The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-11

laid with heavy steel rail from Indianapolis to
St Louis and ballasted with gravel or stone the
entire distance, and for road of its length has
the best and largest locomotive power per mile
of any road west of the Alleghenies. Then
there the Pennsylvania lines. 1t requires
an expert with all modern devices OF ascertain
ing the perfectness of track to say which is the
better the c., ST l.. & p, between Columbus
and indianapolis, or the j., NJ L., be-
tween Indianapolis and Louisville. Both are
perfectly safe to ride over at the
fastest speed yet made by locomotive. The
much abused L & V. division is getting its head
above water rapidly. There are now some sixty
miles Of the road laid with steel rails, and the
entire road we'll balasted with gravel or stone;
then the grade at low places has been raised, so
that but little trouble from high water is looked
for in the future. The c., a. q /. division OF
the c., III. & D., under the present manage
ment is becoming a road Of much more impor-
lance than in former years. Of the ninety eight
miles between Indianapolis and Hamilton,
sixty-five miles is laid with the best
sixty pound-tot he-yard steel rail, and the
remainder of the division. will be
laid with steel within the next twelve months.
The improvements made to the equipments OF
this road during the last three years may best
be appreciated by comparing them with the old,
| rickety, dirty, yellow coaches formerly run on
this division. The L., N. A. & c. Airline is
| another road which has made rapid strides to-
ward being respectable road during the last
Two years. luelr tFdlDS make ABOUT as gOOO
time as those of Older lines, and their equipments
are quite satisfactory. The track of the l., B. &
w. is not SO good as that of several of the roads
named. Forced economy has, doubtless had
much to do with this matter but it is under
stood that all surplus earnings above paying
hxed charges and operating expenses are to
be expended in improving the track, and a
few months from now a better report
can truthfully be made So far as equipments
are concerned, the l., B. & w. compares favor
ably with a majority of the Indianapolis lines.
The L., ID. Il 5. Is another road which is rapidly
mending its ways. Ninety of their Isl miles of
track compare favorably with the best. Twenty
seven miles additional will soon be laid. Over a
portion of this road the fastest time ever made
In the country was run recently. Their equip
ments are number one. Lastly, we come to the l.,
Z. q c., now operated by the Wabash. Not
wishing to be unjust in these criticisms Superin-
tendent Stevens should be credited with, all
things considered, having done well with this
property. For two years past the powers that
were of this road have not known whether the
l.. P. & G. would be retained in the Wabash
system or not. When indications were
that it would be, the management
have shown disposition to improve the prop
erty, and while the road-bed is not what it should
be, it is much better, physically, than two years
ago. All that can be said about the equipments
is that they are the old Wabash rolling stock.
Doubtless, should the road again be part of the
Wabash it will be greatly improved and made a
gratifying that a majority of the roads in
such excellent shape, physically. The manage
ments which have improved their property dur
ing the depressed times now if the rates
are main tained show handsome net earnings for
years to come, as their expenses for maintenance
OF way will, comparatively speaking, be light
Daily Mail Service with San Francisco.
There are but six mails week delivered in
San Francisco on account of the trains lying
over on Sunday at Chicago. In consequence,
no mail arrives on Thursday. The postmaster
of San Francisco has written several letters to
the Washington authorities, with view to hav-
ing the mail arrive every day, and received the
following reply, few days since, from S. M. Swee-
ney, acting Assistant Postmaster: Il beg leave
to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, rela-
tive to forwarding mails from Chicago on Sun
day destined for your city. in reply, permit me
to say that the matter has been referred to the
general superintendent of the railway mail
service for investigation, and he is now endeav-
oring to induce the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy Railroad Company to put on Sunday
train, and thus afford the patrons of your Office
the required relief"