gateway, so advantageously located that the Southern Freight Association, Southeastern Passenger Association, Southeastern division of the American Short Line Association, Southern Weighing & Inspection Bureau and Southeastern Demurrage and Storage Bureau are located here. Besides fourteen initial lines, thirty three foreign railroads maintain off-line offices here, as do ten steamship lines.

Importance of Atlanta

The offices of the traffic managers of most of the cotton mills are located in Atlanta. It is the southeastern sales headquarters of many manufacturers and distributors. There are forty firms and companies in Atlanta with industrial traffic managers. Some of these firms are quite widely known in their distribution; the Coca-Cola Co., for instance. The Traffic Club of Atlanta is a wide awake institution composed of members from both railroad and industrial traffic lines of work. The Chamber of Commerce has as its secretary a man trained by long service with one of the initial lines, who appreciates the value of good transportation and needs of the roads necessary to render such service.

The initial lines operate seventy passenger trains out of Atlanta each day, and bring in the same number. There are seven trains a day to Washington and the East, eight to Chattanooga and beyond, seven to Birmingham and beyond, four to Cincinnati and three to New Orleans. Eight trains go daily to Jacksonville, Fla.

These trains carry sleeping cars to fifty different points as far east as New York, west to San Francisco and Denver, northwest to St. Louis and Chicago and to all Ohio and Mississippi river points from Cincinnati to New Orleans inclusive; to all Atlantic ports south of New York, and to many intermediate points. About half these sleepers make one night runs, showing how advantageously Atlanta is located for reaching the whole southeast be tween the suns of two business days.

Atlanta is so conveniently located at this cross roads or gateway, it is hoped that many of our officers and representatives will stop off and make us visits when passing.

BOOKS ON CONSTITUTION OF U. S. IN S. P. LIBRARIES Twelve copies of the "Short Constitution," a recently published book explaining in a most interesting way the provisions of the constitution of the United States which guards the liberty and rights of the people, have been distributed to the railway club libraries and to the library at the General Offices.

A national oratorical contest on the federal constitution has been started by the leading newspapers of the country, which will be open to high school students. The country has been divided into seven districts, and each district into subordinate units. The winner in each major district will go to Washington to compete with the other six win

W

HEN Eric Von Stroheim, well known motion picture director and actor, was arranging locations for the filming of his picture "Greed," film version of Frank Norris's story "McTeague," he selected a section on the Western Division of the Southern Pacific that was familiar to him. In fact, Von Stroheim was well acquainted with every foot of Section 1, for it was there he served as track laborer and later as assistant section foreman during 1912.

Von Stroheim's Southern Pacific record gives his full name as Erick Oswald Hans Carl Maria Stroheim von Nordenwall. He was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1885. For six

ners at a meeting in June to be presided over by President Coolidge. Prizes of from $50 to $3500 are offered.

Children of Southern Pacific employes who may enter this contest will find the "Short Constitution" of assistance in preparing their addresses.

Made Good Use of Him A lady who kept a little curly poodle lost her pet and called on the police to find it. The next day one of the force came with the dog very wet and dirty.

The lady was everjoyed, and asked a number of silly questions, one being:

"Where did you find my darling?" "Why, ma'am," said the officer, "a fellow had him on a pole and was washing windows with him!"-Ex.

years prior to November, 1909, when he sailed for America, he was a second lieutenant in the Austrian Army, and during the Bosnian campaign of March, 1909, received a bayonnet wound and saber cut.

While in the San Francisco Bay district Von Stroheim renewed acquaintances of former Western Division employees particularly with Larry Bulger, ticket collector, San Francisco Ferry station, who was Roadmaster on Von Stroheim's section.

Several scenes of the picture were filmed at the 34th Street station in Oakland, exact location mentioned by Norris in his story, and on Southern Pacific ferry boats.

EDISON COMPANY TRUCKS STOP AT CROSSINGS

The Southern California Edison Company, cooperating for the prevention of grade crossing accidents, has taken a progressive step by attaching on the rear of each truck the notice, "This truck stops at all railroad crossings." It also requires drivers to conform to these instructions.

