The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-06

government TO send 1000 reirforrernents to sup.
press the uprising in favor of El Mahdi, and to
prevent friendly chiefs from joining the insur-
gents.
THE RAILWAY. IN THE DESERT.
Some Facts and Figures showing How the
Work LIS Donc.
On Feb. Ia the government decided to place in
the hands of IMessrs. Lucas & Arid the construc-
ton of the limo from Suskim to Berber On the
18th that firm received their orders. Within a
month of that date the material. plant and roll
ing stock of every description, with staff.
scaugers and leaiing men for the laying down
ard completion Of upward of 100 miles of rail-
way of four feet eight and one-half inches gauge,
with ffty-six-p pound steel rails have been
shipped to Suakim. ard the railway has been be-
gun. If consider the amount of transport re-
qnired and supplied by the government, and the
material gathered together and shipped within
four weeks of the date of tho order we must ad-
nit that the speed used in carrying out the con-
tract is without precedent 80 sss.5s :. =.
Upto the present time eighteen vessels have
started from different ports for Suakim each
vessel containing staff, men, and material suf7
fcient to isr down its portion OF Juc rond. News
has been received from Suakin that the con-
structionl of the line has been actually begun
and tint the coolies sent from India have
arrived and begun to work with the native
daborers already employed; Itwould be ilnpos
sible to give here complete list of the plant
and materials required for the 100 miles of rail-
sway thus shipped. aud OF the outfit and other
matters wanted FOE she staff who have to super
intend. the construction. and for the men who
hagesfo lay the road. 1t will be seen that the
contractors have been as thoughtful in small
things rs in great: that they have considered,
not only the railway that is to be laid and the
rolling,stoch that is to move upon it, but also
ne minutest requirements for the health, com
fort and defense of their men.
Upzto the beginning OF the week. then. there
as heeH shipped, as already stated, everything
required for the laying down of 100 miles of rail
way In the first place we may put down 10000
tors OF ffty-gix-poand steel rails for the main line
and 2 470 tons OF smaller rails for the gauge line
ynA for the temporary lines to carry materials
all these with fish plates and fasteuings com
piete. The slespefs necessary to carry these
rails are more than quarter of million. be-
sides Geo tons of steel sleepers for the / loot u
inch gauge line. There are also twelve tssrn-
tables The rolling stock includes six four
wheel aud ten six.wheel locomotives for the
.auge line. and a.quantity. of duplicate portions
If engines. i'll case of accident and there six
covers TO protect the men from shot and heat.
The passenger traffic will be conducted in six
saloon aud twenty six third class carriages,
with ten brake vans. while for stores and anmu-
milton arc provided 200 ballast trucks. to carry
eight tons carli aud upward of 800 troileys and
wagons. Fitted to the 4 foot 81 inch gauge, also
is q double tank watercar of a capacity OF
1000 gallons aud there are six single tanks. on
troifeys.
Signal boxes levers hand and steam cranes
sheerlegs, portable engines winding gear, boil
ers. steam pumps, artesian well pumps. galvan
ICED iron tanks, awatercocks, pipe testing ma
chimes OF every size. sort, capacity. horse power
and gauge have all been provided. OF wrought
iron steam tubing, tested to ,2GU pounds n
square inch. for conveying water, there are IN
all eyer 161, 900 fset-fnore than thirty miles
with diameters varying from four inches to
three fourths of an inch. and the fittings for
these are complete. In the matter of lighting
the following apparatus mas been ship ped Six
sets of electriclight apparatus for SIX LOCO
candle lights, with six spare lamps, and three
spare lanterns. to work en- feet 81 inch
gauge. troileys and shears, crabs, ropes,
and brackets. 500 yards of cable al complete
for lamps 1000 feet carbons. wrought iron dust
proof case with each set Six sets of ditto, Tit
ted on trolleys feet 81 in gauge). each of six
lengths, ABrIsh} and SEQ yards of cable, with
lanns lanterns. carbons for loco hours each
lamp. poles. crabs. and appliances For lamps com
plete. Six sets OF telegraphic apparatus live
miles in each set with alphabetical instruments
and telephones complete, two spare sets of tele-
graph and four spare sets of telephone instru-
nents.
There are eleven water condensers capable of
producing over 40, 900 gallons day; and the Ad
nliraity supply the Zurich and another vessel for
ondensing purposes, each with apparatus and
ne hundred tanks of 300 gallons capacity. The
admiralty have supplied also two onehundred-
nd thirty ton iron barges. and the contractors
team launch and six wooden pontoons, all OF
which will be for landing purposes. The vast sup
ply of miscellaneous materials used In construc-
tion-Portland cement 1850 tons) timber balks,
deals, struts, packings. scaffold poles ropes,
= blocks, chains and sling chains--these thingsare
too numerous for detailed mention. For the lay
ing and repair of plant two complete fitting shops.
with all necessary appliances, filters, smiths,
and plate layers tools. have been shipped.
Aneroids theodolites and other instruments Of
the engineering art are. of course, not forgotten
Passing over all the rest of the items Of q sim
liar nature. we come to the personal require
ments of the men. and here it may DO interest
ing to set forth in full the outfit of a NAVY as
provided by the contractors: Three flannel
shirts (coloredl four pairs of worsted half hose,
two pairs drawers Jersey, one pea jacket, two
pairs moleskin trousers one blue jersey, two
pairs laced boots. one silk necktic. blue
knitted cap one soft felt hat, pith helmet,
one canvas bag, one gray blanket, one ground
sheet, one mattress, one leather belt. two fan
mel belts. enc spinal pad, Que tin water bottle.
one pair goggles, three iron plates (enameled),
one set knife, fork and spoon, one set brushes
THAR, clothes and shoel, one one gallon water
bottle, three iron basins tenameledl. one iron
mug tenameledl, three towels and one hook pot.
The men will occupy huts in small companies,
and may, if they please meet in a large hat ca
pable of holding 2o0 men. Two litters. com
pletely fitted with medicine and medical appli-
ances have been sent out by the st. Johns Am
bulance Association for the treatment of the
sick or wounded