Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-10

Az W -imNoNNmuNlNA n
On the occasion Of the turning over
on the first day of the present year, of
tho Uhicago,S Louis and eW0rleaBs
railroad to the Illinois Central, Mr..
Osborn, Chairman OF the Executive
Committee OF the-stockh holders of the
latter roa1, issued a circular, which is
published in full in another column,
giving a complete review and history
Of the operations of the Jackson and
New Orleans and Mississippi Central
road, afterwards united into the Chi
cago, St. Louis and New Orleans
railroad.
1t is a graphic, succinct and inter
esting description of the development
and building up, almost from nothing,
OF one Of the best and most thoroughly
equipped and smoothest roads in the
Union, one Of which New Orleans is
justly proud, aud which has added not
a little to the prosperity and progress
Of our city.
Without going back to those times,
not SO very far distant either, when in
consequence of the frequent transfers
necessary the losses on goods from
here to Chicaro amounted 10 more
than the freight rate TO day, il is
sufficient to describe the condition Of
this road in 1876, when it was placed
in the hands of a receiver, as compared
with what it is now. The employees
had, then, not been paid for months;
the machine shops were without sup
plies; the company possessed no spare
rails, no fuel; scarcely anything, in
fact, it needed. A fatality, moreover,
seemed to attend it, due, probably, to
its inefficient equipment.
How great is the change to-day,
with this road now fully equipped and
in the best running order, with all the
bridges rebuilt and new ones con-
structed in place Of those formerly of
wood, with new engines and new cross
ties laid along the entire line, with
what was formerly t%restle work now
filed in solid, with fifteen and a half
miles Of new track laid, steel instead
Ofiron rails, much OF the track bal.
lasted aud fenced in, the passenger
equipment doubled and the entire
gauge of the road changed to conform
with the Northern ines-a wonderful
fest-accomplishedin the short space
OF one day. The natural consequence
Of these changes, OF this ballast.
log, these steel rails, new bridges,
etc, has been to increase the
speed and otherwise improve the road,
IL now makes as good speed as any in
the country. The time from New
Orleans has been reduced from thirty.
eight to twenty-nino hours, aud the
trains travel as fast between New Or.
leans and Chicago as between New
York and THE City by the Lake"
Nor are these all the wonders that
have heen accomplished within a few
years. The road was then sunk deer
in debt, owing the Illinois Contra
company $5,000.000. All of this sun
has been paid off out Of its earnings, il
addition to the great Improvements il
Its construction that VIC have ALREADY
mentioned.
Can any railroad in the counsr,
make a better showing than this? AuI
does not its MANAGEMENT deserve
compliments for this extraordiulr,
and unexampled success For all thi
Mr., j. Q. Clarke, late Vice Presiden
and General Manager Of the road, nov
!, General Manager of the Illinois Cen
trail Railroad, deserves the credit
Mr.. Clarke has rebuilt the line iron
Its ashes" Mr.. Osborn says 10 hi
, ! circular TO the stockholders, an