Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-01-19
RAILWAYS OF TEXAS.
Report of State Engineer Rritton to
the Governor.
Condition of All the Iron Highways OF
the State.
Their Tracks, Motive Power, Equip
mcnt aod Depots.
---=
Promises of Improvement Pros
pect of Early Extension.

Special TO the Gazette.
Austin, January 1s.-Col. j. II. Brit.
ton, state engineer, has submitted his
first apnual report on the condition OF
the railways in the state, to the gov.
ernor. He says:
With few exceptions the condi-
ton of the roads has certainly been
very much improved in the last twelve
months, more especially the main
trunk lines traversing the state. The
complaints filed in this office have
Depn comparatively few. vhe most
serious complaints have been against
the Missouri Pacific railway, lessee oil
the Texas Pacific railway and
branches, the International & Great
Northern railway and branches and
the Missouri, Kansas & Texas
railway and branches. The complaints
are for delay in transportation of
freight aud the irregularity with which
they operate their passenger trains
After "A thorough Investigation, | find
that this trouble arises from deficient
equipment, more especially motive
power. The report shows the condi-
ton of the various roads as follows:
Fort Worth & Denver City railway
Length 10 miles, in good condition,
equipment iirs'-cla-s aud fully adr-
quate for all traffic demands. There la p,
never bsen a complaint made against
il.
Missouri, Kansas & Texas railway
and branches Length 57i miles.
generally in fair condi.
lion; new ties and iron
are needed in several places. on the
main line especially between Denison
and Whitesboro. Equipment not adj
equate to the traffic, and much com
plant as To crowded passenger trains
On the main line. The Gainesville
branch Is not operated TO the conven-
fence and accommodation of its patrons,
running only one train, and that see
ond-class, at the most incDnvenient
hours. The citizens of Gainesville do.
mated Literally to the construction of
the road, and are certainly entitled to
better accommodation than they are
receiving.
Texas Il st. Louis railway-Length
30ll miles. The road
from TeXarkana TO Waco
Is not in good condition; it needs n
great many new ties and some new
iron. The equipment Is hrst-class
The depots and waiting rooms, with
lew exceptions, are good; only one
complaint has been filed against the
company, and this was rcmedied when
me attention of the manager was
called 10 il.
international & Great Northern rail
way and branches Length SOL miles:
equipment wholly inadequate to traffic
demands; depot accommodation for
with few exceptions.
very poor. Main lines of road i'm good
the branches, with the eX-
ceplion of the Columbia branch, are
IN fair condition. This branch, with
HE exception of the grade, needs 10 be
rebuilt entirely. 1t is badly opera led
havinga third.class train three times
I week ~ and from the terminal STA
ions. IL would be dangerous 10 on
rate IL, were 1t not for the slow sneed
II which trains are moved. The
Georgetown branch needs heavier iron
md many new ties; the Henderson
branch new iron ana ties. The Column. [
lia branch WAS formerly the Houston
Zap q Brazoria railway, and was |.
old in 1871 by tho state under
IN act Of the legislature for .
debt due the school fund. |
t was bought by Moses Taylor and .
associates, who eXecu,eu II bond for
'lOG'oeo. binding themselves TO keen
he road in good repair and operate
he same. This bond cannot Ee
ound.
Houston Il TeXns Central railway
nd hnnches--Leng;h 7i6 miles. n,nin
inc in good condition, having heen
elail with steel rats except abont 5t
allies. The Austin Branch ne dis new
ron, watch, however, the conInnnr
"a in transit. The branch bptwseo
'aco ann Noss needs new iron ana
les. with these exceptions
ne road Is In good condition
'quiplnent very good and adeuunte
lr all traffic demands. Only two cn,n.
laints, and they were discovered 10 he
'lIhout foundation. Depots and wait.
" rooms ry bad, with few excen. |
ons. I
Texas Is Pacific railway and Trims.
influential branch. Length gBj miles Il
he nlsin line from TeXarkana ia Az /
nglon II > been relaid with steel ANA d
IN fair condition, but from Arling' L
N 10 Baird II II In bad condition TLa O
on - badly warn and many naw o
Y are required. The Transconiinent' y
lewiston is in very lad condilinn. G
pn Shermau TO Paris, thence 10 r,x, y
kama, 1t is bytter, but needs some 81
Nv iron and Ties From n
arsllali to the Louisiana STAT II
e, about six miles have been relaid 81
lth steel, and the remainder n,eds oi
w iron and ties. From Baird To- Is
era Blanco the road ia In good con. "
lion, hut the equipment Is bad and =,
aoily Inadequate to the amount OF "
y Harrisburg & San An,o. la
!, o ann,waS ma mauches-- l.vnptn \ "
Mt condition, with the exception az G.
,out iiity miles, which II being re. p
40 with steel. Tie Uarrish,,r,s a,d n