"This is an example in safe practices," says R. J. Clancy, Assistant to General Manager, "which if generally emulated would go a long way in solving the grade crossing problem."

Customer: "It's tough to pay 50 cents a pound for meat."

Butcher: "Yes, but it's when you pay 25."-Puppet.

tougher

Cited for Bravery

Henry Myers, left, and Fred Gundlach, commended by Chief of Police Drew of Oakland for courageous action.

E

NGINEER Fred Gundlach, employed on the East Bay Electric

Division, Oakland, and Henry Myers, passenger director at Oakland Sixteenth Street station are highly commended for bravery by Chief of Police James T. Drew of Oakland in a letter to J. C. McPherson, superintendent of the East Bay Electric Division.

Both men have taken an active part in capturing men who had been involved in two shooting affairs on the elevated portion of the company's electric lines at Oakland Sixteenth Street station. Chief Drew's letter to Superintendent McPherson, giving the details of Mr. Gundlach's and Mr. Myers' brave actions, is as follows:

"It gives me great pleasure to call your attention to Fred Gundlach and Henry Myers, employes of the Southern Pacific Company, and to commend them very highly to you as deserving of great credit for the assistance rendered by these men, and for the manner in which they risked their lives to save others.

"On November 26, 1923, Ralph Gacia shot and wounded one John Adams also Mrs. Amelia Adams and John Adams, three gypsies, on the elevated road, and said Ralph Gacia was held by Fred Gundlach until the arrival of the officers. Also, Henry Myers, who is handicapped on account of his artificial leg, was of great assistance to the officers in directing them to where the shooting took place, and in taking care of the injured.

"On Dec. 8th one Wm. Firebugh, who was armed with an automatic and S. & W. revolvers, was about to be arrested on the elevated road by Officer Ben Godkin, when he drew one of his revolvers and shot at the officer, missing him by a very narrow margin. The officer succeeded in overpowering him with the assistance of Fred Gundlach and Henry Myers.

"I believe that such acts as above reported should not be passed by unnoticed, and feel also that you will be pleased to have them brought to your attention that they may be cited for emulation by every law abiding citizen."

Cowslip

Teacher-"Take this sentence: 'Take the cow out of this lot.' What mood?" Pupil "The cow."-Denver Clarion.

G

ET rich quick propositions have no attraction for Mrs. Ella E. Swink, Southern Pacific Agent at Dundee, Oregon.

Mrs. Swink received a letter from a man in the eart, evidently a former railroad employe, who wanted to show her how she could make a lot of money in very little time, saying that he felt "in his bones," that he had "treed a big one" and that there was "great, big, quick money in the business" for Mrs. Swink. He urged Mrs. Swink to act quickly, for he knew she was a "live wire." The first part of his letter headed "Safety First," reads as follows:

The Offer

"Toot! Toot!-the sound comes nearer, you have given the clearance. With a rush and a roar, the great fast mail is gone in the distance. Just an every day occurence. You hardly give it a thought. You are a part of a great system that safely guides the profits into the pockets of others. For many years I have been a part of this same system, and after all, what do you and I get out of it? Just the right to exist, that's all. Is it not time that you and I woke up and claimed our just share?

"I know what it means to sit by a dim coal-oil lamp through the dark hours of the night, when the other part of the world is at peaceful rest. I know what it means to sweep out the little old dirty depot and waiting rooms, make out hundreds of expense bills, put up semaphore lights, etc., for I did it twelve hours each night for 15 long years, with a salary of from $45 to $60. Drag 15 to 20 mail sacks to and from the post office, sell tickets all over the country, then check a little short in the morning, which was caused by trying to accommodate all the passengers and sell them a ticket in a rush. Your loss -no one but you! I know what it means to copy 19 and 31's with the office full of trainmen talking and raising sand with the 'DS.' I have been all along there. I know what it all

means.

The Reply

But Mrs. Swink declined the offer, and this is what she wrote:

"Your circular letter received, and somehow it struck up a chord of sympathy; perhaps so, because through it all it carries a vein of patriotism to the good old railroad company.

