Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1877-11-17
A USEFUL TRAMP.

We had the pleasure of meeting Ten.
James Harding, state railroad commits
%sioner, at the city hotel III this city last
TUESDAY. Everybody knows who Gen.
Harding is. How he tramps over the
railroads OF the state, counting the bad
ties and rails. noting the condition OF
every bridge, frog and switch, and get
ting after the managers when their roads
become unsafe. 1t will be remembered
that his first walking examination OF a
railroad was In response TO an editorial
article printed in this paper concerning
the dangerous condition Of the Lexington
Il St. Louis railroad. owing TO bad ties,
his letter in response to our demand that
the commissioners should make q careful
inspection of the road being no less
prompt than was his examination alter
ward thorough. He hen reported that
eighty per cent. Of the ties on that road
were %unsound, and that they should be
Immediately replaced with new ones
As soon rs practicable after his iuspec-
ton. the sale OF the road occurring about
that time, several thousand new ties
were placed upon it. but not u sufficient
number TO make II entire safe from that
source OF danger Gen. Harding. who
lett Wednesday afternoon to inspect the
Lexington & st. Joseph railroad. will,
if the weather continues good. return 10
this place by next Thursday. when he
will again go over the Lexington i st.
Louis railroad. When the question OF
continuing the railroad commission was
before the Legislature this paper took
strong grounds in favor OF the commits
sion. for the reason that even if il could
accomplish but little in the way OF reg
ulating ireights until the expiration OF
the old charters. which will take place
next wear, that ii could do much toward
compelling the railroad companies 10
keep Their tracks and rolling stock in
such order As not to endanger the lives
OF the travelling public. General Hard
ing informs us that almost every road
he goes to examine adds section hands
t. its force As >oou Is they learn OF his
intended inspection. III the case OF the
Hanniba & st. Joseph railroad, which
he examined 4 few months ago. he con-
demncd nine bridges as being unsafe.
The directory Immediately placed these
hri,lfrns ,,ria- ,.pptru,t ar,} fhny- arc
being replaced by new onc as fast as
is practicable. He says also that the
drainage OF the road is being very much
improved. He reports the main line OF
the Missouri Pacific. from Sedalia to st.
Louis. as being in excellent condition
also the man line of the ST. Louis. Kan
sas City n Northern, which is half laid
with steel rails. In speaking of the
Hannibal & St. Joseph railroad Genera
Harding expressed the opinion that
the difficulties through which it had
recently passed would result benetic;allv.
as they would interest the actual owners
of the road III its management. He in
formed us mat I construction TRAIN ndu
recently been placed upon the Lexington
& ST. Louis road that some repairs
were being made aud that 10y the care
ful manner in which the trains were
being run travel over the road was
rendered as safe as was consistent with
the condition of the ties and road bed
Gen. Harding when here was suffering
from an accident which he met on the
NJ X. * I. railroad. In passing over
3 cattle guard one OF his feet slipped
down between the side rail and 4 Stat.
and being a very heavy man. the wrench
TO his leg was very severe. No bones
were broken, however, and he plucki.y
sticks TO his pedestrianlsm III spite OF a
lite ,amenesS. His average walk, in
good weather. Is about twenty miles
a day. though when there is not much TO
detain him he often makes twenty-five
miles, or more.