Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1907 — THE RAILROADS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE RAILROADS

The Northwestern and St Paul roads will not have to pay Wisconsin license fees due prior to Feb. 1, 1899. The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided that the statute of limitations bars such collection. The Interstate Commerce Commission has announced the appointment of a hoard of experts to supervise and conduct experimental tests of block signal systems and other safety devices as provided for by the joint resolution of Congress. The officers of the Southern Railway have appealed to the United States Circuit Court in North Carolina for an injunction restraining the Legislature of that State and the Virginia corporation commission from putting into effect the reduced passenger rate of 2 cents a mile. This is the first instance in which the legal questions involved in the reduced rate laws have been brought before a high federal tribunal and will probably be the first to reach the Supreme Court for final adjudication. The Interstate Commerce Commission las reaffirmed the right of interstate railroads to operate separate passenger cars (or negroes, provided that accommodations be offered them equal to those intended for the whites of the same class. Commissioner Lane says that the reasonableness of regulations to segregate white acd colored passengers is established, but that It does not follow that carriers may discriminate as to accommodations. The decision requires that where a line is providing wash bowl and towels for first-class white passengers it must give the same conveniences to firstclass colored passengers. The complaint was made by Georgia Edwards against the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis. John H. Starin and two other members of the retiring rapid transit board of New York City have made known their intention of financing a company to construct a one-rail system of transit between Newark and New York City. It is to be a four-track system, operated at from 00 to 100 miles an hour, and is of the design invented by Howard 11. Tonis of Baltimore, a sample of which is now on exhibition at the Jamestown exposition. This •American monorail” has a car 47 feet long and a maximum width of 6 feet, tapering at each end. The car le supported on two trucks of two wheels each, tandem, and the wheels flanged ,on both sides, and the whole being maintained in an upright position by a combination of trolley pole and overhead support. The interstate commerce commission has announced the determination of the Department of Justice to prosecute practically every railroad company in twentysix States to recover penalties for violations of the safety appliance law. The recent conference of railroad presidents at Chicago resulted in an understanding favorable to ttu immediate adoption of the 2-cent passenger rate on all interstate business. This ie meant to be understood as bowing to public opinion, bat the lawyer* aay they expect no difficulty in knooking eat the 2-cent laws in the higher courts.