Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-02-28
The New Albany and Salem Rail-

cult as ia that portion from ths Ohio. and the
Wabash. with means so deficient as were
those at command, certainly is one Of the
most extraordinary financial exploits of the
age. A we'll known gentleman OF Putnam
county used to say, facstiously, in speaking
of the Bellefontaine. the Terre Hante, and
the New Albany roads, that the first was
p4Fed through, the second cln'sed through
and the third coared through. We doubt
whether any other man in America, than
JAMES BRooKs. Of New Albany, could have
got the New Albany and Salem road through,
from the Ohio to the Lakes at the time, and
under the circumstances.
The road was first intended and run from
New Albany to Salem. about 80 miles. Ar
rangements were afterwards made 60 extend
it by degrees to Bedford, Bloomington, Cos
port, Greencastle, Charlottesville, Lafayette,
and finally TO Michigan City on the Lake
The country from New Albany to Greencas-
lie, distance of nearly 150 miles, is, for
railroad building, the most difficult in the
State, il not the most difficult in the West.
The east and west branches Of White river,
large streams, and difficult to bridge, and
great many other smaller streams, have to be
crossed. The whole surface Of the country
is rough. aboundins in hills valleys, bluffs,
and rayines. High embankments are re-
quired, and difficult rock-cuts are frequent.
From Greencastle to Lafayette, a distance Of
some so miles, the country is still a hard one
for railroad, but less so than south Of Green
castle. From Lafayette to Michigan City
the country is one of the finest in the world
for rail-roading. The road runs for GO miles
on line perfectly straight, longer distance
without curve than we have ever heard of
on any other railroad
The road is not yet really finished. The
grade is made, the rails are laid, aud the cars
are running, but tho company have not been
able to command the time, the force, and the
means of graveling the bed and fencing the
road, both of which must be done before the
cars can run with their natural speed and
certainty. The company also need greater
supply Of locomotives than their present
available means enable them to furnish. The
north end of the road, however, from the
Wabash to the lake. is we'll finished and
well furnished, and doing large business
When the company shall have had time to
finish and furnish the road the entire length,
as they are using every effort in their power
to do, the road will be one of the best and
mos. important, as it is much the longest in
the State
Though failures OF connection often occur,
and accidents sometimes happen on this road, /,
vet to one who considers the difficulties the
managers of the road have to encounter, aris
ing from the unfinished condition of the bed, !,
the deficiency of rolling stock, and the amount
of business required to be done. it is matter
of surprise that the trains make so good time
and meet with SO few accidents as they re-
ally DO. AS few accidents, involving the
personal injury of travellers, have happened
on this road. in proportion to the length, as
on any road in the West. The company
make il rule to employ for engineers and
conductors, the best men their means will
enable them to command. With the engine
ers we have no personal acquaintance, but
the conductors are uniformly gentlemen
! A moro pleasant agreeable and accommoda-
ting corps of conductors than VIC have uni
( formly found on this road, we have never
/ found. and never could desire or expect TO
! find, any where. The president is making
every effort in his power to put, and keep the
road, in all its departments. in order, and il a
little patience be exercised By those interested,
! the time will come when the Importance,
value, and efficiency of the road will be fully
developed.
The traveller from the Ohio to the lakes,
over this road, will see every variety of seen
cry characteristic Of the western country.
The surface Of Floyd, Washington, Orange
Lawrence and Monroe is diversified by hills
valleys, and streams. Owen, Putnam and
Montgomery present rolling tracts of highly
cultivated farms, and densely timbered for.
ests. Tippecanoe, White, Pulaski, StarkC
and Iaporte offer to the eye of the traveller
most beautiful variety of grove and prairie
As you leave the Wabash, and ascend to th'
table lands on the north bank. you are a
once in the midst Of Grand Prairie, stretch
ing away illimitable to the West. As yo,
descend from this prairie, which has its cul
: mination at Mudge's Station. the road run
along the head waters of the Monon, over
country too level and wet to please the eye
II, however you leave the line of the road
and go West, you will soon find yoursel
again in the midst of beautiful groves, ant
high. rolling prairies. As you proceed to
wards the Kankakee you may be, if you OBJ
serve not carefully, deceived in your estimate
of the country. You see along the line of tn
, road frequent marshes. and you imagine tina
the waters Of the river overflow the Who'll
country. But short walk, either east o
( west, will open to your view a beautiful
: country, lying in terraces, with fall toward
: the river Of ten feet to the mile, sufficient
when the bitches now in progress Of construc
= ton are completed, to drain the whole coun
) try, making it dry enough for garden.
As you cross the Kankakee, and procee
It towards the lake, you will miss, in you
:, view from the cars, the surprisingly beaut
ful Prairies of Laporte and Porter. Unfortu
nately the country. on the immediate line {
: the road, as frequently happens on railroad
!. appears far less interesting than it is a sho
distance either East or West Of the lin
More lovely landscapes, and mors luxuriar