ileposts Volume XI , No. 10 MAY, 1960 ' Milepost No . 130

Department of Public Relations WESTERN PACIFIC RAILROAD SACRAME NTO NORTHERN RY. TIDEWATER SOUTHER N RY . 526 Mission Street San Francisco 5, California Lee " Flash" Sherwood, Editor A. L. Lloyd , Associate Editor

The Zephyrettes were incurring big, losses when they mode this running meet at Merlin January WP asks to 15, 1959, after two milli.on miles of service. ' Milepost No. 130: On a special run, a discontinue probability most of the decline in pat­ Zephyrelte stops for ronage has been due to the increased photo by A. L. Lloyd, Jr. Trains 1 and 2 use of private automobiles by the traveling public. With the general im­ N April 22 Western Pacific filed provement in the interstate road sys­ FEATURES Page O application with the Interstate tem that trend will undoubtedly con­ Spring Foliage Frames California Zephyr Engine Near Belden...... Front Cover Commerce Commission asking for per­ tinue. In addition, the loss has grown steadily to alarming proportions WP Asks For Abandonment of Trains 1 and 2...... 3 mission to discontinue operation of local Trains 1 and 2 effective June 1, because of increased costs of operation Holiday Rail Tour...... 4 1960. each year, due primarily to increased How We're Doing...... 5 The railroad's action was not a hasty wages and payroll taxes. 25th Street Ramp Remodeled...... 6 one. The conclusion to ask for com­ The two rail diesel cars were placed First Prestressed Concrete Tie TesL ...... 11 plete removal of the trains was reached in service on September 15, 1950, re­ Promotions and Transfers...... 14 after many months of study. These placing the daily Royal G01'ge con­ Dear Editor: ...... 17 studies disclosed the fact that out-of­ ventional train which had been losing pocket losses from the operation have over $900,000 annually on an out-of­ WP Will Remember...... 18 increased steadily, amounting to more pocket basis. To make the tri-weekly In Memoriam ...... 19 than $254,000 in 1959. This was about Zephyrette service attractive for Mileposts in Gold...... 20 $100,000 greater annually than was the revenue passengers the railroad spent Caboosing ...... 21 loss from the trains' first year of opera­ considerable sums refitting the cars, Our Incredible $750 Billion Federal BudgeL ...... 29 tion. and incentive round-trip fares were also made effective. Railroad Lines ...... Back Cover Each year patronage has declined steadily and there is every indication After the first year's operation the that the decline will continue. In all trains showed a gross revenue of 34c

2 MILEPOSTS MAY, 1960 3 per mile and a cost of 88c per mile, had to make substantial cuts in the resulting in an out-of-pocket loss of budgets for road improvements, new How We're Doing $156,800. Despite continued efforts to equipment, and industrial develop­ The average load of the California 36 (about five miles west of Por tola) increase revenues and to reduce costs, ment. Thus, good judgment dictates Zephyr in March, 1960, amounted to is about 35% complete. out-of-pocket losses continued to that this $254,000 annual loss from 56.5% of the train's capacity. In March, mount. In 1957 the railroad lost the operation of Trains 1 and 2 can be * * * 1959, the occupancy ratio was 56.9%. small amount of mail which was being better invested for the benefit of share­ Two ballast jobs were commenced handled when the Post Office decided holders, employees, and the public * * * last month: two miles of track between Freight shipments in March showed to transfer the mail to highway service. alike, than by continuing this very Mileposts 876 and 878, about 65 % com­ increases in canned goods, perishables, plete; 3.75 miles of track east from Later, the Railway Express Agency large loss operation. decided to reduce its service by operat­ miscellaneous iron and steel articles, Milepost 870.25, also about 65 % com­ Western Pacific intends to continue products of mines, and paper and paper plete. ing only between Sacramento and Salt operation of the California Zephyr and Lake City. products. However, the effect of the * * * to maintain the top-flight reputation it heavier movement of those commodi­ Installation of the 6,200-foot car­ In the period from 1951 to 1959 the has achieved since it was first inaugu­ ties was pretty much offset by de­ cleaning and light repair tracks at cost of operation increased sharply, rated. On an out-of-pocket basis this creases in the movement of rock, sand, Stockton yard are about 96 % complete. primarily because of increased wages train does not make any substantial paid to the trains' operating crews, but gravel, lumber, certain steel products, * * * profit. Only 4% of the railroad's reve­ and automobiles and parts, and a lesser also because of increased payroll taxes. The railroad's 1959 Annual Report volume of Government traffic. For example, wages paid to enginemen nues come from passenger train opera­ was mailed to all shareholders on April (not includin g firemen) in 1951 tion. However, the indirect benefit * * * 13, and mailing to the employees will amounted to $51,000. In 1959 this out­ from operation of the California The relining with concrete of Tunnel be made early in May. ZephY1' can be very substantial. It is lay had risen to $70,000. Likewise, * * * wages paid to conductors and train­ the railroad's belief that the general March March men, plus the proportion of wages paid public tends to identify Western Paci­ RECEIPTS: 1960 1959 for express messenger service, rose fic, through its California Zephyr F rom our customers...... $4,651,031 $4,912,740 from $66,000 to over $101,000. In addi­ operation, as a modern, aggressive Other income ...... 48,779 43,437 tion, payroll taxes increased from railroad with exceptionally high stand­ $6,000 to $11,000. There seems to be no ards of service. EXPENSES: prospect that these wage and payroll Wages, payroll taxes, fringe benefits...... 2,381,166 2,300,258 costs will decrease in the future, and Materials, fuels, other operating expenses...... 1,390,590 1,160,372 in all probability they will continue to Other taxes ...... 329,144 596,982 rise. Holiday Tour Net rentals for equipment and joint facilities ...... 55,809 96,387 The Bay Area Electric Railroad As­ Interest and fixed charges...... 183,573 178,525 LL funds reinvested in W estern sociation will run a 2,900-mile special Miscellaneous ...... 35,755 39,295 A Pacific property must come from train tour over Memorial Day week­ operations. Many opportunities are LEAVING: end. The special will pass through available for reinvestment of these For improvements to property, seven Western states over Western funds which will help our railroad to purchase of new equipment, remain in a strong competitive posi­ Pacific, Union Pacific, Milwaukee, and payments on debts, dividends, etc ...... $ 323,773 $ 584,358 tion so that it may improve its freight Southern Pacific railroads. service to shippers, locate more in­ Equipment will include reclining­ dustries, and operate with improved seat chair cars, sleeping cars, dining Holiday Tour . . . fares will be honored by all othel' lines efficiency generally. The railroad has and lounge cars, and an open-end ob­ (Continued from Page 4) except Milwaukee. not had enough funds for reinvestment servation car. Fares, depending upon taxes and 10 meals served by WP din­ Schedule, fare, and reservation in­ to carry out all the projects which type of accommodation, will include ing car crews. P asses will be honored formation may be obtained from WP's should be undertaken. As a result, it (Continued on Page 5) over WP for employees; and half-rate public relations department.

