The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-14

The Journal is in receipt of pamphlet writ
ten by James McHenry, of London, who is now
in New York, in which the abuses in the man
ageme MT of railroads in this country are handled
without gloves. More especially does he point
out the shortcomings of the management of the
Erie system since the days of the Watson ad
ministration Mr. McHenry says: II am often
asked if my fight with the Erie is not hopeless,
and whether / am not Disguised. ] reply that I
am not hopeless I contend for the rights of in
yestors, the inviolability of contracts and the
punishment of treacherous trustees. l shall
always maintain that the Erie railroad is prop
erty of enormous value-a value far exceeding
the most extravagant dreams ever formed of it
in this country. There are, in fact few here
who appear to have the remotest conception of
the value to its proprietors Of an intelligently
conducted railway while for the managers
the profits are often in more senses
than one phenomenal The beginning OF
the end Of the times when capital
be freely obtained abroad for American
railways is at hand, and it has been fastened by
such dishonest practices as those which 1 have
described Confidence in American enterprise
will be restored when there is observed dispo-
sition to correct all abuses, to remedy past ones
and to punish evil-doers who are responsible for
them" President Watson's plan for the extern
sion and development of the Erie was correct
as il WAS courageous and if it were carried out,
Erie would become company second to none
for surety and profit as an investment 1t was
wrecked through colossal falsehoods, through
sham insolvency and through revolving mass
of corrupt administration. The road could be
operated for 60 per cent, and leave per cent.
for division over the entire capital of the COM
pany. Erie might have been the foremost of
American railroads. Mr.. McHenry makes some
excellent points, and had the pamphlet been
written by Charles F. Adams, or men of his
character, who not chronic grumblerS, it
would have some weight
The Fast Run Over the Vanderbilt Lines.
The recent fast run of special train over the
Vanderbilt lines from Chicago to New York was
made to determine the shortest practicable time
on the Central Hudson system from Chicago to
New York, with view to placing a new limited
express on the road on and after May "a, which
will make the distance between those cities
materially shorter than by any other route
The trip of this special was notable for the fast
es. time ever run by continuous train between
the places, and Dr. Webb says that train will
be put on to make the entire distance in twenty
three hours. The time of the Pennsylvania
| limited train is twenty-five hours. The reduc-
ton of the time on the Central is great tri-
| umph in railroad service. Those on the flyer
which passed through Albany said the ride had
| been very comfortable The run from Chicago
| to Buffalo was made in eleven hours and forty
minutes over the Lake Shore, the old road being
| used instead Of the airline This was the fast
| est time ever made between Chicago and Buffa-
| To- The run from Cleveland to Buffalo was
! made in three hours and forty minutes, with
twenty-six minutes given to stops. The nominal
| time of this train was twenty-three and three
fourths hours, but the difference in time be-
/ tween New York and Chicago being one hour,
the actural running time was twenty two and
| three fourths hours, the fastest time ever made.
| From Erie to Buffalo the trip made in one
| hour and fifty-six minutes, which is seven min
1 utes faster than ever before made. The fact
| that train could be over the Lake Shore
road at the rate of about sixty miles an hour,
at the opening of spring and after an unusually
severe winter: is asplendid Endorsement of the
| condition of the road. The train consisted of
three sleepers, and during the trip engines were
changed six times.