The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-08-28
BREAK NECK SPEED ON RAILROADS.

The Superintendent of the leading rail.
road lines between New York and Chicago
seem to vie with each other in affordlng fa.
cilities to the travelling public to break their
necks anywhere between the two great cities
that a favorable tumble for trains may be
found. With good tracks, perfect machinery
and sleepless vigilance and care on the part
Of operatives, trains may be run with safety
at an increased late Of speed over oil our
railways, but before 60 miles an hour are
made these requisites should be known to
exist. The Pennsylvania Central, the New
York Central and the Erie road have enter.
ed into active competition Tor the car.
riage Of through passengers between New
York and Chicago, which has already result
ed in the reduction Of time between thes,
points several hours ; but it seems q still
further reduction is to be made the man
ayers of each line being determined to make
little better time than the best time on the
other. We find the following par.
ticulars Of the contest in the Buffalo Com
mercial Adrertiser:
"The competition which has out down freight
rates so low will now be extended to the passen-
ger traffic. 1t is already announced that the
time and fares will be materially reduced between
New Iork and the leading western cities. For
sometime past the Pennsylvania Central railroad
line has been running express trains between
New York and Chicago three hours quicker than
the time made by its rivals. This it has been
we'll able to do on account Of having the shortest
line by sixty-two miles as against the Erie, and
eighty one miles as against the New York Gem
trail, the distance between the two points by the
different routes being follows;
Pennsylvania Central, via Allentown 800 miles.
hudson RI, n, \. Cent Il Lake Shore $50 miles.
Erie, via Buffalo and Lake Shore g6l miles
SIT is now announced, however, that the Penn
sylvHnia company have determined to shorter
their time five hours more. This will put thu
other lines to their trumps, and inaugurate com
petition in speed fraught with great danger ;
the public, as well as promising heavy loss t
the stockholders, which is q matter Of loss cont
quence. The Albany argus understands tina
the New York Central and connecting companies
will, next Monday, put on fast line between
Chicago and New York, running both ways, and
making the distance in thirteen hours less time
than formerly, thus beating the fastest time
promised on behalf of the Pennsylvania road by
telegraph, will put on "lightning express" train,
which will run through between New York and
Chicago in thirty hours, reduction of Gig ht
hours over the present time This was doubtless
announced to show equal time with the Pennsyl-
yania road. If the Argus is well informed as to
the intention Of the New York Central, both the
Erie and Penns ylvania roads will have to shorten
their promised time by five hours more, in order
to get equal with the Central We think, howev-
err the Argue must be mistaken. The most the
New York lines will think of doing, probably,
viii be to follow the lead of the Pennsylvania rs
to time, that road having so greatly the advan-
tsge in distance. 1t is claimed that the Central
and Erie can overcome the distance in favor Of
the Pennsylvania on account of having moro "a
vorable grades than the latter. 1t is evident
however, that the difference in grades is not 40
great as to enable them to make faster time than
that Of the shorter line. The most they can hope
TO accomplish is to keep even in that respect -