4 MILEPOSTS MAY, 1960 5 The old slruclure­ The new structure­ built in 1909. buill in 1960.

Engineerin.g surveys were made by (I-r) Assist­ 25th street ramp remodeled ant Engineer Walter D. Klebo, Jr. Engineer AI· fred E. Adorns, Jr. Draftsman James A. Snyder. A NEW all- steel structure has re­ crete p latforms on which the new The structure was designed by WP's placed an old wooden gallows gallows frame and nO-ton counter­ engineering department. The frame frame and apron at WP's 25th Street weights rest," said R. D. Nordstrom, and hoist assembly were manufactured yard in San Francisco. The old struc­ assistant engineer bridges and struc­ by Moore Dry Dock Co., who also ture, built in 1909, was uneconomical tures. made necessary modifications to the to maintain and was in need of exten­ The new gallows frame, second-hand sive major repairs. During high and trusses to support the new timber trusses. These were installed b y low tides it was impossible to raise and deck, and the latest type electric oper­ Moore's sub-contractor, Kelly Bros. lower the apron sufficiently to permit ating mechanism for raising and low­ The piles were manufactured and in­ transfer of freight cars between shore ering the apron, are all of steel. The stalled by Ben C. Gerwick, Inc. All and the deck of WP's self-propelled frame rises 321h feet above the plat­ other work was done by WP crews. diesel train ferry Las Plumas. forms at the outer end of the new Dismantling of the old structure be­ "A unique feature of the project was 220-ton apron. The apron deck meas­ gan on February 29. The new $250,000 the driving of eight 80-foot-long pre­ ures 101 feet in length and 24 feet in replacement was completed March II. stressed concrete piles to support con- width, over which cross three tracks. (More pictures on pages 8-10.)

6 MILEPOSTS MAY, 1960 7 Opposite page: Gerwick Company's barge-mounted crane lifts 80- foot prestressed concrete pile from barge in 25th Street slip.

Right : Nordstrom, left, directs driving of prestressed concrete pile between wooden piles left in place. B&B Carpenter S. J. Davis watches progress from be­ lo·w, assisted by two unidenti­ fied workmen, above center.

Truck-mounted crane at left, owned by Kelly Bros., San Jose, Below: R. D. Nordstrom, assistant engineer, and Be low: M. J. Crespo, general B&B supervisor, is one of the largest Roadmaster Daniel J. Laughlin discuss project. ch ecks progress with B&B Supervisor C. A. Moser. of its kind on Pacific Coast. Long boom was necessary to per­ mi., crane to, operate from dock while apron was being dismantled. Gerwick's barge crane lowers pile driver leads into position.

9 Left: Kelly Bros. crane with shortened boom drops gallows frame over counter weights. Bull wheel, right fore­ ground, is one of two used to support main cable for lifting apron.

ESTERN P ACIFIC, simultaneously For the test, the railroad placed 45 of Below: One of two steel W trusses which were with two railroads in Florida, the ties under rails leading to the just­ positioned beneath installed during March a number of completed new ramp and gallows frame apron for rna;." support. prestressed con crete track ties for test at 25th Street yard in San Francisco Size may be compared purposes. This represents the first use with 6-foot workman (see pages 6-10). The location was walking along dock. of this type tie in this country, al­ suitable for the test since these yard though standard reinforced concrete tracks are subject to frequent and ties have been used by American rail­ heavy loads, and because it will per­ roads as far back as 1893. mit W P engineers to keep a close The feasibility of prestressed con­ check on performance. crete instead of treated wood for track The prestressed concrete tie used by ties has been under study by Western Western Pacific was designed by Ben Pacific for some time. Advance studies C. Gerwick, Inc., San Francisco, in revealed many favorable features. The conjunction with WP personnel. Con­ studies a lso left some unanswered siderable design and test data were qu estions. Among these were: type of also obtained from the Association of rail to tie connection, method for American R ailroa d 's laboratory in tamping t ies, techniques for handling Chicago where numerous tie design the 500-pound ties compared with 200- tests have b een made. pound timber ties, effect of car de­ The ties installed measure 8'6" in railments, track maintenance and, of length and vary in width to a maxi­ course, cost. These answers are neces­ mum of 12 inches across the bottom. sary before prestressed concrete track The top surface was canted 1: 40 from ties can be used in large quantities. each end toward the center to provide 10 MILEPOSTS MAY, 1960 11 the desired cant of the rails. On timber HE prestressed type of tie is made ties, rail cant is provided by sloping T by pouring concrete into forms rail seat of the steel tie plate. Spacing through which tensioned 3fs" diameter between ties varies to a maximum of high-tensile strength steel strands are 30 inches center to center, which com­ run horizontally. After the concrete pares with a spacing of about 20 inches has developed strength of about 5,000 for timber ties. This means that if the p.s.i., the strands are cut at each end. 30-inch spacing proves successful, two This transfers the tension in the steel Completed installa­ tion except for bal­ prestressed concrete ties can do the strands from the tensioning jacks to lasting; first four rows work of three timber ties. Three types the concrete. The internal compres­ of ties in foreground of rail fastenings were installed, one sion caused by this transfer of tension are wooden cross ties. with a machine bolt inserted through is maintained during the life of the tie. The 45 prestressed concrete ties used for the tie from the bottom; one using a Ben C. Gerwick, J r ., president of the test installation lag screw in a wooden-plug insert; and the company which bears his name, is were placed iust in another with a standard type threaded confident that, cost-wise, prestressed front of the timber concrete insert. ties will soon be competitive with those trestle, shown in the made of timber. "We are confident that distance just in front Closeup of ti e installation shows ti e design, of the new apron. various types of rail fastenings, and varied these tests will prove successful from spacing between ties. Black spots on e nd of ties a structural and operational viewpoint. is tar which covers the ends of the prestressed A competitive cost for these ties will steel strands to prevent rust. Placing tie plate be dependent on development of a is Track Worker Fred Pena, 11 years with W P.

mechanized production operation. We the United States. Similar piles were are now working on this problem with just driven at 25th Street yard in interested parties, and anticipate no waters of San Francisco Bay. difficulties in developing the machinery Though both the Western Pacific and to economically produce prestressed Florida tie installations are small in concrete rail ties," said Mr. Gerwick. scope, their performance will be "Development of mechanized produc­ watched with interest by railroad men tion for prestressed concrete ties is throughout the country. also leading us into mechanization of Because of the importance and time­ production for other prestressed con­ liness of WP's prestressed concrete tie crete products," he added. installation, color slides were taken of The use of prestressed concrete is the project on March 11 and rushed to not new on the Western Pacific. The Frank R. Woolford, the railroad's chief material was used in building the yard­ engineer, in Chicago. The slides were master's tower in Stockton yard, and shown to railway engineering officers not long ago Bridge 93 near Stockton attending the annual meeting of the was rebuilt with prestressed concrete American Railway Engineering Asso­ girders and piles. It was one of the ciation, of which Woolford has been first such railroad bridge structures in president for the past year.

