The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-01
5. 9soI27. al Is. 695I4O. 399


New York Chicago s. ST. Louis .........-.. lis
Pttsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago. 100
Total 1000
Railroad Shops Which Are Inviting as a
Kings Palace.
Such progress has been made toward complet-
ing the new shops of the Chicago, St Louis 81
Pittsburg In the eastern part OF the city and the
grounds adjacent thereto that one can hardly
spend few hours to better advantage than in
looking through these perfectly planned shops
and over the yards which in extent and conven-
inences. when fully completed, will surpass any
yards in the West These shops now give en-
ployment to 400 men. The officers are as follows:
VIM. Swanston, master mechanic: w. G. Arp,
general foreman; Edward Austin, foreman Of
car department.; g. P. Sweeney. foreman
of machine shops; G. Willersey, foreman
of boiler shop: William Smart, foreman of black
smith shop; Alfred Lee foreman of wood work
shopand planning mill w. W. Richardson, chief
clerk; Miss Swanston, assistant; j.. A. Dildine,
storekeeper. In the Enclosure are forty two
acres of ground. which amply shaded and
admit of perfect system of drainage. The
building In which Master Mechanic Swanston's
Offices are is 50x75 feet two stories high. The
basement is used for stores; the first floor for his
Offices and the telegraph Office, the second floor
for light and more valuable railroad supplies
On tho first floor and in the basement are large
welsecured safes. The main machine shop is
50xl80 feet near by is the blacksmith shop, zl5x
Is feet next the car machine shops, 75x75 feet,
adjoining is the tool ROOM 30 feet square, and
the englne-house 35x75 feet. A short distance
away is the boiler shop. 80x125 feet. The pass
enger-car shop is located little further to the
east. and is 115x125 feet few rods north is
the freiyht-car shop, 125xl18 feet. The paint
shop is 125xl80 feet. upholstery and
varnish shop 75xl25 feet, planning mill,
etc., 75xl50 feet cabinet shop 75x.
shop, 50x50 feet oil house, 30x5O feet; sand
house, 25x50 feet. The transfer table is
another striking feature; it is 60x400 feet. The
heaviest locomotive can be transferred from
track to another with the greatest ease; like the
floor of the shops. it is concrete floor, so ar
ranged that the water runs from it freely. The
portion of the model round house now completed
will house thirty locomotives, but it is not sufi-
GENTLY large, as there are often fifty locomotives
to be housed for a short time. The perfect
order, the cleanliness. the completeness
of the various shops, etc, is forcibly impressed
upon visitor. In each of the important build
ngs is wash room where thirty men wash
at the same time and have both cold and hot
water for their use. From the oil house to the
Offices there is an inviting appearance, and
lady with n silk dress on could walk through the
various buildings without danger of soiling her
dress. Each building is cheerfully lighted. In
each building the foreman has an office, commo.
dious and conveniently arranged as regards
desks, safes etc. In fact it would be difficult, i'll
ments, to find any place where
improvements could well be made In the
building are four stationary engines, which fur
nish the power for the immense works. One
engine is in service only to furnish power for
the electric lights in the shops and through the
yards where work is done as readily by night as
bylday.
In the shops are seventy two different ma
chimes, majority of them having been received
III the last six months from the Niles machine
works. and are constructed with the most mod
ern improvements. The most ponderous of these
machines, and those which attract the
most attention, are the hydraulic wheel
press, the boring MILL the wheel lathe
there are dozen more large lathes of different
patterns, placed in an order which catches the
eye. In the boiler shop are monster power rolls
eleven feet in length and ponderous combined
punch and shears. In the blacksmith shop is a
steam hammer which does great execution. To
comprehend the extent and work these seventy
two machines perform person needs to stand
by through an entire day. In these shops
everything from the oil can to perfect coach
or locomotive, are constructed Other places
worth noting are the pattern shop the toOl-room,
the oil house, the upholstery room; all are
complete in every respect, and there is the most
perfect system in all the departments; not tool
can be taken from the tool-roop, except when
handed out by the keeper of the room The oil
house is remarkable place. Under the floor Of
the shed are twelve tanks, the company using
that number of kinds of oil. Pipes from these
tanks run to a neatly finished Office, where
large brass faucets, from which the oil house
keeper draws when oil is called for Every
thing is bright, and cleanly ard inviting, al
though ali oil house. Then; there is the sand
house, where carload is dried daily
and distributed to the sand-boxes
on the locomotives. Near by are the coal yards
Here daily from 125 to $50 tonsof coal are un-
loaded from the cars, then elevated to a plat
form, where there scales, then run out on to
another platform, where the coal is dumped into
the engines required A dozen engine tanks
can be filled In ten minutes with ease, and all
this work is done without the use of shovel and
the service of but three men. The arrangements
for coaling engines at these yards is said to be
the most perfect and economical to be found
in any yards in the country. The
beautiful cottage in the grove the
company, are now building is to be
reading room A suitable library will be pro-
vided by the company. Men and wagons
engaged in leveling the grounds, laying out grass
plots, flower beds, etc. and identifying the
yards progresses quite satisfactorily. There
will betwelve tracks one mile in
length, extending from the shop
grounds to the Belt road. Then there are numer-
Gus shorter tracks. AS usual where the Penn
sylvania people undertake to make an improve
ment everything is done upon a grand scale
and to comprehend these improvements one needs
spend several hours In the shops aud upon the
ground The officials of the shops seem glad to
show a visitor the sights. and, as we'll feel proud
that they are in the employment of company
which does things so magnanimous a SCALE
A Scene to Cause Democratic Heartache.
Washington Cor New Orleans Times Democrat.
visitor to the State Department was aston
ished. not to say paralyzed, by an incident that
occurred there. He was in the Office of the