The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-11
the principal railroad properties Of the

the prlncipal railroad properties OF the
The history of the Bee Line is varied and
The parent road was projected
in 1s4S, the late Hon. Oliver II. Smith being
Its pioneer. Originally 1t seemed to have
sprung up nowhere in particular, having
most anywhere for its Destinations sort
of wandering iron-footed tramp. But in
cred up, and there was an inter State trunk
route. with the capitals of
Buckeye and Hoosierdom for termini.
Possibly the objective points were,
at one period. Dayton and Indianapolis
At all events it was hardly more than an
ambitious local road till the sagacity OF some
new managers turned it from its unnatural
Dayton terminus and united its Bellefon-
taine division with the Gallon connection to
Cleveland. A score of years ago the late" rough
and gruff' John Brough, afterward war
governor of Ohio, was the brusque-spoken,
warm-hearted, honest purposed, short and
fat president of the Bee line; and at earlier
periods Calvin Fletcher and Alfred Harri-
son, of this city, were presidents of the old
Bellefontaine road. These latter-named
gentlemen were earnest promoters OF it
when in Its chrysalis condition. Under
agement, the Bee Line began to assume q
position of consequence.
Through many vicissitudes it passed, &c
quiring new franchises and feeders and
sources of strength, till its importance had
forced itself on the attention OF leading rail-
way men of the country. The spontaneous
growth of Indianapolis and Cleveland, and
the splendid development of the area tray
ersed by its main stem between the capital
city of Indiana and the Lake city, at once
placed the Bee Line in the ranks OF The great
railways. Business capital and energy
flowed to IL. Eight years ago its mileage
growth had reached almost to 400 miles in
Ohio and Indiana; and, when leased line
and the l. and st. l.. are added.
the total track is nearly $50 miles. Just the
other year the total earnings exceeded
FOUR MILLION DOLLARS,
the net profit being quite $500, 900 after pay
ment of all expense accounts and interest on
bonded debt. The total assets of the Bee
Line proper are stated to be 500, 900, 600, and
the careful and capable management of this
prosperous and popular route for travel and
traffic is shown by the surplus account Of
half million dollars.
1t rivals the greatest of our roads N freight
statistics. Recent reports suggest the i'm
mensity of the Bee Line business, especially
in Shipment of merchandise here from the
East, in which branch of transportation it
outstrips all competitors. One published
report shows the following arrival o. cars
loaded with merchandise, in one year:
over Bee Line 20 l50
Over rival road (nexI highest).....-...... 13,2O2
Excess OF Bee Line arrivals II 92s
Perhaps from the first the Bee Line has
maintained its supremacy in this one par
ticular, as the rou re over which the bulk OF
Eastern merchandise reaches this city.
In all its appointments for freightage and
passage the Bee Line is thoroughly first
class Its equipment is ample and COM
plete. Its mar agement is generous, vigor-
Gus and popular. One of the most estima
BILE of the railroad kings of the realm, Hon
]. II. Devereux, of Cleveland is the presi-
dent of this important transportation sys-
tenn. When that remarkable broad gauge
trunk line, the Atlantic and Great Western,
became entangled in the meshes OF financial
embarrassment, the skill, experience, courage
and courtesy of this large-brained, large
bodied and handsome gentleman, Mr..
Devereux, were sought for, and he became
Mr.. H B. Hurlburt is vice president of the
Bee Line, and president of the
L and St. L. link or extension. There is
prevailing bigness about the Bee Line-big
ambition. big work. big future, big managers
President Devereux is not the only large,
finely developed presence connected there
with. but Indianapolis people are familiar
with our mammoth bodied and large hearted
friend c. G Gale, the executive chief In com
mand of Bee Line movements ct this
headquarters. To the enterprise and
activity of Mr.. Gale is largely
due The location of our
SPIRITED SUBURB, BRIGHTwooD,
and the establishment there, as permanent
improvement and manufacturing acquisi.
ton, of the most complete and among the
largest railway shops in the United States
They are marvel, and add UNNECESSARILY
to the permanent growth and industrial de-
velopment of indianapolis. The Bright
wood suburb has added thousands to our
population, and to a potent extent has aug
tho wealth and hanninaeu nf
people.
THE 1. AND ST. L. ROAD.
Whether regarded as an extension, prac-
tically, OF the Bee Line facilities, or as an
independent railway, the I. and st. L. is an
important factor in the transportation
economy of the Hoosier metropolis. Not
ONLY il il superior local outlet for Indianap-
oils trade and business, reaching thriving
and active populations throughout its entire
line in Indiana and across the great sister
State of Illinois, but it is unsurpassed as q
nourisher of our industries. our commerce,
our manufactures and our destiny. The /.
and st. L. passes for over 200 miles through
a modern Garden of Eden, minus the sour
apple tree and the seductive serpent. 1t is q
vast expanse of alternate wood and prairie
so rich and fructifying that industry
has only to tickle it with a hoe and it will
laugh with harvest" Like its competitor.
the "Vandalia," the indianapolis and St.
Louis taps the coal fields OF our western Dor
der and over its tracks come millions of
bushels of bituminous coal. These two
roads are almost side by side for the rs miles
to Terre Haute. Entering Illinois, they
diverge, each pursuing the bent of its own
sweet will. and bestowing blessings on pros
porous communities. At one point in COM
mon, on the line Of the Illinois Gen.
trail, these two roads are 30 miles apart, the
indianapolis and ST. Louis at Pans, and the
other at "Vandalia." There they converge
to the mighty metropolis of the
Mississippi, and of course at
St. Louis both connect with
the network OF railways diverging to all
points. interlacing the developing empires
lying west and southwest to the extreme
limit of Anglo-Saxon civilization, and fast
absorbing in their cruclble of progress the
lingering remnant of Aztec semi barbarism.
Since the suspension of the pooling arrange
ment between the Vandalia and the l. and
ST. L and each must "go 1t alone" the
natural rivalry has given zest and impetus
to the management OF both lines. In the