The Van Buren press., 1872-03-05
Sabbath Days Journey.

On short notice, Sunday aiterne OH,
Col Stcacy, of the Little Rock and Fort
Smith railroad, received an intimation
that an excursion to the end Of the line
would afford pleasure to the high railroad
men who are at present IN the city. With
his accustomed energy, and excellent
business management, to both of which
this road owes its prosperity and sue
ccssiul operation, he gave the necessary
orders and within an hour from the mo
ment he was apprised Of the contemplated
trip special coach drawn by the engine
Johnson, stood waiting for the party.
In order 10 render the riding more
smooth, fiat car was interposed between
the coach and the locomotive, and at half
after two the train steamed out of the de-
pot at Argenta. The day was delight
ful one, and the party was in excellent
spirits state of affairs being hight
ened by the promptilude with which Col.
Steacy, at n moments notice, had ar
ranged everything for the trip.
The gentlemen constituting the excur-
sion were: Hon Thomas Allen, OF the
Cairo and Fulton railroad, II. G., Mar
quand, of New York, Josiah Caldwell,
esq j. b. Leonard, Clinton Wheeler,
Col. Sam Tate, Col. b. ID. Williams, Hon.
A. Mcdonald, Judge Caldwell, of the
United States court DR. Geo. T. Weeks,
Col W. =. Dcnckla, Maj. j. X. Mont
gomery, Capt John Boot, OF Boston,
Col H. Page, o S. Dillon, d. E. Jones,
John Stoddard, Col. w. S. Oliver, j. II.
Morley, w. Loughborough, Gov o. A.
Hadley, NJ Q Townsend, J. G Botsford,
Edward, Whcaler, George ii. Meade,
Col Steacy, w. b. Gay and tho repre-
sentative of the Republican.
The last fourteen miles were made in
fifteen minutes, which is, perhaps, the
fastest time ever made in Arkansas, by
any Of its railroads The entire distance
from Argonta to Lewisburg station, is
fifty one miles, and the trip was male in
eighty minutes, including three stoppages
of brief duration.
The excursion was significant, as it in
dicated to the gentlemen who are engag
ed in consolidating the interests of the
Memphis and Little Rock, and Little
Rock and Fort Smith railroads, under the
management Of Tom Scott, Of the Penn.
syvania Central, that the contractors OF
the Little Rock and Fort Smith railroad
are eminently fitted for the work, and
and know how to build a railroad and
it further showed that the completion of
the route to Fort Smith should be insur-
ed at an early day.
The survey was begun in January,
1869, by Col Meade, and ground was
broken in August of the same year. The
first twenty miles were finished com plele
in April, in 1870, and the work progressed
with vigor until fifty miles Of track
were laid, when active operations were
stopped ON account of the want Of iron
and lack of funds However, the line
is graded continuously to Clarksvlle,
nnetv.onc miles from Little Rock, and
it is graded in sections to Van Buren. 1t
is estimated that from that place to the
present terminus Of the track there are
between ffty-fve and sixty miles ready
for the ties, these last being ready for dis
position the entire length Of the road.
Nothing has been done since work was
stopped as above stated, except to run
daily trains to the present terminus of the
track. The financial embarrassments un-
der which the road languishes are well
known to the reader, and we mead not
repeat them. Col. Steacy has been run
Ming the road since last summer, in the
interest Of receiver, and the excursion
Sunday demonstrated the good work
and successful management OF its con-
Germs BY him.