his fuel.

Enginemen should make a clear and concise report at terminals of all defects noticed during his run, and motive power officials should see that these reports are properly looked into and engine conditioned as quickly as possible. All of which brings us back to the beginning, that the greatest factor in fuel conservation, or any other conservation, is a general interest in the thing, and then, co-operation in all departments that are in any way connected with the movement of trains.

FINE AND JAIL MAY STOP DRIVERS AT CROSSINGS

The first ordinance in America making it a misdemeanor for autoists to drive over a railroad crossing when a wigwag or other automatic device signals that a train is approaching became effective in Contra Costa county, Calif., Dec. 16.

Following a series of fatal and costly accidents resulting from drivers' disregard of signals and warnings at crossings in the county, the board of supervisors unanimously passed the ordinance making such carelessness punishable by a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding six months, or both.

Automobile clubs and railroads are watching with interest the effect the ordinance will have in discouraging drivers from beating trains to crossings.

GOVERNOR LIKES S. P. DINERS

F. O. Lowden, former Governor of Illinois, thinks that the Southern Pacific dining car service is beyond compare. Mr. Lowden who has just completed a trip to the west on the Overland Limited was most complimentary regarding the Southern Pacific and the dining car service in particular.

TH

HE question has often been asked me: "What do you think of the loose leaf tariffs at the stations?" As far as the tariff inspector is concerned, it takes a much longer time to check loose leaf tariffs than other tariffs, as it is necessary to check each page. But from the standpoint of checking or quoting a rate the loose leaf tariff is the proper tariff for an agent, since every correction in a rate or item is shown on the one page, whereas if agents are required to look through a great many supplements as is the case with many tariffs now on file at the stations, they are inclined to overlook new rates which are often shown in a supplement in a small item and in six point type.

Some agents do not pay proper attention to this check sheet. It is necessary to check each correction with the check sheet, which is the only method whereby an agent will know that he has received all corrected pages issued to a tariff. If this check sheet is not used it is out of the question for an agent to know if his tariff is up to date. But if every correction is checked the agent will readily see that he has filed every correction received at his station. This will in most cases eliminate the large shortages reported by the tariff inspector.

Attention is directed to General Freight Department Circular 277, which provides the following paragraph:

"Agents should go through their tariff files weekly and remove such publications as are no longer in effect, and such of these as carry either Interstate Commerce Commission or State Railroad Commission's numbers must be retained in the office at least 30 days after the date of cancellation. This is to prevent premature destruction of

publications, which, in event of suspension or rejection of superseding issues by either the Interstate Commerce Commission or State Railroad Commission, it may be necessary to restore to the files."

This does not mean that agents are required to leave the cancelled corrections or supplements in their binders for two or three months, nor as soon as a correction or supplement has beer. superseded by a new one that the corrections or supplements should im mediately be taken from the tariff and destroyed.

As soon as the new corrections or supplements are received, those having an I. C. C. number on them should be listed on Form 6553 and all promptly and properly filed, the date of the new correction or supplement being shown on the cancelled corrections or supplements and same left in the binders until the date they are cancelled, at which time they should be taken from the binder and held in the office or warehouse for 30 days, or longer if necessary. When a large supply is on hand, having been held over the 30 days they should be bundled up and either given to the supply train or sent to the Division Storekeeper. This paper is valuable and should not be burned at the stations.

The cancelled corrections from loose leaf tariffs are cut up for scratch paper and used by all departments, while the tariffs and supplements that can not be used for scratch paper can be cut up to make packing.

Rule in G. F. D. Circular 277 does not refer to Passenger Tariffs. Agents' attention is directed to Rule 8 of Passenger Traffic Department Circular 3348, which reads as follows:

"When any tariff is superseded or cancelled it must be removed from the file after it is no longer in effect, and kept on hand until next inspection by Tariff Inspector. A tariff covering round-trip fares is to be considered as being in effect up to the expiration of the return limit of such round-trip ticket. If deemed advisable to retain cancelled tariffs after they are not in effect, they should be marked "Cancelled" and taken out of the binder files."

