The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-18

project one from either side. just below and in
front OF the boiler, and in front of the forward
truck-wheels are horns" or protectors, project
ing forward. which would prevent any light
object from becoming entangled in the wheels.
The lack of the headlight is not so clear. In
the various States of this country laws have
been passed compelling its use. The only yes
tlge OF headlight on the English engine is
little bug light placed in the same position for
the purpose of a signal. The writer says an
English locomotive an American road IN
summer, using American fuel. would soon nave
confederation raging in the fields and unoer-
brush all along the line. British engine
driver would hardly consent to run an engine
with the coal commonly used on our railroads.
Who Is Benefited by the Low Rates?
Said veteran railroad man yesterday: who
is benefited oy the low rates now prevailings
Certainly the bondholder is not He sees the
directors creating new mortgages to raise funds
to pay the interest on the bonds he holds, or
else he is asked to take part money and part
scrip for his interest. The stakeholder Is not
benefited, as he receives no dividends, and sees
his stock gradually being wiped out as the road
gradually drifts toward bankruptcy. The man
ufacturers Of railway supplies are not benefited,
as the roads are not earning enough above
actual operating expenses to purchase
supplies with. even to maintain the properties.
The employees are not benefited Thirty-three
per cent less men are now employed than IN
1882, while wages of those who remain In service
have been cut and cut until in many cases. they
are receiving 20 per cent less wages than 10
1882. The cities and towns which the road
passes through, and those at termini, are not
benefited AS at Indianapolis, needed improve
| ments are deferred from time to time, hoping
for restoration of rates and better times for the
railroad companies The shipper is not bene
flied. He is continually exercised lest
his neighbor shipper is getting lower rate
than his house. At the same time he knows
that sooner or later he has got to
pay dearly for the low rates rebates etc, he is
now given. The wholesale merchant is not
benefited, as drummers from the larger COM
mercial centers are securing the country for
business and using as lever to secure such
business the low rates now prevailing Green
castle, Charlottesville, Franklin, Noblesvllle.
louisville, Danvlle, and all towns on the Indian
apolis roads. given the same rate as the In
dianapolis or Cincinnati wholesale merchant
Lastly, the producer is not benefited, as when
ever east bound rates drop or 10 cents the mar
ket will drop in price more than proportionately,
be the property forwarded grain, provisions, cot
ton or tobacco.
Heavier and Better Rail Necessary.
The better class of railway managers are pay
ing more attention to the weight and quality of
the steel rails they place in their tracks. The
Wabash people have had a very bitter experience
through the purchase of poor quality of steel
rail, and have within the last twelve months re-
placed over sixty miles on the main line with
new. heavier steel, taking up rails which had not
been in the track over three years Other roads
can be mentioned which, having on the grounds of
economy purchased poor rail. now find constant
renewal of track necessary. Since steel rails
were introduced the railroad companies have
continued increasing the size and weight Of their
rolling stock, and the speed of trains has also
been materially accelerated, till the rails which
carried trains safely ten years ago not suffi-
cient to endure without danger the blows
from the cars or locomotives now in use at
the speed the blow is struck. Although the
trains In Britain maintain higher average
speed than those run on American roads, acct
dents from broken rails are almost unknown
there, the cause of this exemption from break
age being due to the great weight of rail en-
ployed. While our leading railroads are using
| rails weighing from fifty to sixty pounds to the
yaro British roads doing similar work have rails
weighing from sixty-fve to eighty five pounds
to the yard. American engineers assumed that
steel rails couid not be overloaded by ordinary
railroad locomotives or cars and they introd uced
rails that were too light in the first place, and
the breakages due to inherent weakness now
manifesting the mistakes made. There are
many thousands OF miles of railroad track laid
with steel under sixty pounds weight to the
yard. Every train that rolls this track
are getting smaller and weaker every year. AS
this weakness grows the increase of accidents
| from breakage will 60 on.