker heat
ers and installing in their place steam
heat means an expenditure of $700
for each car thus affected.
c. c. Miller, Mrs. J. T. Clinton and