12 MILEPOSTS MAY, 1 960 13 U rsul F. Bohne Wilbur S. Cope became district Promotions nd Transfers was assigned to sales manager at special duty in Was h i n g ton, traffic departments of the Burlington the railroad's la­ bor relations de­ D. C. , on April 1, and Frisco railroads, and became a partment in San succeeding J ohn Western Pacific employee in 1939 at P . Conger, re­ Omaha. He came to San Francisco in Francisco, b e­ ginning April 1. tired. Since N 0- 1941 and has been at Stockton since "Bill" is a na­ vember 1, 1956, 1945, most recently as sales represent­ tive of Oakland, he was general ative. bor n February agent for the Lindee is now completing his third Tidewater Southern at Modesto. 12, 1914, the son of retired Engineer year as Adult Education instructor and Mrs. James R. Cope. He is the Bohne was born at Hillsboro, Mis­ for the Stockton Junior College's grandson of the late William S. Cope, sOUl·i, on December 21, 1915. His first course in advanced traffic. a retired Wester n Pacific dispatcher. railroad service was with the South­ He is a past president of the Stock­ western Freight Bureau in April, 1937. "Bill" followed the family's railroad ton Traffic Club, a member of the Delta career by hiring out as a fireman at After serving for three years with Nu Alpha Traffic Fraternity, Stockton, Stockton on July 26, 1936. He was the U. S. Merchant Marine, Bohne and a member of the Modesto Elks promoted to locomotive engineer in became a Western Pacific employee on Andy Stene, left, and Bob Henders on congratu­ Lodge 1282. late each other on th ei.r respective promotions. February, 1942, and on January 1, August 28, 1950. His first position was When golfing together, Frank can 1955 was appointed road foreman of as chief clerk at St. Louis. Two years usually wrangle a few strokes from Andrew E. Stene became assistant engines at Portola. later he became traffic representative trainmaster at San Francisco on March his son, Kip, but he has a hard time "Bill" and his wife, Dorothy, cele­ for the St. Louis office, and on Septem­ 1, after completing a special training talking his way out of any advantage brated their 25th wedding anniversary ber 1, 1954, was assigned to the same he has to give his wife, Emilee. The assignment which began on June 16, position at Minneapolis. This was fol­ in December, 1959, and their family family are also fishing and boating 1959. includes one daughter , Donna, and lowed by his appointment as general enthusiasts. Andy was born at Stockton on April agent at Modesto. two grandchildren, Patrick Michael * * * 20, 1912. Following his high school and Colleen Rae Calloway. * * * education he became a student brake­ Robert A. Henderson, on March 1, Cope is Master of Grizzly Lodge No. Frank G. Lin­ man on May 2, 1936. He was promoted was transferred as trainmaster from 601, F . & A. M. , and a member of B en dee was ap­ to conductor on May 30, 1941, and was San Francisco to Salt Lake City. Ali Temple, Sacramento. pointed to suc­ local chairman for the Brotherhood of Bob was born at Glendale, Califor­ ceed Bohne as Railroad Trainmen, and the Order of * * nia, on July 7, 1911. He entered West­ district sales Railway Conductors and Brakemen. WilliamD.Eyre ern Pacific service as a brakeman on manager for the b egan duties as September 15, 1935. He was promoted One of his secret desires is to beat Tid ewater his wife, Helen, at bowling. "It's a dis­ road foreman of Southern. H e to conductor on July 3, 1939. He served engines at Por­ with the U. S. Navy for nearly four gusting situation," says Andy, "so then moved into his I try my luck at fishing." tola on April 1, h eadqu arters at years from December 14, 1941, and 1960. Modesto, April 1. upon receiving his discharge returned The family also includes a married Bill was born to the railroad as conductor at Portola. stepdaughter Frances, 23 ; a stepson, Lindee is a native of Omaha, Ne­ July 6, 1920, at Larry, 21-year-old Marine; 15-year­ braska. After a high school and busi­ He has been trainmaster since Jan­ Cowley, Wyo­ old stepdaughter, Charyle, at home; ness college education, Frank com­ uary 1, 1955, working first at Keddie, ming. H e attend­ pleted the three-year traffic course of then Milpitas - San Jose, before as­ and son, Lou, 9, whose pitching ability ed schoo l at the Omaha Traffic Club. He received signment at San Francisco on Novem­ as a Little Leaguer is being developed Cedar City, Utah, and began railroad­ his first railroad experience in the ber 16, 1958. by Andy. ing in June, 1937, as a locomotive fire-

14 MILEPOSTS MAY, 1960 15 man for the Kennecott Copper Com­ John began his Western Pacific em­ pany at Ely, Nevada. ployment in August, 1941, as locomo­ He first worked for Western Pacific tive fireman. After serving with the on November 3, 1940, as a fireman out U. S. Army in the mid-1940's, he re­ of Elko, and was promoted to engineer turned to the railroad as fireman in on October 27, 1944. 1945. Bill and his wife, Mona, have four Lusar entered the railroad's train­ daughters and two grandchildren. ing program in early 1958 and was r;})ear G11lor: * * * appointed road foreman of engines at Keddie on March 1 of that year. Jesse C. Currier, Jr., was appointed in enjoying the trip. While in the East road foreman of engines at Keddie, I Gifts appreciated we rode other fine trains, but none can effective April 1. Through Mn..EPOSTS, I would appre­ Coming Events compare with the California Zephyr. His employment with Western Pa­ ciate your thanking those responsible There is only one suggestion that I cific began on July 25, 1942, as iceman­ The following events have been fOt" the wonderful gifts presented to might offer, and I'm sure it is one you laborer at Portola. He worked there as scheduled for employees, their fami­ me by our Warren W. Brown, Perl E. have considered, the addition of a machinist helper in October and No­ lies, and friends: White, and Kenneth A. Rank from Slumber-coach to the train. "Friends of Western Pacific." vember, 1942, and next became brake­ Annual Golf Tournament, EI Campo I hope to have the opportunity to man out of Portola on December 23, Golf Club, Newark, June 4. The presentation was made on travel again soon, and you may be sure 1942. He resigned as brakeman on March 29 by friends at Almas Temple. Tennis Tournament, Golden Gate it will be by Western Pacific. September 8, 1943, and was re­ Park courts, San Francisco, June 11. J ohn P . Conger Robert T. McVay employed the next day as a fireman. R. D. No.1, Box 196 Bay Area Picnic, Little Hills Ranch, President, KRKC Currier entered the U. S. Navy in Lakehurst, New J ersey Danville, June 25. King City, California May, 1944, and returned to the rail­ road as fireman out of Portola on Western Division Picnic, Land Park, * * * * * * February 11, 1946. While cut off from Sacramento, July 10. Likes Zephyr best In appreciation the fireman's extra board he worked Eastern Division Picnic, Elko City I want to express my appreciation I wish to thank the many Western at various jobs in the mechanical and Park, August 20. for a wonderful trip to Chicago and Pacific people for the wonderful dinner operating departments, and became Bulletins giving full particulars are return last month on the fine California party given at Oakland on April 8 for relief clerk on December 31, 1949. He being mailed by Frank Rauwolf, per­ Zephyr. While I have been reading me and my wife on the eve of my re-entered engine service as a fireman sonnel department, San Francisco. commercials for the service offered, I retirement from the railroad. in June, 1950. In October of that year can say that mere words hardly do the There were people there from all he was recalled by the Navy for nearly Califomia Zephyr justice. W P departments, from several other two years, returning to duty as fire­ The $400 million a year in taxes paid by Class 1 railroads to state and local governments to The Vista Domes were just fabulous railroads, and many others, including man. He worked as signal helper for J support schools, police and fire prote ction, etc., and the views almost more than could Kaiser people. four months in 1954 while again cut 27 times the amount paid by intercity motor be captured on film. I shot more than I certainly appreciate this nice off and after returning to firing, was carriers; 63 times that paid by intercity buses; 36 Kodachrome slides just from the gesture and for the wonderful present promoted to engineer in May, 1956. He 80 times that paid by domes.;.c airlines; 400 Vista Dome. Service in the diner was I received. was appointed special operating as­ times that paid by regulated water carriers. all that was advertised, and the unique I will try to thank everyone in­ sistant at Sacramento on March 1, reservation system saved standing in dividually as soon as possible. Believe prior to his present appointment. Brooding ove r the possibility of a woman as me, when I say "railroaders" are won­ U. S. President, a New York Post columnist re­ line. The food was as fine as that * * * called tha t a Maine constitute n. o nce inquired served anywhere. For refreshments derful people, in particular those at John C. Lusar, formerly road fore­ of Republican Senator Margaret Chase Smith: the lounge car was convenient and Western Pacific. man at Keddie, was transferred to " What would you do if you woke up one morn­ quick. The trained Zephyrette an­ CHARLES G. TRYOR ing a nd found yourself i.n the Wh ite House?" Stockton with the appointment of Se nator Smith re plied: "I w ould apologize to th e swered all the questions, some before 3232 10th Avenue Jesse C. Currier. President's wife and go home." they were asked, and aided passengers Sacramento 17, Calif.

