New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-11-08
rAILROAD STATYsTTCS.

vssted) but the daily operations, Tie army oi mon
sn ,oyed the amount Of power used, the number ana
strength Of the locomotives the number and unnage
sfE.sA and pssse ger cars, and the effect tha. rail-
roads have upon the country.
We were forcby struck with this in witnessing the
ease With which 80 900 10000 people were conoen-
tated at the late fair at Elmlrs which led into
train Of reflection and inquiry; and nov we propose
70 offer few Illustrations upon this great subject by
IN exhibit Of the New York and Erie road, because
ks one Of the losges single roads and largest cor
Dol atoms in the world and at present is pro oaoly
dong g1es'er amount of business in freight than
any other road Of the same length ever built.
Bot more than all were we United TO learn the facts
now given TO the reader, from accidentally hearing
talk among the officials, at the great headquarters OF
this amy by which we learned that they could ten,
at every moment Of every day, where every iocomo-
live and every was upon the road, and "hether
they we're in service in cnary, at the repair
chops, or whether If moving who was moving them,
and which way, and whether they were loaded or
empty.
II did seem to us q sort OF knowledge that must re-
uuiIe title spiritual agency, but we found it only
required The agency Of rules and dscip inc, and per-
kct order Of business aided b. the telegraph That
was o the spiritual agency.
Then we asked leave to look al the books and then
all was plain--aL explained
There are near 900 cars and over 200 locomotives
now in use on the road
Yhcse are all regularly numbered, and by those
numbers entered upon book on the LEFT side Of
pa,e which is headed with the dates one, two three
four, &C., of oil the days in month. Then al the
stations are numbered and known by the numbers
Now, suppose want 10 fod or follow the progress OF
ear No. 2lG7 from station number one, which
is Fremont through TO DuDkirk, which lie num-
Der seventy -four. Suppose the agent at Dun
link writes 70 inquire why certain freight has not
been forwarded. The agent here replies it has been;
it was loaded, Sept 7, al Pieimon in car No. 2lG7
Then where il that car glance at the book shows
Opposite No. 2l67, under date Sept. 7, we fnd the
figure !. That shows that this particular car was
there that day. 1t must have left in the evening" be-
cause we End no other number unde' that date; but
CD the 9Th we find by the numbers entered that it was
at bali dozen other stations.
We follow up the numbers till we find on the 9th 1t
was at number thirty four, which stands for Sus-
quebanns, and there stands car No 2l67. What ISL
doing there We refer to telegraph re3ors Of that day
and find that John Smith, conductor Of train No. -,
arrived at this station this morning, and the exam
liner found the axle Of forward trucks Of car No.
"2,ls7 defective and very dangerous Switched out
for repair"
That is oil right but why has it no: been switched
in again
Click, click, click goes the telegraph, and back
comes the ansver:
"Car No. 2,I67 repaired same day, and Peter
Stokes ordered TO put in night train west Re ,os
that he understood east and sent it that way an hour
since.'
Cik, click click, again, and csr No. 2,l67 goes
about face at the neat station and Peter Stokes is
deed up TO the superintendent office, and then, on
satisfactory proof that the order correctly given
and wroDgfully executed be is discharged.
So every car can be closely tracked, and every act
Of carelessness ascertaned and corrected the in
stMt.
Every car is no. separately reported a. each station
bu, every train il; sod in another ,ok there is
cord of every train started with every car ard con-
tents in the train and what locomotive, aud who is
the conductor and engineer; and how much each car
weighs, and how much weight it is loaded with and
how last runs and how much costs per un perme
10 draw the oad and fany are added on the road
II is known when and where and fany are left when,
ard where, and why If any one leaves loaded cars
where he should not he will be likely to be left off of
the p,y roll, and if he don't take on and haul cars
when ordered he will be hsu'ed up a. the station
and ordered TO give his train in charge Of another
and upon that depends its safety
Bat the reader, doubt not, before proceeding far
.her would like to glance at the history of this road
In 1898 the legislature directed survey of State
road from Lake Erie 10 the Hudson river. through the
southern tier of counties, but nothing done but
tslh un til April, 1892, when the NewYork and Erie
railroad company was chartered. De Witt Clinton,
Jr, UOited States engineer, made survey Of the
route and in August, 1888, the company organized,
With Eleazer Lord president.
IL 1884 another survey was made by Benz smin
Wright, and in 1885 the company was reorgauzed,
with James G. King president, and over two NIL ions
ofstock subscribed and contracts made for the most
difficult par: along the Delaware river.
In making surveys it was ascertained that the road
could not be built without crossing the Pennsyvsnis
line, except at an expense beyond the means of the
company. Notwithstanding the very great benefit it
would be to that part of the State touched by the road
the ea ouy Of some Of the politicians, that it would
benefit New. York more than Philadelphia, prompted
that sta TO refuse the application except upon con-
doD that the company should pay the State the enor-
nous roD Of $4,000 year for the privilege Of cross
ing her line and cutting through some rocky noun.
tains.
Necessity compelled the company TO submit to these
conditions, almost hard the rocks they had TO cut
through where they traverse that State along the jag
ged points of rocks that jut into the Delaware river.
Almost equally hard the restriction placed upon
the company by the Legislature of New-York, by
which they were confined TO the State at the eastern
terminus Of the road, instead of passing into New.
Jeney and reschng this city by the shortest route,
CleApesf nst raj