Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-05-31
PERSONAL AND GENERAL.


a recent statement of the progress of the
construction Of the Northern Pacific railroad
shows that there are now 1857 miles in opera
ton, an increase Of 360 miles since January
1, 1881.
The earnings of the East Tennessee, Vir-
ginia and Georgia system are said to be
making most favorable gains The increase
for the first three weeks in May amounts to
SI3,G24.
Two thousand men employed in the con-
struction of the Galveston and San Antonio
struck at Peco, Texas, May 1lth, for an ad-
vance OF twenty-five cents per day. The
men are row receiving 81 so, and as they
are well organized it is though their demands
will be acceded to.
Scalpers in Indiana have been made glad
by decision of the Supreme Court to the
eff. ct that outside ticket agents may sell all
special tickets, including half-fare, excursion
and other forms. This will tend 10 open up
the scalping business in Indiana, where it
has been carried on illegally and under diff
culties for the past year or two, but it remains
with the railway companies to devise meth
DDS which will prevent the scalpers' opera
tions.
One year ago the place which is now known
as Rogers, Ark, was a settlement OF eight
houses with less than 100 people. The
Arkansas branch of the ST. Louis and San
francisco ROAD was eXttnueO 10 lndl point,
and now the population ls said to be 1900,
and 225 houses have been built, while many
more are being added. The first anniversary
OF this new place was celebrated few days
ago with much enthusiasm, and the people
thus far appear TO appreciate what the rail-
way has done for them.
Two brakemen, named Smith and Griffin,
and a newsboy, Joe Heidi, of the Great
Western of Canada, are wanted by the
officials of that road. 1t appears that these
three have been in the habit of working"
emigrant trains. Just before the train
crosses the bridge, one of the gang enters the
cars and informs the occupants in German
that fifty cents bridge toll is due from each
passenger. The other two then come through
and collect that amount, which they proceed
To pocket. Having been caught in the act
the trio left for parts unknown.
The gross earnings of the Louisville and
Nashville railway are not only showing an
increase over those of last year, but the per-
centage of increase is becoming greater.
For the third week in May the earnings were
S2l6,075, against 1882, 400 for the same week
in 1881. an increase of $50, 675, or IS 4-10 per
cent. From January lst to May 2lst the
earnings were 81, 59l ,30l, against $3,972, 005
in 1881, an increase of Is 6-10 per cent, on an
increased mileage OF ten per cent. The
increase for the week is nearly three per cent.
larger than that for the period since Janu-
airy lst
A second electric railway has been put n
oper alton by DR.. Stem Ems, from B 5rliu, into
the suburbs, and III this he has solved the
problem OF making she electric car overcome
a rising gradient of one in thirty (176 feet
per mileG The speed maintained averages
about seven miles an hour in ascending the
hill and about eleven miles an hour on the
level. A description in the London Rditwdy
L.
nary tramway, is distinguished from any
other by two thin wire cables, which you
perceive at a certain elevation above
1t, resting on telegraph poles. Ga these
two Isolated @ n les, which are about nine
inches apart, thy carTiago runs, carried by
eight wheels, thn-e on the right being isolated
from those on tn left. A thin cable unites
this miniature IL chine with the passenger
car below, and the two wires it contains
transmit electricity from the two cables
above to the dynamo, which is fixed to the
bottom OF the car. Ga the top of the hill is
the steam engine, which generates the electro
motive force. IN Ihs fist electric railway,
produced by D.. Werner Siemens at the
Berlin Industrial Exhibition ia the summer
OF the year 1879, the current was conveyed
into the car By means of the rails and wheels,
going from one sill into one set OF wheels
and out again on the opposite side from the
wheels into the other rail. Berlin electricians
assert that the problem of adapting electricity
to tramways is now solved. The two cars en-
ployed were not jpihed to each other, but
each went separately. Ia future it is in
tended that two cars shall always leave the
terminal stations at the same time, so az to
meet half way, where there is siding. The
stationary steam-engine has TO work at the
rate OF thirty-six- horse power in order to
produce the necessary force of about ak
horse power for each of the two cars when
on the level part, and of ten horse power
when ascending the hill. Dr.. Siemens also
shows an electric conveyance, which runs on
the high road without rails"