16 MIL EPO ST S MAY, 1960 17 -,;.~ ~;:;- WP Will Remember ~.;. . ..:: "Wh en a man has devoted a career to a n industry, he has ~~~~: . In MemorIam ).; truly paid 'hat industry the greatest compliment p ossib/e ./I -I:~~..;;... · .. -" ,-- -;;:-",;;r-~/.i",,"'>~ w. ';';"'-,.,...,. _ .", '-_-__..,..- o:.-::.~~< j/ In behalf of all employees of Western ArthU1' V . Hughes, machinist helper, Pacific and its affiliated companies, Portola. MILEPOSTS extend s sincerest best Louis F . McGa1Tah, water service wishes for future happiness to the foreman, Gerlach. Clarence R. Bmwn, retired messen­ following railroaders whose retire­ Perry G. Morrison, locomotive engi­ In behalf of all employees of Western ments have been reported: neer, Elko. Pacific and its affiliated companies, ger, F ebruary 21. Luis R. Perez, Tidewater Southern MILEPOSTS extends sincerest sympathy Cha1'les E. Evans, retired ground­ Oscar J . Burness, janitor, Oakland. track laborer, Modesto. to the l ove d ones of the following man, date unknown. William O. Cox, locomotive engi­ George Pettit, carman, Oroville. employees whose deaths have been J ohn D. Hughes, retired carman, neer, Oroville. John E. Roy, Sacramento Nor thern reported: March 18. John A . Norman, retired section la ­ Val W. Dycus, J1·., locomotive engi­ brakeman, Sacramento. Charles L. Anthony, yardmaster, borer, F ebruary 11. neer, Oakland. Albe1·t E. Sanford, locomotive engi­ March 27. neer, Oroville. John P . Bowers, retired telegrapher, Howa1'd L. Short, retired yardmas­ Dionosio E. Guzman, section laborer, Aage J. Stende1', section foreman, April 5. ter, March 26. Milpitas. Stockton. Edward Hennessy, division account­ Victor O. Swanman, communications Increased benefits for ant, Sacramento. clerk, San Francisco. John D. Conger • .. (Continued from Page 18) retired railroaders' w ives About 100,000 wives on the Railroad the newly opened office in Washington, John P. Conger retires Retiremen t Board's rolls received in­ D. C. , as general agent. creases in their annuities with their A railroad career which began in He was promoted to district sales June, 1912, ended in retirement on March 1 checks, covering payments manager on Januar y 1, 1959, having for F ebruary. The increases, which March 31 for John P. Conger, district charge of the Washington office and sales manager, Washington, D. C. ranged in amount up to $3.30 a month, territory which includes, in addition refl ected a rise in the maximum wife's During his 48 years of service, John to the District of Columbia, Maryland worked for five railroads, first as as­ annuity from $66.60 to $69.90. About and Virginia. sistant agent for the L ehigh Valley at 72,000 of the 152,000 women now re­ South Plainfield, New J ersey. In 1920 John missed leaving the railr oad in­ ceiving railroad retirement wives' an­ he was ticket seller in the P ennsyl­ dustry for a political career by a very nuities are paid $69.90 a month. vania R ailroad's consolidated ticket small majority of votes when he was The Board points out that this change offices in New York City. In 1929 he defeated for Mayor of South Plain­ is in accordance with the provision in was traveling passenger agent work­ field, New J ersey, in the general elec­ the Railroad Retirement Act under ing out of Texas & P acific's New York tion of 1928. which the maximum that the wife of office, and nine years later became H e has held memberships in six a retired railroad employee can receive general agent at New York City for John Conger, second from left, receives gi.fts railroad and two closely related as­ is 10 per cent more than the highest the Missouri & Arkansas. and retirement ce rtificate from Perl E. Wh ite, sociations, was president of the New amount that could be paid as a wife's sa les manager, eastern region, left; Warren W . York Passenger and Ticket Agents' benefit under the Social Secu rity Act. When Western Pacific opened its Brown, a ssistant vice preside nt; and Kenneth A. New York office, Conger headed the Ra nk, assistant sales manager, e astern region. Association in 1934- 1935, and on March Under existing l aw, the maximum railroad's passenger department there 18, 1959, was elected president of the amount that could be paid was reached as general agent, and about one year New Western P acific offices and J ohn Traffic Club of Washington, D.C., Inc. February 1, 1960. Therefore, the maxi­ later became general agent for both P . Conger must have had something in His home is located on R. D. No.1, mum railroad retirement wife's benefit passenger and freight departments. common, for in March, 1951, he headed Box 196, Lakehurst, New J ersey. also rose.

