Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1925-07-30
WELCOME FOR
new OFFICIAL


but not until Monday did such an
official really make a visit here.
About z o'clock President F. w.
Sargent, Traffic Vice President A.
c. Johnson, General Manager G. B.
Villas, and the chief surgeon, DR.. G.
W. Hopkins, all of Chicago. arrived
in Barahoo on a special train and
spent the evening here. They had
been on an inspection tour over the
portions of the road to the west.
The officials we're met at Bara-
boo by Superintendent A. j. Worth
man and other local railway off
cials, also by a number of citizens.
Drives were then made to the lake
and elsewhere, after which all re
paired to the Elks' club rooms
where an informal meeting was
held.
Former Lieutenant Governor.
E. F. Dithmar, of Baraboo;
who had arranged for the reception
at the station and for the meeting
in the hail., introduced J. Van Or
den who presided. Mr.. Sargent
discussed some of the railroad
problems Of the present and declar-
ed the most serious were the Pan
ANA canal and motor bus, also
truck, transportation. On ac-
count of the perishable nature of
fruit it is hauled from the Pacific
coast to the east in refrigerator
cars and because of existing rates
and regulations the cars return
empty. They should be loaded.
The truth is, the speaker said, that
goods in the Mississippi valley are
shipped to an eastern seaport,
through the canal, then hauled in
land from the Pacific coast be-
cause the cost is less. Freight
could be hauled to the west at
low rate if the roads were permit
ted to do so. This would solve
that problem.
AS to motor transportation of
passengers and freight, Mr.. Sar-
gent said that the population in the
Mississippi valley was not sufficient
to support the above and the rail
roads. Unless people along the
branch lines especially patronize
the railroads many of these lines
will be abandoned. To tax the
railroads to build highways for
trucks and busses was unjust, he
said.
Mr.. Sargent spoke Of the respon-
sibility of the roads to the stock
holders and how the income Of
these had been greatly reduced in
recent years. The roads could be
made to pay if there was proper
volume of business.
The Chicago & Northwestern
paid 5000, 900 in taxes in 1914 and
now the amount is about $4,000,
600 each year,
Mr.. Sargent expressed pleasure
that the officials could visit Bara-
boo and hoped that in the future
the company would be able to in
crease the business at this place.
Mr.. Johnson, traffic yice-pTesi-
dent, spoke Of the Mississippi val
ley being narrow strip and ex-
planned that rates must change if
the roads are to survive. He
hoped for pleasant business rela-
tions with all who have freight to
haul.
General Manager G. B. Villas, who
came to Baraboo in 1908 to reside,
spoke in high praise of the loyalty
of some of the employees of that
time and since. He mentioned
especially the late Engineer Jacob
Luder who always brought his
train in on time if possible. He
spoke OF the pleasant days he had
enjoyed in Baraboo and in doing
so recalled the visit Of the late w.
]. Bryan.
New Era at Hand
DR.. Hopkins said he believed
there was a new era at hand. AS
for the railroads, he said, they
will die of arterio sclerosis unless
help is given in the way of more
business and relief from regula-
ton.
o. E. Whitcomb of Adams spoke
of the pleasure he had in being
present.
Baraboo Speakers
Among those from Baraboo who
spoke at the close OF the meeting
were T. f. Risley, Mayor Adolph
andre, Ben Jones, president Of the
Advancement association, and Geo.
o. Macarthur, manufacturer.
Among the others present were
Roadmaster George Mathiason,
Madison; former Superintendent of
Bridges and Buildings NJ. Riney;
z. P. Wright, L. S. Van Orden: "
r. Harding, DR.. G. T. Thuerer, Mil
ton I.awis Rarahno. and II. o. Ter