Railroads Have Hard Battle Ahead in Country's Interest The railroads have a hard fight on their hands to meet the responsibility placed upon them in the present crisis. They must purchase additional equipment and consume enormous supplies, despite the high cost of material and labor. That they are prepared to do their duty by the American people, cost what it may, is the unanimous avowal of the special committee on national defense of the American Railway Association. The annual report of the Southern Pacific Company, issued recently, shows that this system alone will be taxed close to two millions of dollars by the Adamson eight-hour law, in addition to nearly a million and a half of wage increases made in 1916 voluntarily, and an increase in taxes of 26.26 per cent. To fulfill its compact with the United States Government to meet all the latter's requirements for mobilization of the country's resources, the railroads must increase their rolling stock and transportation facilities to the maximum point. The Railway Age Gazette gives the following as some of the estimates as to the extent to which eight items entering into railway expenses will be increased for the railways as a whole, annually, by advances in wages and prices which already have taken place over wages and prices which actually entered into the operating expenses of Protest Wired to Shipping Board The San Francisco Chamber of the railways durings most of the fiscal to the Federal Shipping Board at Rail (3,000,000 tons, in- $ 60,000,000 Washington against the rumored purpose of commandeering the Southern Pacific Morgan Line steamers and removing them from the Gulf Route. The telegram points out that such a move would be disastrous to Pacific Coast shippers who have found in the Gulf Route an efficient and economical 22,000,000 transcontinental service for the transportation of 600,000 tons of freight annually, most of which is food 30,000,000 products. 72,000,000 105,000,000 Trainmen to Seek the Passenger's "Getting the passenger's point of 18,000,000 view" is the object of a movement inaugurated on the Southern Pacific lines by Passenger Traffic Manager Chas. S. Fee. The plan calls for the distribution to passengers of a postcard, as they come on the Southern Pacific lines at Ogden, Portland and El Paso, upon which they are invited to write comments and suggestions relative to the service. Total increase in these Railway Employes Enjoy Moonlight R. L. Ruby, Acting Superintendent; Picnic and Dance G. R. Richardson Goes East Oakland branch of the Railway Employes' Welfare Association held a big moonlight picnic and dance Saturday evening, May 5th, at Neptune Beach, Alameda. All employes of the Southern Pacific Company and their families were invited to attend as guests of the association. The committee on arrangements included P. S. Gillette, Len Mayrisch, D. O. assistant superintendent, also. Herrick, W. I. Short, F. P. Kane, P. T. Hollings, Lee Simonds, A. J. Moylan, J. Johansen, W. J. Avan, F. P. Austin, A. Krinkle, J. B. Monohan, A. Campbell, N. H. Martin, E. F. Fisher, W. A. Douglas, A. T. Reid, C. G. Dorman, T. I. Goodfellow, Z. A. Burell, R. D. Carter, A. H. Dingwell, Al. Williams. R. L. Ruby has been appointed acting superintendent of transportation during the absence of G. F. Richardson, who has been summoned to Washington to serve on the car service commission of the special committee on national defense of the American Railway Association. Ruby will continue to fulfill the duties of Conditions at Yosemite Are Reported Favorable for Ideal Trip Reports to Passenger Traffic Manager Chas. S. Fee say that conditions In the Yosemite are favorable for ideal trips right now. Many trails and auto trips are now open. The waterfalls are booming full. The road from Yosemite to Mariposa Grove was expected to be open today. William S. Fitch, Southern Pacific flagman at Seabright, Cal., is justly proud of the beautiful railroad park there, containing 5400 square feet of J. K Armsby Says America Has No lawn, all bordered with red geraniums. Food Shortage J. K. Armsby, president of the California Packing Corporation, says that while the world is short of food there is no shortage in America, which produces more than it can use. California, particularly, consumes but 2 per cent of the food it produces, so that talk of a shortage here is absurd, and has only the effect of causing the retail merchant to raise prices unnecessarily. Santa Cruz Plunge Baths Open The plunge baths at Santa Cruz beach are now open Saturdays and Sundays. Reservations at Casa del Rey Hotel are exceptionally heavy for this time of year. Decorations on park and flag-house were all designed and constructed in intervals between the passing of 168 traction cars across the tracks, where eighteen main-line Southern Pacific trains pass a day. Veteran Southern Pacific Lecturer Delivers 3357th Address James