18 MILE POSTS MAY, 1 960 19 MILEPOSTS IN GOLD eaboosing MILEPOSTS congratulates the following railroaders who will be eligible for Service Pin Awards during the month of May, 1960: 40-YEAR PINS Beginning with this issue, MILEPOSTS SACRAMENTO Ralph E. Danielson _____ ... _ ____ ...... Storekeeper ___ . __ ...... __ ...... __ . ____ .... _____ ._ .. _.. __ A Oakland Howard R . Gaskins ... . ______. Electrician's Helper ____ ... __ ... ______... ____ ...... ___ .... Oroville welcomes two new correspondents, Verne D. Wilde William H. Wise...... Locomotive Engineer .... __ ...... Portola ROBERT J . MEAD and VERNE D. W ILDE. 3S-YEAR PINS We extend our sympathies to the Sam Deitz .. ______B&B Carpen ter.. ______B&B Gang No. 6 Bob, midnight bill and demurrage family of Dispatcher RAY VON HARTEN, Guy J. Hardy __ ...... Locomotive Engineer ._ ... __ .... __ .... _. . _Portola clerk at Milpitas, has been with the Albert S. Kasper ...... Manager, Purchases and Stores ..... ____ ...... ___ 8an Francisco who passed away at Portola on April Daniel J. Laughlin ...... ___ _ A' Road master _...... _...... _.. ______Oakland railroad since J uly, 1950. He will cover 11 after a prolonged illness. Likewise, B. Torres ...... Track LaboreL...... __ Sunol activities of Milpitas-San J ose em­ our sympathies to the family of Janitor 30-YEAR PINS ployees. Miguel D . Cobian ...... Section Foreman...... Reno, Nevada FRANK BALDWIN, who passed away in Joe A. Dotson .. _...... Blacksmith...... Oroville Verne, secretary to Superintendent Idaho on April 8. Glenn E. Fox...... Conductor...... Salt Lake City M. M. CHRISTY, became a WP employee Fortino Garcia ...... Store Laborer...... E lko MAXINE NAISBETT, president of th e Henry F. Stapp...... Brakeman ...... Portola in October, 1952. He will report activi­ Sacramento Chapter, Railway Busi­ 2S-YEAR PINS ties of co- workers in the western divi­ ness Women's Association, left this Joseph F. Hamer ...... Sales Representative. ______...... _____ . ElkoLos Angeles sion headquarters at Sacramento. Raleigh M. Judd ...... Locomotive Engineer .. month to attend the Association's na­ Henry Parrish...... Yardmaster ...... Portola 20-YEAR PINS MILPITAS-SAN JOSE tional convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Ernest B. Aughe...... Track Foreman ...... J ungo, Nevada Robert J. Mead Maxine, transportation clerk, has been George McDanieL...... Section Foreman...... Dunphy. Nevada elected District Director, District No.5, William A. Parker ______.. Clerk __ .___ .. ___ .______.______...... Sacramento Belated congratulations to PHIL Paul]. Readinger ...... Dispatcher ...... Sacramento HAZLETT on his new marketing division for the coming year and will be in­ IS-YEAR PINS stalled at the convention. Clayton W . D ·Arcy...... Machinist; MILEPOSTS correspondent..... O roville position as chief clerk at our sales office Angelina J . Domingo...... Clerk...... Elko in San Jose. Phil did a fine job as MILE­ Mrs. CLARISSE SCHMITT, stenog­ Betty England...... Clerk...... San Francisco Ruth Fulk...... Secretary-Bookkeeper...... Portola Hospital POSTS' correspondent for this area since rapher-clerk, will don jeans and a John D. Krause...... Brakeman...... Keddie plaid shirt when she and ARNO, general George M . Lewis...... Car and Derrick Foreman ...... Elko 1955, and we hope that his new well­ Anna M. Mitchell ...... Coach Cleaner ...... Oakland filled schedule will not prevent him signal maintainer, join Dispatcher and Annabell R anney ...... Clerk...... San Francisco Edna Spratt...... Registered Nurse...... Sacramento from occasionally advising us about Mrs. Lou JASKALA for a fishin' vacation Leon Wells...... Cook...... Dining Car Dept. at Trout Lake, British Columbia. John V. Wragg...... Tra veling Accountant...... San Francisco happenings of San Jose employees. Mary E. Wyatt...... Stenographer-Clerk...... Sacramento All of us w ho know Conductor W AL­ Terry Irwin, son of Chief Clerk and IO-YEAR PINS TER D AMASKE and his family were sorry Mrs. D AN IRWIN, was struck by an Dr. Glenn F. Cushman ...... Chie£ Surgeon...... San Francisco Frank B. Dignon ...... Switchman ______Oakland to learn of the passing of his father, automobile while playing in front of Donald E. Hart...... Section Laborer...... Glannvale. Calif. Otto Damaske, age 87. Mr. Damaske his home last month. After treatment Malvin J. Hurley...... Section Laborer ...... Burmester. Utah Henry N. Panchot...... B&B Carpenter.. ______. B&B Gang No. I had been living with his son in San for abrasions and bruises at Sacra­ Hans Pautke...... B&B Carpenter.. ______B&B Gang No. 4 mento Hospital, Terry was released to Albert W. Plaas ______. ______.... _...... _.B&B Helper __ .. __ ... ------B&B Gang No. I Jose, and Walt and Mrs. Damaske took Robert E . Roney...... Fireman...... Stockton his father to Toledo, Ohio, for inter­ private medical care and has fully ment. recovered. Nothing ruins a man's memory for faces li ke Out of every sales dollar received by the rail­ o ne of those plunging necklines. roads, 58¢ is paid out for wa-ges and fringe * * * benefits, compared wi.th 42¢ for mining; 321 for " Texas" Story Aren't you glad you w orked safely yesterday? communi.cations and other public utilities; and A man from Houston journeyed to Niagara he heard for the first time the thunde ring roar Tomorrow you'll be glad you w orked safely to­ 27¢ for g.eneral manufacturi ng. Falls and stayed at a hotel very close to the of Niagara Falls, then grumbled : " Daro that d ay. mighty cataract. J ust before retiring for the ni ght d ripping faucet."

