The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-03

the l., p. & c. Road and Its Equipments.
AS indications are that the Wabash people
viii drop their lease of the indianapolis, Peru &
chicago road who will operate it in the future
what the condition Of the property is be-
comes the most important questions Undoubt-
eddy syndicate could be formed readily in this
city who would take the road on the terms
which were given the Wabash people, and it is
beyond question that the road can be operated
separately from great system like the Wabash
to much better advantage. The road is solocated
that its principle value lies in ability to secure
local business. Take Michigan City, for instance
rhe good people of that town on the lake credit
t. Malott the former manager of the l., L.
< e., as being instrumental in making this port
of the Importance as lumber shipping
point it now is. Drop twelve miles south
and you come to Laporte Here, too, they credit
of tae l. p. IL C.. road for the immense industry of
shipping ice from that point and atall important
GOWNS on the l., p. & c., the business men still
feel that the road is part of their business in
5erest but they feel that the Wabash people
have gwen them the cold shoulder, probably
not Intentionally, but because the l., 2. & c.
was so small part of their system that they
did not give it the attention it was entitled to.
The very fact that the passenger earnings of the
north end of the l.. P. & G. have increased, I'M
der present unfavoPable circumstance 40 per
cent. since the second train each way was put
on explains the situation now as to the condi-
ton of the property. One who is impartial last
week passed over this division of the Wabash
formerly known as the indianapolis, Peru & Chi
cago road, and carefully noted the cond-
ton of the roadbed. Between indianapolis and
Kokomo, thirty five of the ffty-fiye miles is in
fair condition. although there were many loose
ties under the rails and ties with rotten ends
The otMer twenty miles needs new rails, and
about fifty per cent. of the ties are bad. Between
Kokomo and Peru the rails are so bad and
cross ties, so many of them rotten, that to make
it safe to run trains over at any speed it must
he renewed entirely. Fully eighty per cent of
the cross ties are so rotten that many of the spikes
holding the rails can be readily pulled out by
your fingers, and many of the joints are high
Between Peru and Michigan City the character
of the soil much of the distance is such that the
crossties do not decay as readily and really it is
with iron rails which were put down
between the years 1855 and 1889
Strange as it may seem, these rails are not
ragged on the head or battered at the ends, but
are short rails, which makes them seem rough to
ride over, as compared with a thirty foot rail- A
good dead of patching up, however, is noticeable
some pieces being not more than four to six
feet long. majority of the bridges are in good
condition apparently; the same is true of the
depots: Regarding the rolling stock, an official
of the Wabash road states that about twenty of
the thirty-eight engines the Wabash secured
from the l., p. & G. company are in as good con
dition as could be expected, after some three
years of hard service; the other eighteen will
need5 be practically rebuilt The passenger
equipments have been well maintained As to
the freight ears they are so scattered over the
system that any statement Of their condition
would be mere guess work.