W. Erwin, veteran lecturer of the Southern Pacific Company, recently delivered at Tucson, Arizona, what is said to have been his 3357th address. Erwin has spoken of the wonders of the Western country to approximately 1,500,000 since he began his career with the Southern Pacific. He is now compiling data for a lecture, "Wayside Notes of the Sunset Route." READY REFERENCE GUIDE FOR AGENTS FILE THIS IN BOOK No. 2, SECTION 11, OF TARIFF FILE Heavy Travel to Yosemite Valley Is Counterfeit Government Orders Are Steamship Service Via the United Anticipated 5:44 p.m. Nos. 86-4 11:40 p.m. 8:00a.m. 11:35 a.m. AUTO BUS p.m. 2:30 pm: AUTO BUS 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Nos. 3-87 8:00 p.m. 1:55 a.m. 7:50 a.m. Ar. San Francisco (Ferry).... 10:00 p.m. *Arrives 10:10 p. m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through Pullman sleeper will continue to operate between San Francisco and El Portal on trains Nos. 86-4 and 3-87. The new schedule will provide through daily daylight service in both directions between San Francisco and Yosemite Valley on trains Nos. 84-2 and 1-51, in connection with auto buses. Trains Nos. 84 and 51 carry observation parlor cars in addition to coaches on our line and the Yosemite Valley Railroad will carry observation parlor car on their Nos. 1 and 4 between Merced and El Portal. Being Floated E. L. Bevington, chairman, military committee at Chicago, Ill., while recently in Washington, D. C., telegraphed the following: "Navy Department advises counterfeit government orders are floating endorsed 'U. S. N. Naval Militia'; also in lower left-hand corner appear the words 'Payable by Army and Navy Bank.' There is no such bank." Agents and others interested should keep sharp watch for these counterfeit government orders. In the event of their presentation for transportation, agents are advised to decline to honor them and at once wire Chas. S. Fee, passenger traffic manager, San Francisco, setting forth all available detail. No Tickets to Camden, N. J. Agents selling tickets to passengers destined for Camden, N. J., should issue tickets to Philadelphia, and inform purchasers that they can procure ferry tickets at Philadelphia for Camden. California joint passenger tariff No. 2 does not provide basis of fare for Camden. New Appointments Announced Superintendent T. F. Rowlands announces the appointment of W. H. McBean as trainmaster of the Salt Lake Division, with headquarters at Sparks, Nev., vice L. L. Brown, resigned. William Johnson is appointed chief dispatcher, with headquarters at Ogden. The indefinite postponement of the Seattle marine carnival and Alaska cruise is announced on account of the war. Circular letter No. 354 contains the sailing dates and other details in connection with the sevice of the Canada Steamship Lines, Ltd. Passenger Traffic Manager Chas. S. Fee announces that the Northern Steamship Company has advised that they will not operate the steamship "North Land" on the Great Lakes during the season of 1917. The Southern Pacific Company of Mexico advises that service between Mazatlan and Acaponeta will be semi-weekly instead of weekly and according to schedule published in The Bulletin of April 1st. New York Office Changed All agents and employes are being advised that the New York City ticket office, which has been formerly located at No. 39 Broadway, will be at No. 33 Broadway. Fruit Company Until further notice, the sailings and the schedules shown in the United Fruit Company folder "A," issued February 1, 1917, are can celed. The Company will, so far as possible, continue to maintain its steamship service, but, owing to war conditions, it will not be prac ticable for the Company to publish the time set for the departure and arrival of its ships. Passengers of all nationalities will be re quired to have passports or consular certifcates issued by the country of which they are citizens or subjects. Passports of passengers desiring to land in a port of the United King dom will be required to have same vised by the British consul; such passports for vise must be presented personally about forty-eight hours before sailing, or as early as practicable, at the office of the British consul-general in the port of sailing. No Service to Shaver Lake The attention of all agents (Oregon excepted) is being called by Passenger Traffic Manager Chas. S. Fee to the fact that while section 34, page 50, of Summer Excursion Tariff author izes fares and routes from certain California points to Shaver Lake via El Prado, San Joaquin & Eastern Railroad to Cascada and stage, there is no service this year to Shaver Lake be so advised and asked to purchase from Cascada, and passengers should tickets only to Cascada. Change in Service San Joaquin Valley & Eastern Railroad will hereafter provide daily instead of tri-weekly train service between El Prado and Cascada on the present schedule. Daily Sleeper Service