20 MIL EPO ST S MAY, 1 960 21 STOCKTON The boat will sleep three, and has mond Pearson, Jr., are retired Train­ a refrigerator, stove and head. man and Mrs. R. J . BROWN, and Fire­ Elaine Obenshain man and Mrs. OVA PEARSON. Our best wishes and congratulations WINNEMUCCA Marlin Mitchell, son of Carman and to retired Switchman W ALTER V. Ruth G. Smith Mrs. FLOYD MITCHELL, was married GREEN and Mrs. Leota M. Tyson, who Mary Jo Stephenson, daughter of recently to Miss Billie Clure. They will were married in Reno on February 11. Telegrapher and Mr. W. L. STEPHEN­ make their home in Portola. Our deepest sympathy to the family SON, and Larry Morris, of Richmond, of Carman J . D. HUGHES, who passed California, were married February 14 SACRAMENTO SHOPS away March 18 after a long illness; and at the Community Methodist Church. Marcella G. Schultze to Brakeman H. E. RAYNER, whose The young couple are now living here We were all so saddened by the father passed away in March. while Larry is serving in the Air Force, recent death, at age 73, of ARTHUR B. Hostler Helper and Mrs. P. B. GOMES but will move to Richmond in June. Art Hughes, left, receives retirement gift from McNABB retired car foreman, and ex­ have adopted Lupe, age 8, and Jess, R etired Mechanical Department Clarence Crawford, representing lAM Lodge 644. tend ou~' sincere condolences to Mrs. age 11, children of Mr. Gomes' half­ Laborer HARRY MEALS died March 3 at McNabb. "Mac" had been a resident brother. The children arrived in the Mountain View, California. PORTOLA of Sacramento for 24 years, but his States from Juchipila, Zacatecas, Ray Stephenson, father of Tele­ louise Wilks final resting place is Spanish Fork, Mexico, and are quickly adapting grapher W. L. STEPHENSON, died in Al­ ARTHUR HUGHES retired March 1 as Utah. themselves to their new home. The buquerque, N.M. on March 17. machinist helper. BILL NIXON acted as At the March all-crafts safety meet­ Gomes' also have two sons of their Fireman DELPHI McDONALD was host for Portola Lodge No. 644, Inter­ ing, arranged by the Boilermakers own. graduated March 18 from nine weeks national Association of Machinists, at Craft, Safety Education Officer L. E. We wish the best to T. D. HUNTER, recruit training at the Naval Training a dinner given for Mr. and Mrs. Kelly of the California Highway Patrol who has resigned as road foreman of Center, San Diego, as an apprentice Hughes. During the evening Arthur gave a most interesting and informa­ engines to return to road service. At petty officer. D elphi is the son of En­ was presented with a Lifetime Pen and tive talk on automobile safety, recently the same time we extend a welcome to gineer and Mrs. C. F. McDONALD. P encil set from the Lodge by CLARENCE passed state motor laws, etc. Having Road Foreman JOHN LUSAR who has Fireman and Mrs. ALVIN C. SWETT CRAWFORD, president of the local lodge. such a well-informed outside speaker been transferred here from Keddie. are the parents of twin boys born Our deepest sympathy to the family created a great deal of interest among And, congratulations to J . C. CURRIER, April 3 at Humboldt General Hospital. of Yardmaster C. L . "TONY" ANTHONY, the employees, and was a desirable JR., who has been promoted to the They have been named Alfred J esse who passed away March 27. change from the routine monthly position as Road Foreman at Keddie. and Allen Henry, and are the second Proud grandparents of Thomas Ed- safety meetings. Brakeman JOHN C. GRAY recently and third children in the family, the launched Miss Bev, a 20-foot cabin other child being a girl. cruiser, which he has spent his L-R: Rita Burt, Ruth spare time build­ Wise, Jo Retto Burt, ing since Sep­ Engi.neers Bill Wise tember, 1959. The and Joe Burt discuss plans for their nine­ boat, 7% feet in country tour of Eu­ width, is built of rope. The Wises left % -inch mahog­ on March 26 and the any plywood in­ Burt family left April 13. They hope to meet side and out, and in London in May for is 100% glassed. tea and a review of Power is a 50- their respective expe .. h.p. Evinrude riences. outboard motor. 23 22 MILEPOSTS MAY, 1960 SALT LAKE CITY in H . R. COULAM'S marketing division which after comparing notes was quite in front of his home, was struck in the J. B. Price office in Salt Lake City. different from experiences found by real' by another and shot up the street St. Ambrose Catholic Church was The Salt Lake Tribune's Dan Valen­ MERYLE REIGNER during his calls in the about two hundred yards. The car that the setting on March 19 for the mar­ tine recently closed his daily column New England territory. They both struck AI's came out second best. Al riage of Arlene Hefferon and Burt "Today's Valentine" with the follow­ could have used skis- water and snow, is now riding in another car. L. "Bud" Curtis, Jr. Arlene is the ing: respectively. GEORGIA CHIN DAHL, purchase bill daughter of Conductor and Mrs. JAMES "A long-overdue Valentine today to clerk, also had car trouble. While driv­ W. HEFFERON. Sandra Hoxsey, of a Salt Lake man who has spread cheer SACRAMENTO STORE ing down Highway 99 near Galt, her Winnemucca, was the bride's sole at­ to thousands over the years. He is I rene Bu rto n car was struck by a hit and run driver. tendant. Nancy Martinson and Irene HARRY GIBSON, a spry 83, and a retired AL MADAN, chief clerk; CHARLES BRUCE STILWELL, LAVON ROBINSON, Ann Burton were the flower girls. The Western Pacific railroad conductor. He REID, stock control clerk; JASPER CHARLES REID, and IRENE BURTON at­ bridegroom's brother, Jack, was best holds the alltime championship for the GUARENO, purchase requisition clerk; tended the Northern Area Education man. Ushers were Gary Hoxsey, James number of visitations to patients in the and BRUCE STILWELL, storekeeper's Conference of the California Credit and Frederick Hefferon. Salt Lake Veterans Hospitals. His clerk; attended the International Foot­ Union League, held recently at the hobby is visiting veteran patients at printers Association Sacramento Hotel Senator in Sacramento. the hospitals and helping to brighten Chapter No. 34 annual trek to Folsom W P 's Winter Bowling League here their days. Prison. After dinner a variety show is closed and the winning team, the "He is starting his 10th consecutive featuring music, song, magic, and Switchers, was captained by our year of hospital visits, and to date h e comedy was presented by inmates of CHARLES REID . The remaining teams, has spent more than 7,600 hours chat­ the prison. and their captains finished in the fol­ ting and visiting with VA patients. Mr. AL DABBS, stock record clerk, has lowing order: California Zephyrs, DAN Gibson manages to spend two to three lost another cal'. His latest one, parked YNIGUEZ ; Coal Burners, MICKY PAN­ days each week visiting the hospitals. TALONE; Wigwags, A. MOLDENHAUER; A wonderful thing to do . . . and an Night Hawks, JOE JIRAL; Derailers, extra large Valentine to you, sir!" BRUCE STILWELL; Full House, ERIC BORG; Silver Planet, JOE LA MALFA. NEW YORK Winning team members were CAPTAIN James B. Hansen REID, BILL BOOTH, MARCELLA SCHULTZE, A gold-plated railroad spike resting CARLOS PRIETO, and ALBERT STADLER. on the desk of J . G. EDWARDS is quite an The Store Department did well in eye-stopper! The spike was an anni­ the sweeps with BRUCE STILWELL and versary gift for New York Traffic Club CHARLES REID winning first and second mid-town luncheon members. high individual game honors. CLAUDE A recent call to the Levittown, Pa., CRANE won the singles. fire department was no false alarm ac­ Burt L. Curtis, Jr., and his bride, Arlene. cording to Sales Representative CLAR­ ELKO ENCE W. BEADING, JR. Lots of smoke John l . Murphy Deepest sympathy to Conductor and and the clanging of bells were particu­ Engineer J . P. ECHEGON has finished Mrs. SAMUEL C. WILSON, whose home larly enjoyed by "Master" Beading, Jr. a long stay in the Elko County Hospital was saddened on March 9 by the pass­ who got his wires crossed and the seat and is now recuperating at home. We ing of Sam's father, Oliver H. Wilson. of his pants warmed. A new bathroom wish him a speedy r eturn to his seat We were also saddened by the death wall plug receptacle made things on the Califomia Zephy1'. of E. K. WEST'S wife, Opal Hannah normal. Weare sorry to hear of the death of West, who passed away on February JOE MASON got away from our cold, retired Agent JOHN P . BOWERS who 26 after a long illness. West is a clerk cold winter by vacationing in Florida, passed away in Salt Lake City on April