LONG TRAIN RIDE ALONE IS FUN FOR 8-YEAR OLD GIRL

Mildred Hartman, 8 year old Miss from Portland, was a guest of the Southern Pacific during the month. The little girl traveled alone from her home in Oregon to Chicago and New York. Through the Passenger Traffic Department careful planning was made for train connections and reservations. When Mildred left the train from Portland at Roseville to continue East on the Overland Limited she said she was "having an awful fine time and that all the railroad men were so nice."

Safe Housekeeping Is Remedy for Many Home Accidents

"My

ISS KAY SMITH, eighteen years old, of the East Side, went to the bath room last night to take some cough medicine. Instead she accidentally swallowed some iodine in the darkness. Her screams attracted the attention of a policeman who gave her an antidote and called a surgeon from St. Mark's Hospital."

This story appeared in a recent issue of a metropolitan evening paper. The next column contained a brief article telling of a little two-year-old boy who had obtained some matches from the table while his mother was out of the room. While playing with them, one became ignited, setting fire to his rompers and causing him to be burned to death.

Every day the newspapers of the country tell some new story, showing the results of unsafe housekeeping measures practiced in the average home. Many hazards exist even in well regulated houses, and most of us at times indulge in some careless practice while at home.

There is, for instance, the woman who stands on the rocking chair to fix the pictures or curtains, and falls. injuring herself. If she recovers, the doctor's bills are much higher than the cost of a good step-ladder would have been. Then there is the child who slips on the loose rug on the top of the stairs and is badly hurt, when a few tacks and a little time would have eliminated the hazard. Or the man who smokes in bed, "just to be comfortable", and sets the house on fire. Or the small boy who steps on a rusty nail and gets lock-jaw because someone left an upturned nail in a board or because his parents did not teach him to "turn down the nail". Or, again, the careless housekeeper who leaves the current on in her electric iron while she gossips with her neighbor over the back fence and comes home and finds her kitchen in flames. Or the person who receives an electric shock by turning on the electric light while standing in a bath tub of water Or the housewife who leaves a boiler of scalding water unguarded on the laundry floor for a child to toddle into, or the broom on the top cellar step for her laundress to fall over.

Innumerable accidents occur every day because parents and adults are negligent about providing the little devices which would save lives and money, or fail to teach their children, from early ages, the most important of all lessons-how to preserve their lives and limbs. The saddest part of it is that small children, who are too young to understand, or who have not been taught the hazards and who should be protected from falls, burns. scalds, etc., are in large numbers the victims. A study recently made by the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of the accident experience of its

on a Southern Pacific dining car Christmas morning found a spray of real English holly bright with red berries at his place. Attached to a spray was a card with Christmas greetings. The holly came from Oregon.

Cooperating with the Rotary Club, Southern Pacific trains stopped long enough at Auburn Christmas Day to allow the Rotarians to go through the cars distributing sprigs of Holly berries gathered from the neighboring hillsides of Auburn.

issued on safety in the home, gave the figures that 1,500 persons were burned to death each year and many thousands injured, many of them permanently from this cause. Every minute during the day and night there is a fire in the United States. The principal cause of fires in the home is careless use of matches and cigarettes, according to the National Safety Council figures.

T

HE first section of $3,000,000 worth of new passenger car equipment was placed in service DeIcember 19 when a new San Francisco Overland Limited left Oakland Pier for the East. New equipment for seven Overland Limiteds has now been placed in service, making this famous train over the Tahoe Route one of the finest in the world.

Departure of the new train from Oakland Pier was made the occasion for a christening ceremony participated in by representatives of civic organizations in the Bay district and by railroad people. Six young ladies representing California and Bay cities broke bottles of "juice" on the big Facific locomotive just before the train pulled out. The girls were: Janette Traynor, "Miss San Francisco;" Mary Clifford, "Miss Oakland;" Gloria Rasmussen, "Miss Berkeley;" Dolly Colglough, "Miss Richmond;" Elsie Frank, "Miss Alameda," and Grace Seaquist, "Miss California."

The best interior decorative art has been adopted in the new Pullman cars. Soft colors, such as rose, mauve, chestnut and light blue have supplanted the more glaring colors. Other features of the new train equipment in

WHISTLING COSTS $8,000,000 According to an article in Railway and Locomotive Engineering, it costs eight million dollars per year to furnish steam for all the whistles on locomotives in the United States.

clude larger dressing rooms, white enameled wash basins, "honey-moon" partitions between sections, as well as barber, manicurist, ladies' maid, shower baths, valet service and ladies' lounge.