Effective at once and until further notice, standard sleeper between Los Angeles and Owenyo on trains Nos. 49 and 8 in connection with trains Nos. 401 and 402 will be operated daily instead of tri-weekly. Agency Changes The agency at Wilbur, Oregon, was discontinued May 10th, and that at Irving, Oregon. on the same date. E. E. Hunter is in charge of the new agency opened at Veneta, Oregon. The attention of agents, baggagemen and train baggagemen is being called to rules requiring that dogs be muzzled and provided with securely fitting collars of sufficient strength and strong chains when not in crates. Recently a dog slipped its collar, and while endeavoring to prevent its escape, a train baggageman was severely bitten, making it necessary for him to receive medical attendance. with subsequent loss of time. How to Increase Sale of Round-Trip Smooth Handling of Trains Makes Tickets Ticket agents, by following the simple rule of suggestion, may further the sale of round-trip tickets and educate passengers into the convenience thereby offered. Most passengers merely name their destination in purchasing tickets, and though they may have full intention of returning it does not occur to them to specify single or double. If the agent will inquire "Round trip?" when the purchaser does not indicate his desires one way or the other nine times out of ten this will be followed by an inquiry as to whether the round trip would be an advantage. Thus the ticket seller has an opportunity to present the case. "Swat the Fly" and Keep All Company Property Clean The "Safety First" policy does not extend to the protection of flies, but on the contrary demands their destruction. The eggs of countless billions are now in the process of incubation. Station agents and those in charge of Company property should see to it that all premises are given a thorough cleaning and that nothing is left in out-of-way places that is likely to breed and attract flies. As a carrier of disease germs the fly has no superior. The laws of health and sanitation demand that the fly be swatted, and swatted vigorously. Don't assume that they are dead when you find them lying on floors and window sills in unused rooms. They are playing 'possum and will revive when the temperature goes up. Constant cleanliness is the slogan that means death to the fly. Passenger Transportation Salesmanship Discussed by F. E. Batturs F. E. Batturs, general passenger agent, has been devoting special attention recently to the subject of passenger transportation salesmanship, and has addressed gatherings of the Company's agents at Sacramento, San Jose and other points. At these meetings the summer travel situation was discussed fully as well as other subjects concerning the sale of passenger transportation. Mr. Batturs gave an interesting talk on ticket salesmanship, pointing out the modern methods of exploiting summer resorts and special rates, and winning the confidence and favor of the public. Alien Enemies Denied Bookings Attention is called to the following circular letter issued by the China Mail SS. Company, Limited, signed H. N. Thomas, General Passenger Agent, and dated April 13, 1917: "Effective at once and until further notice agents will please discontinue bookings and the sale of transportation by this company's steamers to subjects of Germany, Austria, and their allies." For Passenger-Carrying Efficiency By W. R. PARKER, Road Foreman Engines, Stockton Division pants. I desire to call to the attention of it on the entire train and then train engineers an article in The Bulletin can be started one car at a time withof April 15, 1917, written by Passen- out jar and inconvenience to the occuger Traffic Manager Chas. S. Fee, entitled "Four Big Points in PassengerCarrying Efficiency," and impress upon our engineers the very important part they play in the passenger-carrying efficiency. After the passenger department has succeeded in selling the ticket, the part that the engineer has to perform lies in smooth handling, which is one of the most important features of this branch of the service. Handling passenger equipment smoothly is certainly a science and every passenger engineer and prospective passenger engineer should give this important subject careful study. There are certain rules to follow as outlined in instruction books, but the personal equation, sense of touch and judgment figure largely in the passenger train handling, and the only way an engineer can become efficient is by study, practice and close observation of results. TAKING UP SLACK Quite often we hear the engineer say, "I had to take the slack four times before I got the train started." This is proof that he took the slack three times improperly, as his engine certainly was as strong the first time as the fourth, and the tonnage was the same in both cases. We also hear engineers say that on account of the high-wheel engines, it