24 MILEPOSTS MAY, 1960 2S March 14 was Blood D onors Day in nie Weiland, son of Mrs. MILLIE WEIL­ Oroville, and the bloodmobile received AND. 198 pints of blood. Congratulations to We're glad to know that Trainman the donors for this fine support! CLAUDE STRAHAN is back at work on the Carman R. S. PATTISON returned first division out of Stockton. Claude, home after spending some time in St. and Trainman DICK BEAM from Stock­ Joseph's Hospital, and we hope Pat's ton, were recent visitors. health has improved. Our deepest sympathy to Mrs. Dick Engineer W. D . EYRE spent some time Beam in the loss of her sister, Twyla. in Oroville during his tr aining period CHARLES Too NELMS, manager of the before promotion to position as r oad Hotel Keddie coffee shop for more than foreman at Portola. eight years, has moved with his family Baggageman-Caller TbM W. FILSON to Winnemucca. Mr. CLARENCE ENG­ has been ill and was requested by his LISH r ecently purchased Keddie Resort Left to right: Patricia Esp inoza , 1958 Sweetheart Queen, Engi,neer William S. Bogue, Se lia Espi­ doctor to take a leave of absence for and has taken over the hotel and din­ noza, the 1960 Sweetheart Queen candidate, and about 60 days. ing room, which h as been beautifully the girls' mother, Waitress Betty Bogue. Mrs. Clyde Harris, wife of Machinist redecorated. Apprentice CLYDE HARRIS , gave birth We were sorry to learn that Train­ Iiams. Congratulations to the happy to a 7 -lb. boy at 2: 15 a.m. on March 12. man ED GROW lost his father, Bill couple who were married on April 2. This was just three hours after h er Grow, 90, who passed away April 1 in It was nice to visit with retired Con­ sister, Mrs. Lee Roy Harris, had given 5. Mr. Bowers was born May 24, 1882 Ashland, Oregon. ductor and Mrs. C. RAY THOMAS on the bir th to an 8-lb. boy. The fathers, in Salt Lake City and started his rail­ Welcome to JESS CURRIER, our new night of the Washington Birthday road career in the year 1897. His West­ road foreman of engines, and best of party in Elko and hash over incidents ern Pacific service began on September luck to JOHN LUSAR , who has been back through the years. Somewhere 30, 1940, and he worked several East­ transferred to Stockton. along the route when Ray retired, we ern Division points, mostly Garfield gave his seniority date as November and Wendover, until January 26, 1948. WENDOVER 29, 1919 instead of November 29, 1916. JOHN VLASAK, statistical clerk at Esther Witt Sorry. The Thomas' are enjoying life Elko, has accepted a place in the I.B.M. Retired Fireman and Mrs. JOHN P . to its fullest, with no crew caller to Training Program at S an Francisco. H e DOWLING were recently h ere for a visit distur b Ray. is currently receiving instruction in and to get their stored furniture. Since that phase of the business and h e has retirement they have been living in OROVILLE our best wishes. furnished quarters in Grand Junction, Helen R. Small Colorado, but have now found a home Clayton W. O'Arcy KEDDIE there of their own. Promotion for a former Oroville Elsie Hagen Our deepest sympathy to Switchman man, Robert N. Bennyhoff, son of F . Retired Engineer JOHN SMITH, his and Mrs. EUGENE T. LAVELLE in the N. BENNYHOFF, r oundhouse foreman at wife, RUTH G. SMITH, MILEPOSTS' cor­ death of Mrs. Lavelle's brother, Robert Keddie, was made March 15. His new respondent, v isited in Keddie with Faulkner, an SP conductor for 50 position is southwestern division man­ their son, Johnny, and his wife. years. He was str icken with a heart ager of United Press International. Children of three WP employees will attack at Wells while making a return HAYDEN J . CATES, steam washer at be high school graduates this year. trip to Ogden. the roundhouse, retired from active Joan Heckela, daughter of Engineer Laborer and Mrs. JOE HERNANDEZ duty February 17. Cates worked h ere BILL HECKELA; Johnny Shannon, son announced the m arriage of their niece for 14 years and will be 62 in ,Tune. H e of Engineer JACK SHANNON; and Ron- Mary Lou Hernandez to Leroy Wil- and his wife live near Palermo. "That's who. I call well .. stackedlll

26 MILEPOSTS MAY, 1960 27 Clyde and Roy, are brothers and this Condensed from an address makes quite a combination of in-laws Our incredible given at the annual dinner and birthdays. Our thanks to D. J . HANSEN, machin­ $750 billion of Tax Foundation, Inc. ist helper, for furnishing flowers for By MAURICE H. STANS our winter and spring affairs, and for Director, U. S. Bureau of the Budget brightening up the diesel office. Federal Budget CLAYTON D'ARCY, machinist, is one of seven candidates seeking office as NE first thing I have learned from government must pay to its own cred­ Butte County Supervisor from the O two years of experience with the itors, when private sources could do First District in the June 7 primaries. Federal Budget is that there are mis­ the job. Ed Tucker, field service engineer for conceptions as to what it really is. To W e perpetuate Federal programs G.M.'s Electro-motive division, re­ quite a number of people--who should which have long since met the objec­ tives for which they were created. turned to the plant at La Grange, Il­ Bill Paden, freight claim agent, left, presents know better- the budget is a predic­ linois, for what we trust is a well­ 40-year Service Pin to Leo J. Smith, freight claim tion of what Congress will spend. To Except for its dimensions, the Fed­ deserved promotion. Here for the past inspector. In background are David Skootsky, others, it is a kind of political mani­ eral Budget is parallel to a family's five months, we have accepted Ed as investigator; Ida Williams, camp'orneter opera­ festo. Still others assume that it is a budget-whatever is spent must some­ tor; and Dorothy Alderman, claim clerk. one of our regulars. John Miller, from self- execu ting control mechanism how be covered by what is earned. E.M.D., has replaced Ed and we have ment file clerk, was married April 10 which freezes the government's finan­ This simple idea, if understood by all, already benefited from his experience. to Miss Betty Sue Juds at the Church cial dealings for a 12-month period. would help dissipate the widespread Congratulations to the following: of the Good Shepherd. The newlyweds Finally, all too many people regard the delusion that in some strange way BILL RANDOLPH, machinist-welder, honeymooned in the Carmel area. Budget as a hopeless jargon of obscure when money comes from Washington promoted to night diesel foreman on ANN OSDOBA, passenger department, terms and figures designed for the en­ it doesn't cost anybody anything. the 11:00 p. m.-7:00 a. m. shift; and is enjoying a four-months' leave of joyment of economists and account­ Another difficulty is that we budget RALPH SHEPARD, promoted from mach­ absence to travel in the east and for a ants. for one year at a time, while we enact inist to roundhouse foreman at Keddie. trip to the Bahamas. If any or all of these conceptions laws which mortgage our future in­ MRS . IRENE MAVIDI (SOOHODOLSKY) were correct, the Budget would never come over many years, sometimes dec­ SAN FRANCISCO announced the birth of a daughter, fulfill the purpose of Presidential man­ ades. We are taxing current earnings George Bo wers, Doug Bruc e, Jean Bruce, Renee, on March 22. agement. It could not be a vehicle for to pay for many benefits and services Frances Courtney, Elizabeth Fagan, CHARLES BELL, consist clerk in the making decisions nor for expressing legislated in past years, while we go Lawrence Gerfing, Carl Roth, Frank Tufa. marketing division, was elected as public policies. on legislating new benefits and serv­ JOHN AMOS, freight pricing man­ president of the Young Adult Group In many ways, the Federal Budget ices without considering how we will ager, and Tux WADSWORTH, assistant of the First Methodist Church in San is today saddled with yesterday's pri­ pay for them when they come due. director of freight pricing, were among Francisco. orities instead of anticipating tomor­ 29 part-time and four retired part-time Word was recently received from row's. T ET me tell you something about the teachers of Golden Gate College Roy RODERICK, retired rate clerk in the We spend great sums on interest L shape we're in. The facts may honored last month by appointment to auditor of revenues office, of his plans charges on our national debt, but we shock you. the rank of Professorial Lecturers and for a month's guided tour of seven do not reduce the principal. Fact Number One: The Federal gov­ Professorial Lecturers Emeritus, re­ European countries. Since retirement, We carryon massive Federal pro­ ernment is piling up C.O.D.'s for the spectively. These ranks are conferred Roy is living in Los Angeles. grams which State and local govern­ future at an astounding pace. I'll men­ on the teachers from business and the TOM BEDFORD, retired re-check clerk, ments could do better. tion a few. professions who have served as in­ recently visited former co-workers on We devote large amounts of money It will cost between 25 and 35 billion structors for a total of 15 semesters, or the third floor, to tell them how much to farm price supports to reduce sur­ dollars to complete the interstate high­ a minimum of one semester per calen­ he was enjoying his retirement. Tom pluses, with the opposite results. way system after this fiscal year. dar year for 10 years. now lives in San Diego, looks hale and We lend money to benefit special Federal civil public works projects BERNARD MARTEN, marketing depart- hearty, and wel~ sun-tanned. groups at rates below those which the already started will require expendi-

