Evening star., 1923-12-31
TALKS and TALES
With and About
CAPITALS GUESTS

his ability to judge pace. McLaugh-
lin, Garrison, Murphy, Sloan. Maher,
Miller, O'Connor and other noted rid
ers of the past were so skilled in
this essential that they could figure
within fraction of second. just
how fast their mount was travelling
at any point of the race, which en-
abled them to utilize a horses speed
and stamina to the best advantage.
So skilled was Winnie OConnor In
this respect that when travelling by
rail he could tell within a sixteentb
of a second what time the train was
making between any two specified
mile-posts, which is all quite Won
derful, but pitted against the remark
able feat accomplished last April by
statiSticians of Americas great rail-
roads in forecasting within few
thousand cars the number of car
riers required to move the country's s
unprecedented volume of freight
traffic for the ensuing nine months,
it fades into insignificance by COM
parison.
Running into r. L. Ashton of
Chicago, president of the American
Railway Association. at the Ward
man Park Hotel, shortly after the ge-
nial official had explained to the Amer
lean Statistical Association what a
wonderful year the carriers had en-
joyed, he took time to detail how the
work had been accomplished. He
said:
While those in charge of distribut-
ing the huge sum apportioned to the
carriers last spring had fully decided
that every ton of freight must be
moved. it was something of a prob
lem to figure the number of cars
needed for the operation. Undoubt-
ed. however. we took available fig
ures of volume hauled in January
and February. 1923. compared them
with figures of the same months for
the past five years, and then, aver
aging all freight hauled during those
years. allowance was made for high
peak and rock bottom periods, "a con-
servative estimate was made, with
the result that by next Tuesday it
will be found that we were only with
in a few thousand cars of what was
absolutely needed"
Due to absence of any labor trouble
whatever, no shortage of cars, and a
general disposition on the part of all
roads to cooperate, Mr.. Ashton said
that the past year has been the great
est in the history of American rail-
roads, the excess of carloads moved
being 4,2S1.000 over and previous
twelve months.
x u X x
And, speaking of statistics, calls TO
mind, that former Mayor George b.
Mcclellan of New York. now pro-
fessor of economics at Princeton
University. has been in our midst for
three or four days, and is at the
Lee House.
Aside from the silver threads
among the gold, Little Mac" as he
was familiarly called back in that
memorable campaign when he won
the mayoralty by an eyelash, is as
active, sturdy and young-looking as
he was in the days when the center
of the spotlight.
princeton certainly agrees with
you. Professor
yes" was the smiling response.
IL never felt better in my life. |
am wrapped up in my work, which
Is a great Improvement on politics.
popular New Yorker went to join
Mrs. McClelland, who was waiting but
not quite so exciting" And the once
in a taxi
Crime will out. Ever since the
republican national committeeman
held their meeting here a rigid in
vestigation has been under way to
learn what Thomas w. Brahany, high
In the councils of the last administra-
tion, was doing at several of their
sessions.
When accosted on many occasions
in the city's financial district, of
which he is now light, the former
Madison, Wis, democrat refused
point-blank to give any explanation
enemy.
Tackled again Saturday afternoon
in the lobby of the New Willard
Hotel, whittier he'd gone in search
Of r. T. Ely. of the University of
Wisconsin, here for the statistical
convention, Tom could hold back nc
longer, and while none too affable in
giving his reason, the locai broker
did release the following.
II was there to see Fred Upham
treasurer of the republican national
committee. l am not well acquainted
with Fred. but the uncle, W. H. Uphsm
former Governor of the Badger state
now in his efghty-fourth year. is one
of my dearest friends.
HE was chief executive back in the
good old days when / was doing
the statehouse for my paper, and he
took fancy to me. After his term
expired Gov. Upham retired to private
life at Marshfield, Wis, and for near.
ly seven years little was heard OF
him.
Along about then I covered the
state institutions for the paper, and
being near Marshfield l dropped in t.
see my old friend. He was so inter
esting that l wrote full-page hui
man feature story about the 1ovable
old man, and it pleased him so that
whenever Fred would visit his uncle
the governor would always ask, AnG
how's that Tommy Brahany getting
along" 1t was to receive word from
one of the finest characters in Wis
consin that enticed me to risk my
reputation but the message was
worth 1t and I'd go again."
Fresh from an extended tour of in
spection through the south and
southwest the Hon. Donald Mackin-
non, commissioner in the United
States for commonwealth of Australia
registered with his wife and two chill
dren at the Hotel Shoreham.
The Australian was most enthusi-
astic over conditions as he found
them in the section traversed, and
said that in Texas especially things
were on the boom.
Cattle raisers appear to be on the
verge of a great prosperity" sait
Mr.. Mackinnon, and as that is wha,
l am particularly interested in Il
made me quite happy to encounte,
such optimism. Then, too, cotton lras
done wonders for most states in the
territory. Texas alone raises two
fifths of all the cotton in the United
States, and with the advance in price
she will realize more than 100000
600 for the product"
Mr.. Mackinnon reported conditions
as fair in his homeland, CONSIDERING
the fact that it is at this time thu
rainy season begins in the north ant
lasts until ADril He will po ~ NJ.
York to meet Right Hon. S. ". Bruce
prime minister of Australia, who ar.
rtves shortly from England. wher,
he has remained since adjournment
or the imperial conference. The Aus
tralian statesman. who is the nronf
posSeSSor of the military $780, y