is impossible to start without jerking the train. It is a well-known fact that a low-wheel engine will start a train easier, but nine times out of ten, if a train is stopped in proper manner, with the high-wheel engines, it can be started in proper manner. The engineer that usually makes the complaint about the high-wheel engines generally handles nine cars stopping, he does not figure the time or more, and, when element in releasing the brakes before coming to a stop. He holds on a little too long and the head end gets released all right and the rear end has about twenty-five pounds pressure in brake cylinder at time of stop. This causes the train to stop with every bit of slack stretched out. Engineer tries to start and fails. He then takes slack on about three cars, or about to the rear of the smoking car, and tries it again, and probably starts, but there is a severe jerk in front end of train as the slack goes out against this stone wall, as it were, behind the smoker, and there is also a jar in rear portion of train, account of spring slack being all stretched out. If the mistake is made in not releasing early enough for slack to adjust itself, and it becomes necessary to take the slack, by all means take With a train of nine cars or more, on making water-tank stop, the two application stop should be made, slowing down at sufficient distance from water tank so brakes can be released and train allowed to drift, making the second application in sufficient time for train to stop at desired spot, with light pressure in all the brake cylinders, leaving brakes set until stop is made, following up with a ten-pound reduction to insure enough differential to get brakes released promptly. With stop of this kind, there will be no jar on train and it will not be necessary to take slack when starting. hold meritorious annual passes and Most of our passenger engineers travel to some extent when off duty, and should take advantage of this opportunity to study how the train is being handled and the method practiced by the engineer. Freight Rates as Compared to Enormous Cartage Costs. Is "We all know and talk about railway freight rates. We have a special Government commission to deal with them. They are the cheapest freight rates in the world with the possible exception of those in India. There is no nation that competes with us that would not rejoice to take our freight rates as they are without complaint and with great gladness. Yet we fuss about them a great deal. Meanwhile step out on the streetlook at the trucks that go by. Are they all fully loaded? the work duplicated? Is the well known principle of a heavy train load and a long haul in operation in the cartage upon our streets or, as a matter of fact, are we not duplicating, yes, in some cases, triplicating the work of cartage upon the very goods which we transport by rail so cheaply? It is, I think, the fact that it costs more to take a barrel from the warehouse to the railway in Philadelphia than it does to transport it from Philadelphia to Chicago. I rather more than suspect the cartage bill of the country is five, perhaps ten, times as great as the freight bill."-W. C. Redfield, Secretary of Commerce, United States. Sierra Fire Protection System Model of Efficiency This is the third of a series of brief articles showing the thoroughness with which the Company endeavors to safeguard its property from fire loss. This is the time of year when the danger of fire becomes acute, and when every railroad man should cooperate in "Safety First" measures. FIRE PROTECTION IN SNOW-SHED DISTRICT The problem of properly protecting the wooden snow sheds located in a heavily timbered section, where the camp-fires of sheepmen and cattlemen as well as hunters and campers in general, cause frequent brush and forest fires, has been very thoroughly covered. Special rules provide for the careful use of fusees, and no brush or combustible material is permitted close to the sheds. For the actual extinguishing of fires, four fully-equipped fire trains, each consisting of a locomotive and two water cars, are maintained. These trains are fully manned and always ready for an alarm. Due to the mountainous country, the problem of detecting fires quickly is a difficult one. Two separate alarm systems are maintained. One of these is a central office system, with office located in a reinforced concrete building at Summit station, with boxes at each mile-post through the sheds. These boxes are used as a watchman's detector system as well as for sending in alarms. The second system consists of regular fire-alarm boxes directly connected to alarm gongs at the fire-train stations. These boxes are located at points between the district boxes and are used for fire alarms only. All watchmen are required to report hourly by either telephone or district alarm system. OBSERVATORY TO DETECT FIRES In addition to the alarm