Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-06-21
Indianapolis az point for the Manu-
facture and Repair of Locomotiv es.

indianapolis is called the "Railroad City y"
of the West Seven roads, already in opera
ton, concentrate in one great " Union Sta
tiOn," within the city. Three more In portant
roads, the Junction, the Evansville, and the
Indiana and Illinois Central, are also in con-
struction, and are intended To unite with the
other roads in indianapolis
Yet we believe there is not single loco
motive repair shop at indianapolis. The
Cincinnati road does what repairs it has done,
at Lawrencebnrgh; the Madison road at Mad
sOn; the Jacksonville road at Jacksonville;
the Bellefontaine road at Union; the Terre
Haute road at Terre Haute, the La Fayette
road at La Fayette, and so on The seven
roads already running into the city have an
aggregate length of five hundred and ninety
FIVE miles. Each of these roads is of such
length that each engine may pass entirely
over its whole length at a single trip thus
coming to indianapolis every other day at
least
Fully equipped, these roads will work two
hundred engines The repairs on these en-
gnes will average three hundred thousand
dollars yearly. These repairs would give
employment to full four hundred men. and
would open large market for materials.
Of course, these aggregates would be the
same if the present repair shops should be
kept up where they are. But besides the
advantages to indianapolis in adding directly
some two thousand to her population, and
open a new market for materials, we believe
the several roads, and some important bust
ness interests would be benefited, if all these
repairs were done at indianapolis.
We do not presume to represent the feelings
or opinions of any parties in this matter, but
state merely our own convictions.
Were these repairs done at Indianapolis,
either in two or three, or in seven shops, a
cheaper and more reliable market for materials
would be opened. Iron, copper, steel, coal, and
stores would be supplied on better terms. A
steam forge, tube works, spring works, a
tire bending and welding shop, foundres,
bolt mills, lamp shops, brass finishing shop,
and other similar works, would be likely to
be established Just think what n saving
these would effect in freights commissions,
and other charge To road purchasing
twenty FIVE thousand dollars worth Of repair
materials yearly, the saving would be fully
equal 90 the interests on shops costing fifty
thousand dollars
Then the competition between the differ
ent master mechanics would be more spirited
and valuable. They would see each other.
observe each others plans and systems, and
improve materially, wherever Improvements
were possible.
The old scrap, castings, copper, etc, pro
duced by these shops, being easy of collec
ton, would be worked up to advantage,
where much Of il would be lost as the shops
now are.
1 So, too, the establishment of these repair
shops at Indianapolis would secure to that
city first class locomotive shop. This
would open field for investments in that
city, equal to 100000 in the whole. We
do not know that our ideas will ever be real
lied; but looking to indianapolis as it is, we
see no reason why it should not be- Colburn
II. n. -4isooafe " T.