Increasing Travel

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 1, 1903

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 29, No. 13.

Increasing Travel.

The prophecy of Daniel says that at the time of the end many shall run to and fro (Ch. 12:4). We are now living in just such a time, tho the application of this prophecy to the fact is doubtful. Mr. Kruttschnitt, of the Southern Pacific Company, gives a very lucid idea of the condition, in a recent interview:—

The problem of the most importance just now before the big railroad companies is how on earth to handle the railroad business that is being offered, both freight and passenger. It is almost impossible to get the necessary extra equipment. We are getting some locomotives that were contracted for a long while ago, and we expect the rest of the order to be filled in April, May, or June. Then we should have a total of 106 new locomotives with which to begin the fall campaign of 1903. The trouble is a lack of structural material. The big car factories and locomotive works are all overcrowded with work, and they are unable to get all the structural steel they need. We have built 4,000 cars at our Sacramento shops during the last three years. But in all the new-style cars the frame is of steel, and we have not the facilities for building such cars. We have made a contract for 125 first-class passenger coaches, which are promised before the 1st of August, so we may use them for the Grand Army of the Republic Encampment travel to San Francisco. We are putting up very large and extensive car shops at Los Angeles. They will be thoroughly modern in every respect.