SERVICE TO PUBLIC, TOPIC

AT L. A. MEETING

Representatives of various departments of the Company in Los Angeles attended a dinner meeting at the new Jonathan Club to discuss plans for giving still better service to the public during the coming year.

The hosts who arranged the meeting were T. H. Williams, assistant general manager; J. T. Saunders, assistant freight traffic manager, and C. L McFaul, assistant passenger traffic manager.

Each person present was called upon to take part in a general review of 1925 and to suggest means for advancing the interests of the Company in 1926.

Those present, in addition to the three officials acting as hosts, were:

G. E. Gaylord, superintendent Los Angeles Division; A. F. Bowles, superintendent San Joaquin Division; F. E. Scott, general freight agent; L. C Zimmerman, assistant general freight agent; J. E. Light, district freight agent; C. R. Smurr, industrial agent; L. H. Trimble, special representative freight traffic department; F. E. Watson, general passenger agent; Joseph Hellen, assistant general passenger agent; H. P. Monahan, district passenger agent; E. M. Brodgman, assistant freight claim agent; Edward H. Sharpe, assistant manager development; W. I. Gilbert, attorney; O. B. Schoenky, superintendent motive power; J. H. Lord, chief clerk to assistant general manager; C. L. Herbst, local freight agent.

"Why did Ikey invite only married people to his wedding?"

"Well, in that way he figured that all the presents would be clear profit." -Gottit.

It seemed that nearly all of the girls working in the General Offices were crowded into the tea rooms on December 22, when Mrs. Ray Eigle, clerk in the Auditor of Passenger Accounts Office acted as Santa Claus and collected gifts from all the girls for presentation to the patients in the Children's Clinic of the University of California at San Francisco. Each girl brought a toy colorfully wrapped in tinsel and ribbon. The gifts were dropped into Santa's sack. Miss Julia Evans, Gladys Harvey and Mary Harris arranged the benefit party and presented the gifts at the clinic.

ROADGAUGING of Lake Tahoe

BRailway and rebuilding of Tahoe

Tavern to a capacity of 500 guests and of a standard equal to the famous chalets of Switzerland, has been announced by Vice President Paul Shoup following recent approval by the California State Railway Commission of the 99-year lease of the little railway by the Southern Pacific.

Work on broadgauging the 15 miles of three-foot gauge track between Truckee and Tahoe Tavern will be completed before the summer tourist season opens next spring. Pullman cars on the transcontinental trains will then be operated direct to the tavern.

The tavern has been sold to the Lake Tahoe Company. a newly-formed corporation, which will enlarge and modernize the present establishment. D. M. Linnard, manager of the Fairmont and Whitcomb hotels at San Francisco, the Winthrop at Tacoma, the Samarkand and El Encanto at Santa Barbara, and the Huntington and Vista del Arroyo at Pasadena and the Arrowhead Hot Springs, will be in charge of management of the tavern.

Beginning next year the tavern will he kept open as a winter resort also. Plans include making Lake Tahoe one of the winter sports centers of America.

Scrapping of the narrow gauge Lake Tahoe Railway marks the passing of the last equipment used in development of the historic Comstock mines. The track and locomotives were once part of the nine miles of railroad which carried mine timber and fuel wood from Glenbrook to Summit, where it

was "shot" down a long flume to Carson City.

Following abandonment of the mines in 1898 the narrow gauge railroad and equipment was taken across Lake Tahoe and relaid on its present site. It commenced operating between Truckee and Tahoe Tavern in 1900.

The little mogul type wood-burning locomotive No. 1 operating between the Southern Pacific mainline at Truckee and the tavern, now has an indefinite future. It is one of the oldest Baldwin-built locomotives in service today and is known by the tavern guests as the "cord-wood express." Its use in the early development of the Comstock mines and later in the development of Lake Tahoe resorts, makes it of such historic interest to the Sierra region that the locomotive may be "retired" and placed on hibition on the tavern grounds.

ex

S. P. NEW ORLEANS BAND IS FEATURE AT LAFAYETTE

The Southern Pacific band from New Orleans was an attractive feature of the annual fair at Lafayette, during October and helped to make Southern Pacific Day unusually interesting. The band serenaded the newspapers and civic bodies of our Louisiana terminal and then, after participating in the S. P. parade through the city, gave a concert at the fairgrounds. Leader Harry Mendelsohn and his talented boys made a most delightful impression upon our friends at Lafayette and the large crowd of visitors at the exposition. Texas-Louisiana Lines Bulletin.