"I notice your slogan, your starter, in fact all your points that you expected to carry weight were borrowed from the Southern Pacific Company's "Stock and Trade." It must be, that after all, you realize that it is a pretty good sort of medium to carry remuneration to its "faithful followers" of which I am professing to be a "ring leader."

"I love my work. I find the "office grind" which you portray so vividly,

only a stepping stone to better things -a kind of character builder so to speak, for somehow like Horace Mann, I feel the ploughman that turns the clod may be a Cincinatus or a Washington or he may be a brother to the clod he turns. And somehow, good humoredly, I catch the vision of the bigger opportunity. I've set myself in the house by the side of the road and am a friend to every one who passes and shows a willingness to respond. And after all there is no investment that pays larger dividends than mine, and unlike the wild cat schemes of Get Rich Quick promoters, it requires no capital to set the "wheels in motion."

"I might add that I, a woman weighing 110 pounds, do all the work relative to handling one of the Southern Pacific Company's Gold Medal Stations, i. e., carrying mail sacks, hauling baggage and express trucks, polishing stoves, washing windows, sweeping floors, selling tickets and billing freight and at odd times, slashing off the right of way, adjacent, to improve my station grounds. And also, that from my wage earnings I have laid by a comfortable sum, not to insure myself against want in old age, for I foresee no such dire calamity as decrepitude, for like Bernhardt, the love of my vocation will serve to keep eternal the crystal springs of youth until the end, but that from my storehouse I may add pleasure to lives less fortunate than mine.

"My slogan, as yours, is Safety First. My watchword too 'Up and Doing.' I am a live wire.' The open road is mine. I have the right of way. There is no sidetracking, head on collision in sight for me. I have no 'meet order' for you and from my station on the 'look out' I am handing you a 'High Ball.'"

no

E

A. W. Flanagan, left and W. R. Birt, recently promoted superintendent and assistant superintendent, Telegraph Department.

A

NDREW W. FLANAGAN has been promoted from the position of assistant superintendent of telegraph to the superintendency of that department. W. R. Birt, formerly telegraph and telephone engineer in this department, has been promoted to assistant superintendent of telegraph.

Mr. Flanagan has served in many capacities, mostly with the construction forces, ince first entering the service of the Southern Pacific and Western Union Telegraph companies in 1899. In 1901 he took charge of the telegraph outfit on which he was formerly employed as apprentice, later. serving as foreman of

construction

forces until July, 1905, when he was assigned to a division as district line

man.

Later he was again put in charge of an outfit and engaged in construction work until the latter part of 1908. It was during this period that his gang had to work under the guard of a squad of soldiers to protect the Southern Pacific men from attack by Yaqui Indians while working on the Company's lines in Mexico.

From 1908 to 1914 Mr. Flanagan worked in several branches of the telegraph department and during 1914 was appointed telephone inspector of the Southern Pacific and in 1915 was promoted to general line supervisor. In 1916 he was promoted to general foreman and in July, 1922, came to the General Office as assistant superintendent of telegraph.

Mr. Birt first entered railroad service with the Northern Pacific in 1895 as telegrapher at Portland, subsequently serving as telegrapher at Missoula, Montana, and in the Western Union Company's service at various places in the Northwest and in San Francisco and Sacramento.

He entered the service of the Southern Pacific in May, 1900, as telegrapher in the dispatcher's office at Sacramento, and was promoted to train dispatcher in 1904. He came to the General Office as third wire chief in 1906: was promoted to system electrician of telegraph department in 1910, and became telegraph and telephone engineer in 1915.

P

ACIFIC System of Southern Pacific Company did a good job of railroading in 1923. It intends to do still better work in 1924.

Southern Pacific set a more difficult goal in efficiency of operation last year than even that set by the American Railway Association for the railroads as a whole. And Southern Pacific bettered that goal in every instance with the exception of the tonnage per car load, that exception being due to the heavy proportion of light loading perishables carried over our lines.

Now General Manager J. H. Dyer has announced Southern Pacific's program for 1924. In brief it is this:

"Beat last year's record. Let the record for efficiency for each month of 1924 beat the record for the same month of 1923."

