The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-12

There are now actually in operation in the
United States over 100 narrow-gauge roads,
operating some 8, 800 miles of track, and con
struction is now going which will result in
considerable increase above these figures From
this it will be seen that about per cent. of the
whole railroad mileage of the United States is
Of the narrow gauge. Tho standards for these
roads have been gradually simplfied until that
OF three feet has been adopted by the great bulk
OF them AT the present time, in some portions
OF the country, the narrOw-gauge fever Is stlll
on, but IL is mostly in the mountainous country
OF Pennsylvania and in Colorado and Nebraska.
In other States the friends of narrow-gauge
roads are few, and daily becoming less.
A MODEL ROAD.
Robert E. O'Brien, formerly constructing en-
gineer with the Pennsylvania railroad and sub
sequently vice-presdent OF the New York, Penn
sy lvania & Ohio road, and secretary of the pool
of the trunk lines and Western roads, who was
selected by the West Shore syndicate to examine
and report upon the New York, West Shore &
Buffalo road, in his report says: ''The enterprise
realizes the ideal road desired by railway man
ayers. 1t has every thing considered essential TO
the perfect road; nothing can he added. 1t has
low grades, light curves, perfect track and en-
gines and of the most approved patterns
tthe parts of which are interehangea6lel. Every
thing is new, there being no old rolling-stock or
material to be used up. Under these conditions
(which heretofore have never existed on any
road the operating expenses Will be remarkably
low, lower than any road has ever attained"
WAKING UP TO THE SITUATION.
The Columbus Qnd.) Republican copies the
item from the Journal of Tuesday morning as
regards the extension of the Bloomfield & Bed
ford road to that point, where a connection with
the Cincinnati, Indianapolis St. Louis & Chicago
could be made, and then comments as follows:
"Mr. Ingalls, is president of the Cincinnati, In
dianapolis, St. Louis e. Chicago, and has the rep
utatiOn of always getting just about what he
and there
possible chance of obtaining it. very few
more miles of line would be required to build to
Columbus than TO Seymour. and with the Column
bus, Hope d. Greeusburg road completed, the
Bloomfield & Bedford would have direct connec-
tion with Cincinnati and the East. Columbus
has nothing to lose in the new scheme, and could
afford TO aid it IL asked II would give us a new
! through road, better connections, more business,
and would increase the possibilities and proba-
bllltles or our town as q railroad center.
CHEAP TRANSPORTATION.
Parties who are constantly growing as re-
CARDS rates of transportation may well ponder
over the statistical information given below.
| The railroads carry dressed beef from Chicago
to New York for 40 cents per 100 pounds, or
| mills per pound. Hams and bacon are carried
by the railroads from Indianapolis ST. Louis,
Cincinnati and Chicago for 2 mills per pound.
The total freight charge on barrel Of flour from
Minneapolis to New York is 81, OF about mills
for the -four of one loaf. The transporter's
charge from Eastern manufactures to points
west OF the Mississippi does not exceed an
average of cents sut of Clothes The
profit ON a single pair of 81 boots and shoes is
three times the total freight charges on a dozen
pairs 800 miles Tea is trst-class freight. The
freight charges for 100 pounds of tea from New
York to Davenport, Des Moines, Council Bluff,
Kansas City and ST. Paul-frOm ], 200 to 1900
miles-range at the average from 90 cents to
S1.1O, an average of cenJ per pound. Tea may
suffice as an example for other food articles and
FOOD products. Indianapolis produce merchants
pay y of a cent per dozen to place their eggs on
the New York market, and mills per pound to
place their poultry on that market.
GENERAL POINTS OF INTEREST.
E. B. Stahlman, vice-presdent and traffic man
ager of the Louisville, New Albany d Chicago
system, which includes the Chicago g. Indianap-
oils Air Line, was In the city last evening, and
from this official is learned that the L., N. A. &
G. proposes to become one of the East-bound
roads out of Chicago, and will demand admis-
sion to the pool and % per cent of the business.
They propose to haul their freights to Delphi,
deliver them to the Wabash road, which will
haul 1t to Toledo and there deliver it 20 .heWheel
ing & Lake Erie road. which in turn WI. ;.ever;t
to some one of their Eastern connections.
Traffic Manager Stahlman says their policy is
aggressive one. As regards the c. & |. Air
week the constructions force would be doubled,
and he was quite confident that by May
through trans could be put on between In
dianapOlis and Chicago. AS regards their trains
running into the Union Depot at this point,
they had asked admission and the reply was
that they, the Union Railway Company, were
not now prepared to say what they would do in
the matter. He was quite confident that
when regular trains were put on some n 0g
arrive and depart at the Union Depot
c., W. & NJ ELECTION.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
ELKHARr, Ina, April L. AT the annual cleo
tion of the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan rail-
road to-day, In this CITY, the directors elected j.
g. Wade, president; e-presdent, William Brig
ham; secretary. W. s. Jones; manager, Norman
Beckey; superintendent, o. W. Lampert; gem
eral freight and ticket agent, Owen Rice, and
auditor, j. II. Craig.
A TRANsCoNTINENTAL LINE.
MILWAUKEE, April ia New York special
says that President Caloy, of the Wisconsin
Central, is now in that city closing negotiations
for the sale of the Wisconsin Central to the Vii
lard sy Indicate. being the preliminary step to
the establishment of transeontinenta line
from New York to Portland, Ore. With the con-
struction of the Northern Pacific link connect
ing Superior City and Ashland, Wis, the Cen
tral Will give entrance to Milwaukee,, and
other link to Chicago will complete the through
line to New York via the Grand Trunk and
West Shore roads. However, the entire line
will not be under single MANAGEMENT, Willard
contenting himself, at least for the present,
with traffic agreement east OF Chicago. 1t is
thought the whole line will be in operation by
August
IMPORTANT CHANGES ON THE JAY GOULD LINES.
ST. LOUIS, April 1.-Two circulars were issued
this afternoon by r. s. Hayes, as first vice
president of the Missouri Pacific railroad, stating
that under the new condition of things H. M.
Hoxe, third vice-president Is relieved from at
tention to the assessment and taxation of prop
critics, and will assist in general duties. Further,
that James F. Howe, assistant secretary, will
have charge of all matters pertaining to assess
ment ana taxation, and also of purchase of ma
terials and supplies. The second circular, issued
from the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific office, an
nounces that, John q. Gault having resigned, II.
NJ. Hoxie, third vee-presideRt, will assume
charge of freight and passenger traffic, and that
James F. Howe secretary, in addition to his du-
ties as secretary, will take charge of assessment
and taxation and purchasing supplies. IL fur
fllara nm hnf haaIa nfA an rtrraap