The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-10
AFFAIRS OF THE RAILWAYS
favorable Comment on the Condition
of Indianapolis Roads.
Tho Roads in the Chicago Pool Settle Their
Observation-Disclosures Fast
Freight Line.
INDIANAPOLIS RAILROADS.
Their Condition and Their Equipments Fa
Above the Average.

Their Condition and Their Equipments Far
Above the Average.
The excellent condition of the road-beds OF all
RAILWAYS centering at Indianapolis is highly
creditabe to the arrangements of the respect
i've roads, or course, the tracks of some roads
are smoother and more solid than those of
others, yet all are in fine shape to go into the
winter months. On several of the Indianapolis
roads money has been spent lavishly the last
Two years. and the condition of the tracks is
ample evidence that it has been well spent.
1.-The railroad reporter of the Journal, in compa-
my with the Devereux inspection party, on
Wednesday last accom- panied them as far as
Terre Haute. Much of the way a speed of one
mile per minute was made, the coach running as
quietly and free from joting could seem
possible And 10 miles of the 264
miles of the I. e st. L. road
IS said to he in equally good
condition, and President DeyereuX says before
another weve montis passes the entire roa
will be in equally good shape. One can hard
~ appreciate the Improvement to this road in
the last righ teeu months, transferring the track
fro a rough shake-yoH all-to-pieees dangerous
road to ride over, to a smooth, pleasant to
ride over and safe track can be found in any
part of this country. At Terre Haute the rail
road reporter boarded the special car of Super-
iBIendent fill of the Vdudaa system, and then
west to Casey, III. To say that the track
TO Casey H., is as good as the PENNSYLVANIA
roads hest, Is no exageration, and still Colonel
Hill says that further west there is sixty miles
OF track that will considerably discount
this, it being ballasted with broken stone
hin place of gravel. On the middle division
niue VAudalia people have this year put in
JOG miles of steel rails, and between Indianapo-
lia and st. Louis 240 miles. There is now but
ten miles of iron rails, and they will he replaced
with STEEL before the snow flies. Colonel HllPs
motto seems to be that cleanliness is next to
Goodness and the cleanly appearance of the
right of way, which is one hundred feet in
width is really striking. In riding from Casey,
I'LL to Indianapolis, seventy-six miles, with the
ieXceptiOn of few miles where the grade Is be-
ling raised, not an old cross-tie is to be seen ly
hing beside the track not old rail- Neither
icOnld one he seen on the right of way. No tall
grass, no brush: every thing raked clean; banks
smooth, bitches clear; stations and surroundings
meat Then the track was surfaced mp evenly TO
the real Pennsylvania standard The same
cleanly way of keeping things noticeable at
the Terre Haute shops, under charge of Mr.
prescott The track of the Chicago, ST.. Louis &
lPittshurg. between Indianapolis and Columbus,
IJOhn F. Miller, superintendent is said, by rail
road men of experience, to be equally smooth
with the Pennsylvania road, proper, best track
This road, its entire length, is evenly surfaced
mp and the track as smooth and solid it
could seemingly be made and all steel rail. One
of the most attractive features however, of the
&c. st. l. d P, is its neat staton-houses, grass
b OF anu fOwer-becs around them. The track
of the JehersOnville, Madison & Indianapolis
road IA said, well, to be in very superior
condition and safe to run over at any desired
speed The Decline proper and the eastern di
vision OF the C., l., st. L. L. c. as well were
never in a better shape In fact, Indianapolis
NOW has fourteen roads which, in physical con-
dition, quality and quantity of rolling stock
cannot be eXcelled In any part of this country
and are in shape now to make more money than
at any time in their history. The l. d. st. L. and
the Vandalia will need spend some money
YET 10 complete their improvements on the
western divisions of the systems, but the hard
place IL over with these roads.