CONDUCTOR SCHWAB RECALLS SHASTA DIV. HISTORY

Some interesting historic points regarding Shasta division are called to attention by Conductor W. Schwab, of Oakland, who is preserving a clipping from the Oakland Evening Tribune of Monday, December 19, 1887, relating to the driving of the "last spike" connecting the Oregon and the California railroad lines. The newspaper report of the event states:

"The driving of the last spike on the track of the Oregon division of the Southern Pacific Company, by which the two states of Oregon and California were united by rail and by which the Southern Pacific Company is given a through route from Portland to New Orleans, was driven at 5:10 o'clock on Saturday afternoon (December 17). Charles Crocker held up the same golden spike that united the Union and the Central Pacific roads and with the same silver hammer in his hand, said: "I hold in my hand the last spike (Cries of "Hold it up!") With this golden spike I propose now to unite the rails between California and Oregon and I hope it will be the means of cementing the friendship of the two states and make them as one people."

"The golden spike," states Conductor Schwab, "was driven at Engineer's Station 1154:05 on east of right side of center line of track. (This point is about 100 ft. east of the present west switch at Ashland.)

"Shasta Division was discontinued about March 1, 1898, the line Dunsmuir to Ashland being added to the Lines in Oregon, and the line Red Bluff to Dunsmuir being added to the Sacramento Division. February 15, 1904, the line Ashland to Dunsmuir was taken away from the lines in Oregon, and added to the Sacramento Division,

"October 1, 1907, Shasta Division was again created, extending from Red Bluff to Ashland, and in August 1916, Shasta Division was extended from Red Bluff to and including Gerber."

PACIFIC ELECTRIC SUBWAY TO AID L. A. TRAFFIC

The new subway terminal of the Pacific Electric Company at Los Angeles was placed in operation December 1. The huge project which cost $4,000,000, will greatly relieve traffic congestion on certain streets in Los Angeles and shorten electric train schedules to Hollywood, Glendale, Burbank and San Fernando Valley points.

Total length of the subway tunnel proper is 4325 feet. The tunnel is 28 feet wide and 21 feet high, and is concrete-lined throughout, and steel reinforced. Double track through the tunnel and five loading tracks, makes the terminal capable of handling 30 cars at a time. The subway will permit the removal of 1179 electric cars from Hill, and Sixth Streets.

"Let us endeavor to so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry."-Mark Twain.

Tips to Typists

General Hints That May Be Helpful in Office Practices

This column is opened at the suggestion of C. C. Malloy, supervisor of office equipment and methods, and J. R. Powers, sup't. office, Los Angeles. Employes are invited to send in suggestions for better methods or "short cuts" in office practices. While all the hints this month are for typists, it is intended in future to include all phases of office work.

The Use of Capitals

A good rule covering the use of capitals is: When in doubt, don't. Modern tendency is to eliminate capitals except in those cases where usage decrees that they are absolutely necessary. A page of print or typewriting sprinkled with needless capitals presents an ugly appearance.

Special Notations

If a copy other than that for the office files is required and you wish to note for whom it is intended both on the copy and the office copy, but not on the original letter, it is not necessary to remove the papers from the typewriter. Just slip a small piece of paper over the original letter, between the letter and the ribbon, and type the name of the person or company. This saves time and confusion.

a

letter

Quotation Marks

Place a quotation mark at the beginning of each paragraph, but at the close only of the last paragraph of the quoted matter. Quoted paragraphs in should always be single spaced, even if the letter is double spaced. It also helps to identify the quoted paragraphs if they are centered, indenting five spaces at either end.

Practice Sentences for Speed

The following sentences containing all the letters of the alphabet may be used to increase speed in typewriting:

The black jury fixed up the question of prizes with the government. We dislike to exchange job lots of sizes varying from a quarter up.

Probably my oxen will haul a dozen loads of gravel just as quickly.

The job requires extra pluck and zeal from every young wage earner. Whenever the black fox jumped the squirrel gazed very suspiciously.

-Suggestions from "Remington
Notes."

