The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-06-11

jected and building Indianapolis, Decatur
and Springfield railway. connecting at the
capital OF Illinois with line extending on
toward the occident, to Hannibal and to st.
Joe, and still westward with the star of
empire till lost in the boupdless space of the
real West. The l.. B. and w. is an out
growth OF the railway construction fever
closely following the rebellion and its sup.
preston. The conception of this enterprise
was an inspiration. 1t was complimentary
to the present and prospe ctive of the Hoosier
capital that the projectors of the l., B. and
w. should single out our city as the focus of
nearly $50 miles of brand new road, penetrat-
ing populous region of a sister State, al
ready threaded by numerous railway lines
to Chicago, st. Louis and other centers. The
new l., B. and w. bravely entered upon oc-
cupied ground and bid for patronage and
glory in competition with such Croesus-mas-
tered corporations as the Illinois Central, the
Chicago, Alton, and St Louis. the Wabash
and Toledo, and the Chicago, Bur-
lington and Quincy. The magnitude
and faith of its friends, are suggested
by the investment of almost So, O0O, 600 in
it; and it IS entirely probable that if the
1873 panic had not come for five or 10 years,
the immediate financial success of the Indi-
annapolis, Bloomington and Western would
have been demonstrated. Even in the face
OF heavy construction debt and the univer.
sal depression since 1873. the indianapolis,
Bloomington and Western has "paid its
way" 1t stood the pressure that made old
established corporations quail and crumble,
for two years, but was finally compelled to
accept receiyership. Tie line was fortu-
nate in b wing General George B. Wright,
late mmissloner of railways for Ohio
designated as receiver. In his recent report
TO the court he Gays:
Pay-rolIs have been promptly met every
month for the four years, and payments for
supplies and improvements have been made
at the time agreed upon.
That is a good record for the past four
years OF management of new road. In
this connection, some brief statistical facts
may be interesting:
Earnings for past four years.. SIS 9l057
Total Tonnage forwarded from Indi-
passengers carried in is;s ---- "'sss ~ ~
Miles run by locomotives in ls7S-----. l,sl5,56l
These few figures suggest the extent of the
work OF the l., B. and W. From the char
ecter OF the country and the population or
the vast area treversed by this roadand
tributary TO 1t, and the surplus products
thereof, it is destined to be, in It's traffic,
one of the most important of all the lines
centering at indianapolis.
In the recent change of ownership of the
l., b. and w. and Reorganization of the
| company having possession of it, whether
any trunk line East has acquired control is
! not announced. 1t is understood that General
| Wright is to be retained as general manager,
at least for the present, which is wise
conclusion OF the direction.
| Another article can present sketches of
| the remaining lines in operation and In
roads, and also a comprehensive estimate
| of the Belt Line and its consequential
relations 10 the hopeful future of Indiara's
capital.