systems already outlined, an observatory is maintained on a prominent mountain peak on the west slope of the Sierras, known as Red Mountain or Signal Peak, the summit of which is 7860 feet above sea level and about 2000 feet above the sheds at the nearest point. Mounted in the large windows of the observatory is a transit, in front of which is a map of the sheds, etched on a silver-plated copper plate, over which swings a knife-blade pointer attached to and coinciding with the axis From L. A. Benoist, Natchez, Miss., to L. P. Matthews, traveling passenger agent, Southen Pacific lines: "Prior to a trip that I made last year with was approached by you in the interest of the Southern Pacific route. At the time, I told you that from what I had heard, I though: I would rather go over any other way than this, owing to the intense heat and dust that prevailed. It turned out, however, that your The baseball championship of the general freight office rests with the team of married employes captained by J. H. Mahon, who subdued their single rivals in a terrific three-game my daughter and son to the Pacific Coast, I series. The final game was played at Golden Gate Park recently and resulted in a 25-to-10 victory for the benedicts. The first game resulted in a 9-to-8 victory for the family men, and the second struggle was won by the wifeless gentry, 10 to 11. In the deciding contest, Jennings, Coffin and Saunders formed the battery for the benedicts, and Segelleken, Knowlton, Cuneo and Clark were on the points and your road, that I should make a confes for the losers. The West Oakland Store Department, under William Hunt, defeated a picked team from Oakland Pier, 18 to 9. J. McAuley got a home run with the bags jammed. The West Oakland Store baseball Following is the score of the game O'Connor. Sinclair. Total AB R H OAKLANDIPIER AB R H 0 5 1 1 Marsh. 5 2 Young. 5 0 1 3 1 1 50 18 21 0 2 lines was decided upon as the one that the balance of our party was to take, and st therefore, found ourselves booked to go over your route. "I feel now, as a matter of justice to you sion of my ignorance, which was occasioned by to say that we had a splendid trip and enjoyed the unfounded prejudice that I had. I want it very much; the nights were cool enough to sleep under cover; we had very little dust, and there was but one day that we thought was service to Los Angeles from New Orleans. again, I will unhesitatingly choose your road." From John G. Shedd, president Marshal Field & Co., Chicago, to G. W. Wetherby, Southern Pacific city passenger agent at Pasa dena: "I am writing just a line to say that I ar rived in Chicago nearly on schedule time Sunday afternoon, after a very delightful trip. "I quite realize that the lack of any care on my part added much to the pleasure. You 1 2 had so efficiently arranged the schedule and it was so thoroughly understood along the line that it really relieved me of any care what ever. Will you give my kind regards to Mr. Watson and thank him for the courtesy ex 4 1 WEST OAKLAND STORE | SACRAMENTO SHOPS O'Connor. 3 2 2 4 0 1 4 1 Regan. Peckma. Total. Agency Changes tended by his office?" Texas Appointments Traffic Manager C. K. Dunlap announces the following appointments on the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway Company, Texas & 1 New Orleans Railroad Company. Houston & Texas Central Railroad Company, the Houston East & West Texas Railway Company, Houston & Shreveport Railroad Company: A. R. Atkinson, assistant general freight and W. C. McCormick, assistant general passenger agent, San Antonio, Texas: of the transit. On this map is located have been closed at the following freight and passenger agent, El Paso, every station, tunnel, bridge, mile-points; Portland division, at Halsey, Teigt post, signal box and shed opening. As Ore., Wilbur, Ore., Irving, Ore.; Los the shed itself is not in view at night, San Gabriel, Cal., Summerland, Cal., Angeles division, at Downey, Cal., a line is etched on the plate glass of the window coinciding with the actual line Tropico, Cal., Van Nuys, Cal., Wilof the shed and the location of a firemington, Cal., Monrovia, Cal., High in relation to the sheds is determined Grove, Cal., Anaheim, Cal., Lankerby its apparent location in reference shim, Cal., Arcadia, Cal. to this line. Western Union telegraph offices Hollywood, Cal., and Veneta, Ore., have been established as ticket agen cies. In addition to detecting actual fires which threaten timber lands or snow sheds and other railroad property, the observatory watchman keeps close You can make more friends through watch of campers and others from his your business than business through point of vantage. your friends. Care Would Have Avoided This. A supply man placed a lighted torch too close to a carbide generator, causing an explosion. He was painfully days' work. burned about the eyes, and lost two The use of trip passes has been