This is the spirit of Mr. Dyer's announcement as made in a letter addressed to superintendents February 2, which reads as follows:

on

Following i record of Pacific System performance for year 1923, compared with Pacific System and American Railway Association programs outlined in my circular of May 11, 1923, to Agents:

entirely practicable provided it be kept in mind by everybody that costs of train delays more than offset economies made possible by heavy loading.

"As both the load and speed of trains offset the gross ton miles per train hour result, the accomplishment of above program will doubly improve the train hour product and afford a substantial reduction in wage and fuel costs per gross ton mile."

Southern Pacific's operating performance has been uniformly good, showing steady improvement from year to year. So in setting out to beat last year's record, a high mark has been set. But with Southern Pacific men and women working together in the way they have done in the past. on December 31, 1924, we will, no doubt, be able to look at the record and find that we have accomplished what we have set out to do.

SIXTEEN SAFETY MEETINGS

DURING JANUARY

During January, 16 safety committee meetings were held, attended by 609 safety committeemen and visitors, and at which 626 safety suggestions were discussed, 17 papers on accident prevention read, and reports received to the effect that 5,170 employes had been talked to individually by safety committeemen on safety matters. Talks at the meetings were made by the following:

Sacramento General Shops and Stores, Machinist G. E. Glick; Coast Division Terminal and Shop, Roundhouse Foreman, J. Jensen; Stockton Division, Trainmaster W. S. Joy: Los Angeles Division, Ch. Dispatcher J. A. Day: Sacramento Division, Conductors C. M. Troxel and J. B. Lesh; Los Angeles Gen. Shops and Stores, Blacksmith David Morgan; Salt Lake Division Ter. and Shop, Trainmaster B. D. Richart; Coast Division, Trainmaster J. D. Brennan; Tucson Division, Gen. Foreman E. J. Kunsman; San Joaquin Division, Asst. Supt. J. C. Goodfellow; Portland Division, Engineer W. G. Burt; Steamer Division, Asst. Supt. G. C. Williams; Shasta Division, Water Service Supervisor J. B. Duncan; Salt Lake Division, Chief Dispatcher R. E. Beach; Western Division, Carpenter R. Rouse.

Supervisor of Safety J. B. Monahan talked before the Coast Division Terminal and Shop, and Sacramento and Los Angeles General Shops and Stores Safety Committees.

Mrs. Jones: "Yes, John, as I was saying, Miss Blank has no manners. Why, while I was talking to her this morning, she yawned eleven times."

neers since 1912, and in acting as the Southern Pacific representative in the Oakland Joint Pole Association he was twice elected and is now serving his second term as president of that body, the membership of which is comprised of all of the pole using utilities operating in the bay region, the steam railroads being members as well.

Mr. Birt has held membership in the American Institute of Electrical Engi

Old Jones: "Perhaps, my dear, she wasn't yawning-she might have wanted to say something."-The Sidney Bulletin.

"W

HEN the mantle of responsibility falls upon a man he is clothed with a new power. Instantly he gathers new potentialities, new capacities. Nor is this exceptional. If not a possession of all, it is at least that of very many of us."

This truth-a quotation from a President of the United States-applies not high alone to those elevated to the places of the world. It applies to the line of work average man in every when opportunity places bigger responsibilities upon him.

There is nothing miraculous about it. The strength and capacity which are often SO suddenly manifest are developed as an inner sturdiness through a long period of previous endeavor. They become evident only when the greater opportunity opens.

And, too, the "mantle of responsibility" is not flung blindly into the mob. It is usually quite carefully placed on the shoulders of the man qualified to wear it.

Annual Burden of Taxation Falls on

Peoples' Industry and Savings

How the country's growing burden of taxation affects people in all walks of life is indicated in the following extract from the address of Vice President Shoup before the first western regional conference of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States at San Francisco, January 29:

TAXATO today. The tremendous expenditure of public moneys

AXATION is the most important question before the Ameri

is appalling. The burdens of war we cheerfully accept. For those who have incomes above a few thousand dollars per annum the war will never be over, but it is now especially desirable in view of this necessary burden of taxation that we examine carefully the gains derived from other public expenditures as against the new burdens of taxation imposed.