28 MILEPOS TS MAY, 1960 29 tures of about eight billion dollars be­ billion dollars. Our unfunded present The President can veto; he can also for national security, interest on the fore they are completed. accrual for retirement benefits for ci­ be overruled. The really effective con­ public debt, and mandatory benefits The F ederal government is com­ vilian government employees is 27.5 trol is the responsiveness of the Con­ for agriculture, veterans, and the mitted to contribute 6 billion dollars in billion dollars. Future pensions and gress to the people, and their over­ needy. That leaves little room for dis­ the future for p ublic housing. compensation to veterans will cost whelming support is needed by any cretion or for cutting expenditures. In Merchant marine subsidies and ship about 300 billion dollars. The 290 bil­ President to wage a successful fight the absence of a genuine thaw in the replacement constitute a F ederal lia­ lions of current public debt, plus 350 for fiscal responsibility. cold war which could lead to a major bility of 4.4 billion dollars. billion dollars of future obligations for The President is not free to send to reduction in military costs, the only These and a variety of other obli­ past services, plus 98 billion dollars of the Congress a budget at any level way to cut back the level of the budget gations, when added to huge unex­ C.O.D.'s adds to the almost incredible starting from one dollar on up. Almost is to look to Congress to modify laws pended balances in the defense pro­ total of about 750 billion dollars. That 85 per cent of the annual budget goes that are already on the books. gram, total 98 billion dollars of com­ is the Federal government's mortgage mitments for future Federal spending. on America's future-beyond the reg­ Fact Number Two : Even if Congress ular annual costs of defense, welfare, National Transportation Week doesn't add any new programs, the and commerce. level of Federal spending is going to Fact N umber Four : Pressures for President Eisenhower has pro­ monthly dinner meeting. Chairman for go up. The reason is a catalog of built­ new spending pr ograms are increasing claimed the week of May 15-21, 1960 the evening is Anne Malfa, transporta­ in increases for programs such as outer in intensity. If you are troubled by an as National Transportation Week. It is tion department manifest clerk. In space, civil aviation, merchant ship­ 80 - billion-dollar budget, I can tell you a week designed to promote the entire addition to a featured speaker, one ping, urban renewal, science educa ­ that unless we hold the line now the field of transportation in an endeavor member of WTC will be selected as tion, medical research, public assist­ day is not too far distant when the to have the general public become "Miss Transportation." ance, loans to underdeveloped coun­ budget will rise to the 90- or 100-bil­ more cognizant of the importance of In recognition of the week, Anne re­ tries, and veterans' pensions. Interest lion-dollar range. In the last session of this industry to everyday needs and to ceived from Mayor George Christo­ on the public debt will run higher. The Congress alone, there were 20 major our national defense. pher a proclamation designating Na­ farm program will cost more and more spending bills introduced in the House, Two Western Pacific railroaders are tional Transportation Week in the City until we get realistic legislation. De­ along with 20 others in the Senate, for taking an active part in local events. and County of San Francisco. fense technology is putting increasing new programs which altogether priced The Sacramento Valley Transporta­ pressure on expenditures. For 1961, out to more than 326 billion dollars tion Club, Capitol Women's Transpor­ Inflation: State of affairs when you never had these built-in increases amount to be­ over an average period of five years. tation Club, and the Sacramento t.t so good or parted with it so fast. tween two and two and one-half bil­ If these bills were passed, they would Chapter of Delta Nu Alpha and Na­ lion dollars. There are practically no add 50 to 60 billion dollars a year to tional Defense Transportation Associ­ Answ erin g his doorbe ll , a man found a n old built-in decreases, because govern­ our present spending. ation, desiring to assist in bringing frie nd of his and a large d09 standing on the porch. HeOme in, come in!1! he said hospitably. ment programs are almost invulner­ While I don't expect anything quite proper recognition to the industry they Th e f riend a nd th e dog came in and the man able to reduction or elimination. A so extreme to happen, the fact remains represent, have set up a N ational sat down to chat. Meanwhile, the dog put the year ago, in his Budget Message, the that it is going to be harder each year Transportation W eek Committee. man's cat to fli ght, knocked over a bridge la mp President nominated 18 programs as Heading the committee as general and several knickknacks. and finally made him­ to hold off all of these pressures. self comforta ble on one of the best chairs in the being due for revision in order to chairman, is Robert L. Runge, district room. accomplish future downward adjust­ HE President can't cope with this sales manager at Sacramento. The When the g uest a ro se to leave, he w alked to ments in spending. Only three received T kind of pressure all alone. He can week's activities will be highlighted by the door and, finally, the host asked, with a attention by Congress. a dinner at Sacramento Inn on May trace of sarcasm, "Aren't you fo rgetting your limit the spending proposals of the dog?" Fact Number Three: Our present Executive Branch of the government, 18. The guest speaker will be A. T. liMy dog," exclaimed his ,guest. "1 don't hove national debt of 290 billion dollars and he can insist on efficiency of ad­ Heiner, vice president public relations, a dog. I thought he w a s yours!" doesn't include present F ederal lia­ ministration. But the power to legis­ Kaiser Steel Corporation, Oakland. bilities for past services in even greater late new programs, to authorize future On May 19 the Women's Traffic Club Money do esn/t necessa rily mean happiness. amounts. Our already accrued liability Ha ve you noticed th at a man with five million spending, and to appropriate funds be­ of San Francisco will feature National dollars is sca rcely any happier than a man with for military retirements is about 30 yond the budget, lies with Congress. Transportation Week at their regular four million dollars?

30 MILEPOSTS MAY, 1960 31 Sec. 34.66. P. L. & R. WESTERN PACIFIC MILEPOSTS U. S. POSTAGE 526 Mission St., San Francisco 5, Calif. Return Postage Guaranteed PAID San Francisco, Calif. Permit No. 5371 THE WESTERN RAILROADER. P.O. BOX 608. SAN MATEO. CALIF.

Form 3547 Requested

Southern Railway gets 750 I OO·ton aluminum gondola cars from Pullman Standard; country's largest lot of aluminum cars . • Bangor & Aroostock discloses plans to diversify into non.transport fields . • Finding highway kavel expensive and too disorganized, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus returns to the rails.

New York Central and U. S. Navy execute contract for hauling Polaris missiles by Flexiva!1; will result in tremendous savings to taxpayers.

Nearly 1,000 Atlantic Coast Line employees will transfer July I from Wilmington, N. C., to new headquarters at Jacksonville, Fla . • South African Railways experiment with transportation of petroleum products in collapsible rubber bags.

Illinois Central develops mechanical tree planters for reforestation project in southern Illinois.

Santa Fe using microwave link to transmit controls and indications for its Traffic Control System.

Steam excursions on the Reading in 1960 figure to repeat 1959's sellout performance.