ALAMEDA COMMUTERS HOLD ANNUAL XMAS JINKS

Southern Pacific commuters between Alameda and San Francisco staged a Christmas party on the ferry boat "Piedmont" the morning of December 24. The affair is an annual jinks. This year a caroling chorus of Elks joined the merry commuters. Harry Hammond, postmaster at Alameda, acted as Santa Claus and distributed 100 freak gifts to well-known San Francisco business men. C. T. Passeck is president of the club.

After

Once again we must report cupid doing his stuff. Eugene C. Keitel, station timekeeper, is the victim this time. Gene left for Evansville, Ind., November 21 with just the intention of seeing the old town (so he said,) but on November 30 a nice young lady said "Yes," so we now have her enjoying the sunshine of California.

The tide has changed again on the horseshoe field. Al Texara and Ed Smith are now at their best. It's starting to get monotonous watching them throw ringers. Jerry Garoutte and John Sherwood are improving greatly. During the last game with Ed Smith and Al Texara they scored one point. Not so bad, considering facts.

Any team desiring to try their luck with the famous Western Division team, address communications to Correspondent Western Division.

Eddie Wilcox, former chief clerk at Martinez, now has a berth at Oakland Pier in the Accounting Department. But from what Jim Williams has to say the ladies had better not smile at Eddie. He blushes something awful and we don't want that to hap

pen.

Sara Scanlon has recently joined the ranks of the Comptometer Bureau.

Ray Sanden recently spent a few days duck hunting but failed to bring home the bacon. No fault of Ray's because he never fails. Just no ducks, that's all.

Stanley Vizelich is back to work again after spending his vacation in the hospital. A fine place to spend a vacation, but he said he enjoyed it.

As a rule everyone in our office can smile but lately we have noticed the girls smiling a lot more than the married men and upon seeking the advice of Harry Gomez (famous for his views of life and his humor,) he gave this answer:

The girls smile because X'mas is near, And the married men not because X'mas is "Dear".

"COMFORTS OF HOME" ARE FURNISHED BY S. P. SAYS TRAVELER

Southern Pacific has another ardent booster in Elwyn D. Seaton of Santa Rosa, Cal., who wrote President Wm. Sproule in part as follows:

Even though the new 5000 engines and his seven fishing clubs are keeping him busy. we are glad to know that Jack Brennar hasn't forgotten us. For many years, the boys and girls of the Superintendent's Of fice have been favored with choice Christmas trees from Jack's pet acreage. But now that he has changed residence, we are wondering who will play Santa Claus this year It is rumored that the "safety man" is on Thomas Jefferson Foley's trail. Tom, our genial Trainmaster, is vacationing in the wilds of the Eastbay but we are still re ceiving the flat-tire expense bills-Dodge coupes can't always turn corners on tw wheels!

The boys at Mission Bay Roundhouse are sorry to learn that William J. Allen, night roundhouse foreman, in service since 1882 has been placed on the pension roll account permanent disability.

We were all sorry to hear of the death c Sid Levy, machinist helper who met with a serious accident recently which later resulted in his death. Mr. Levy was always active in safety matters and made many sugges tions which aided greatly in the safety move

ment.

A. S. Brainard, Trainmaster at San Luis Obispo, is on a two weeks' vacation looking up old familiar faces in San Francisco, his former hunting grounds.

We are glad to have Ethyl Inman, M. c W. stenographer, back with us again after a two months' sick leave.

Miss Josephine Tomasini, comptometer of erator, is on a sick leave of absence. We all hope for her speedy recovery.

It is gratifying to know that the Coas Division has gone through a thirty day period without a death to report from N vember 7 to December 7. Guess it's due t the healthy territory we work in!

Miss Mary Markowitz of the Accounting Department spent the Christmas holidays in Los Angeles, and motored to Tiajuana. Friends of Italo Lorenzi were sorry to learn of his death on December 8th.

CHANGES IN SAFETY COMMITTEEMEN

Sacramento Gen. Shops & Stores: J. L Mehling, truck builder, vice W. M. Bradley: R. E. Bellchamber, electrician, vice F. L Fargo; A. E. Potch, leading workman, vice A. P. McCarthy.

Walter S. McDuffie, tractorman. Western Division, vice Wm. Howard; H. E. Courter conductor, Stockton Division, vice G. J. Nel ligan.