The lamp of experience should be used to light our way as never before. Our county and municipal expenditures in this country doubled in seven years, increasing from $1,214,000,000 in 1914 to $2,460,000,000 in 1921. Our state taxation grew in greater ratio, increasing from $333,000,000 to $1,126,000,000, or 238 per cent. Our Federal taxes increased from $682,000,000 to $4,903,000,000 in that same period, or 619 per cent. These annual burdens are a tremendous tax upon industry and upon the savings of our people. In 1921 these direct taxes aggregated $8,489,000,000, or more than $200 annually for every person able to engage in productive effort in our country.

You can illustrate this burden in another way if you will apply it to any large business organization with its thousands of stockholders. In the case of our largest western railway company, during the last six years the Federal Government has collected taxes in excess of the dividend payments of any one year. These taxes, it must be remembered, are substantially in addition to and of different classes from those paid prior to 1915.

Pertinent Paragraphs

"The man leaning against the lamp post may be conserving his resources, but he is not rendering any service to society."-President Sproule, quoted in Salt Lake Tribune.

ever

"Nothing worth gaining is gained without effort. You can no more have freedom without striving and suffering for it than you could win success as a banker or a lawyer without labor and effort, without selfdenial in youth and the display of a ready and alert intelligence in middle age."-Theodore Roosevelt.

of the stupidity of his helpers, of the ingratitude of mankind, nor of the inappreciation of the public. the public. These things are all a part of the great game of life, and to meet them and not go down before them in discouragement and defeat, is the final proof of power."-Elbert Hubbard.

"An ideal transportation system could be described as one which furnishes prompt, adequate, and efficient service to the public, at rates that are reasonable and will permit that free exchange of commodities essen tial to a prosperous commercial life; pay all employes sufficient compensation to live and rear their families under civilized standards of living, and return to the owners of the property held and used in the service of transportation a fair compensation, based on the value of such property. This result is the aim and purpose of the Transportation Act of 1920."-James C. Davis, Director General of Railroads.

"The head that holds the idea that the owner is a raving beauty isn't troubled with any other ideas worth mentioning."-Exchange.

BOARD OF INQUIRY REPORTS PROVIDE OBJECT LESSONS

The following reviews of Board of Inquiry reports show the causes of accidents where they could have been avoided by a greater degree of foresight or attention to duty:

cars derailed in

Derailment-5 freight extra 3735 west, resulting in an expense of $2,340, due to brake hanger breaking on freight car, permitting brake rod and lever to drop down and act as derailer when it lodged in switch. Brakeman saw fire flying from underneath car in train and accident would no doubt have been avoided had he taken steps to immediately stop his train and ascertain what was wrong. Derailment-3 cars derailed in freight train No. 254, resulting in an expense of $1,830, due to wheel breaking under car. Fire observed flying from under car and train brought to stop. Failing to find car from which fire had been flying, conductor perImitted the starting of train, with result that recurring sticking of brakes overheated already weakened wheel and portion of wheel broke away. A little more persistency in endeavoring to find source of trouble would have avoided this item of loss.

Derailment-3 cars derailed in extra east 3639, with a loss by damage to property of $5,495, resulting from wheel breaking under car account overheated by brake shoe friction.

Derailment-4 cars in extra west 2820 derailed by run in of slack following emergency application of brakes resulting from bursting of air hose. This air hose was in poor condition and should have been changed out at time car was on repair track undergoing some heavy repairs shortly before accident. Had care been observed in going over the car the hose would have been replaced and an accident, costly and dangerous, would have been forestalled. Loss sustained $2,750.

Derailment-as engine 2292 of mixed train 601 reached a point on 10 degree curve at which broken tie was in track, thrust against outside curve caused slight spread of rails sufficient to permit left back driver to drop inside rail. Track had been subjected to unusually heavy traffic and a knowledge of this fact should have prompted a more careful inspection to guard against just such condition as maintained.

Collision-head on collision of passenger and freight train, resulting from a lapse of attention in handling train order on the part of an operator and dispatcher. Operator failed to deliver order and dispatcher failed to detect omission of order from clearance. Loss by damage incurred was slight due to diminished speed of trains involved and this factor alone is responsible for avoiding what might have been a deplorable result of inattention to service and duty.