prohibited on train No. 20 locally be twee. Oakland and Hazen, by order of Chas. S. Fee, passenger traffic man ager. P A VOL. V. ISSUED BY THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC COMPANY BUREAU OF NEWS SAN FRANCISCO, JUNE 1, 1917 Railroads Are Preparing For Task Of Meeting the National Need LL railroads are now actively engaged in preparing to carry out the mobilization plans of the Government. Fairfax Harrison, chairman of the American Railway Association's Special Committee on National efense has outlined in general the measures which the railroads will put to effect. No. 11 "Red Cross Week" Announced for June 18 to 25. The President of the United States, who is also the President of the American Red Cross Society, has appointed a War Council to handle the extraordinary demands for all kinds of relief work consequent upon the war situation. This War Council has set apart the week of June 18 to 25 as a special period when the American people will be asked to contribute libpaign of national scope. Those who cannot go to the front may feel, nevertheless, that they are doing their part by supporting the Red Cross. The general plan provides that Government interests shall have first all upon all transportation facilities. Public convenience is to be sub-erally in a great fund-raising camdinated to national need. By comning their resources the railroads a man's size job ahead of them, for on an to avoid duplication and render this basis of reckoning, approximately aximum service to the public and 78,000 cars will be required. e Government with the means at Portland's Rose Festival Will Be eir disposal. The railroads have not yet felt the fect of the Government's mobiliza on plans. This will come with the ovement of troops and supplies conquent upon the calling out of the 0,000 men to be drafted; the sumoning of the National Guard into ederal service; the concentration of e regular army, and the establishent of military "cities" throughout e land, equipped with railroad cilities. While train service necessary for e public needs will continue, pasnger train schedules will be adsted so as to release locomotives, uipment and crews for the more imortant business of moving troops and -pplies. Heavier loading and prompt lease of freight cars will have the me effect as increasing their number. These practices will also extend to cal conditions and the public may pect to see a revision of such train hedules so that local lines will likese contribute engines, crews and uipment to the national need. Some idea of the railroad equipent required for the movement of oops may be gained from a stateent prepared by Lieutenant Colonel hauncey B. Baker of the Quarteraster Corps, U. S. A. To move one field army of 80,000 These 6229 cars would include 2115 as the army plans to ove a million men, the railroads have Patriotic in Nature. Communicate with your local chapter or address Lyman L. Pierce, secretary Western Committee of War Council, San Francisco. Movements. Special fares have been named to Na New patriotic features will make the rise in the Court of Patriotism. The famous floral parade will be on the closing day of the festival. READ HOW SOUTHERN Be sure to read the news on Page Two that the Southern Pacific will assist its employes to buy Liberty Bonds. By buying a bond you will help the cause of Liberty for yourself, your family and your country. We know that Southern Pacific men and women are patriotic to the core. Let us help to pay the way of the men who go to the front to fight for us on land and sea. It's up to each one of us. C. J. McDonald, assistant superintendent of transportation for the Southern Pacific Company, has been named by President William Sproule as the latter's special representative for the Western Department in the special committee on National Defense of the American Railway Association. McDonald succeeds G. F. Richardson, Southern Pacific superintendent of transportation, who has gone to Washington as a member of the Commission on Car Service. Butte County's "Spring Show" Is Very Butte County's annual Spring Show drew thousands of visitors to Chico for the week that began May 21st. The Southern Pacific granted low fares during the festival, and maintained a bureau of information on the ground. The great agricultural and mineral resources of the northern counties were well featured. Care Would Have Avoided This. A train baggageman, arranging baggage for dispatch while approaching a station, stood a brass casting on end near the door in such a manner that when the door was opened the casting fell on his foot inflicting a bad bruise. Don't gauge the amount of work you ought to do each day by the activity of your fellow workers. Never mind how fast or slow the fellow next to you works. If he chooses to do as little as he can get away with, or less, that is his own funeral, and he will be chief mourner some day. |