Public Opinion

General Newspaper Comment On Transportation Subjects

"Is it good business to keep a legitimate industry in a free country in constant fear of its future with threatened legislation?"

-Everett (Wash.) News.

"There's nothing the matter with the railroad law except that it hasn't ruined the transportation companies, is the obstructive Progressives' idea."

-Pittsburgh Gazette-Times.

"The country is faced with a choice. It can get the railroad facilities it requires if it will check and subdue unwarranted agitation which is put in force to please the vanity of political regulators. It cannot get these betterments if the open season against railroads remains an all-the-year-round season."

-Alameda (Cal.) Times-Star.

"The railroads, as Mr. Kruttschnitt points out, are in no different position from the farmer. They must adjust themselves to conditions. They have done so, ne says, and will get along pretty well if there is no mischievous tinkering with the laws governing them, which would necessitate the making of a fresh start."

-San Francisco Chronicle.

"Federal control of the railroads and the six months guaranty period after the end of federal control will cost the people of the United States $1,696,000,000, according to estimates contained in a report to President Coolidge by James C. Davis, director general of the railroad administration. This record should at least cause the taxpayers and voters to hesitate before adopting any of the numerous public ownership schemes proposed for both state and national governments."

-Placerville (Cal.) Republican.

"Huge trucks with enormous loads, trucks bigger than were expected to come into use, are pounding Oregon highways and the streets of cities to pieces. They are 5 per cent of the vehicular travel, but they do more damage to highways and streets than all the rest of the vehicles combined. Can the people afford to build roads that can stand up under these enormous loads just to enable the owners of 5 per cent of the traffic to save 75 cents or a dollar a day in wages?".

-Oregon Journal.

"Somehow it seems nearly impossible for thousands of fairly intelligent men to realize that most of the hardships or difficulties or handicaps in question would be just as harsh for Governmentowned railroads as for privately owned railroads; that profit and loss are just as real and just as important in a public as in a private business; that each

COURTESY AND RESPECT TO PUBLIC IS URGED

By E. J. FENCHURCH

Assistant G. F. & P. A., Tucson, Ariz.

The following statement by Mr. Fenchurch on importance of courtesy and respect in dealing with the traveling public was recently addressed to agents and ticket clerks of the Tucson Division and Arizona Eastern Railroad Company:

I

HAVE just received advice that the president of a large manufacturing concern in the east called at one of our ticket offices and, without making himself known so as to bring personal influence to bear, requested of the ticket clerk certain accommodations. The ticket clerk was very courteous and did everything possible to comply with this gentleman's request. After the latter's return to the east he advised our representative that after his experience with this ticket clerk he realized that the Southern Pacific appreciated the value of courtesy and service; that up to that time he had not favored the Southern Pacific with any of his traffic, but that thereafter he would change his methods and favor our lines with part of his busi

ness.

I am using this to emphasize how important it is for all of us to treat the traveling public with courtesy and respect; that the appearance of the aplicant should not affect our attitude to ward him; that any passenger traveling over our railroad is entitled to the same measure of courtesy and respect and it should be borne in mind that one can never tell how far-reaching courtesy and helpful treatment will go in the way of making friends for our lines and the future use of our facilities, both for passenger and freight transportation.

On the other hand, discourteous treatment, or an indifferent attitude is just as liable to have the opposite effect; therefore, let all of us make our first order of business the treating of the public in such a manner that it will always consider the Southern Pacific a synonym for service and courtesy, and it should also be borne in mind that it is not sufficient for us to treat the public in the proper manner, but at any time any Southern Pacific employe does not do his share in this respect, he should be put straight. It must be the aim of all of us to treat the public pleasantly and well and by so doing we will realize a deeper degree of satisfaction in knowing that our work is well done, which, after all, is the best satisfaction there is.

comes to pass, as if by economic law, regardless of who or what is hurt or helped; and that from a nation viewpoint a railroad system that loses money costs the nation just as much whether the loser be a company or shareholders or the multitude of Federal taxpayers who meet the deficit. -Geo. Wheeler Hinman in San Francisco Examiner.