The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-15
stranded Railways.

The T. B. e. w. people now, doubtless, see
that the building of the what is known as their
eastern division was mistake The Peoria di-.
vision was of itself valuable property, and
will to-day pay its fixed charges, its operating
expenses, and q to per cent dividend on its
capital stock; but through the extension of the
system this division has been stranded The
earnings of the Peoria division have been sunk
on the eastern extension. Money which should
have been expended on the Peoria division In
laying with heavier steel rail, in building new
bridges. cutting down grades. and increasing the
equipment has been used on the east
ern extension. and. az q result. the whole
system Is stranded. The Albany. NY, Express,
in commenting on the financial standing Of
American railways, says: "In the past few
years most of the railroad wrecks have beer the
result OF 'paralleling' the building of unnecessary
roads, either in the hope of profit or of black
mail. an operation usually attended with failure,
and with disaster greater or less to the competed
with, as well as the competitors, in the struggle
for the survival of the fttest." The Express
then adds: ''The most frghtful financial Col
gotha which history affords is illustrated in the
American railroad system. Thousands of miles
or road have passed into bankruptcy. and bill
ions OF dollars OF securities have been rendered
ssy tn. The ss.. ruin which .s tss
cannot be conceived. much less esti-
mated. The horrors which have conferred
in Wall street have been reproduced in milder
form over the entire country. This operation
has been going on during the first six months of
1886 with almost unparalleled force. From Jan.
to July no less than seventeen roads, with
mileage of 8, 1872 miles, and stock and bond in
debtedness of 1921 620 000 have been foreclosed
upon. This ratio exceeds even that of 1885,
when twenty two roads, with 1856 miles, suf-
fered the same fate; or that of 1884, when the
foreclosure sales reached the lowest average for
ten years, and the record was fifteen roads, with
but 1iO miles. But the unfavorable showing for
this year is more apparent than real. The rec
ord is of wrecks which occurred in former years.
-
The Freight-Ca Car Brake Test in Progress.
The great freight-car brake test, under
the auspices of the National Car-builders'
Association, was begun at Burlington,
La, Tuesday. A section of the
Chicago. Burlington G. Quincy track,
about eight miles in length and including various
curves and grades, had been selected for the
test Five car brake companies have entered
for the contest--the Westinghouse Air Brake.
the Eames Vacuum Brake, the Rate Brake
American Driver Brake and the Widdifeld
q Button Brake Each company furnishes
attached. The tests are to be made
under various conditions of loaded and empty
cars at various rates OF speed on level and de-
scending grades, sudden stops. etc. Cars fitted
with dynamometers and electrical and other APP
paratus will be attached, and very thorough
scientific tests will be made that will be of great
value to the railway and scientific world The
experiments will occupy month or more of con-
tlnuous work, and are to be repeated in April,
1887. including record of the work done by the
cars interim. The work to-day was chiefly pre-.
paratory, and included gravity tests and expert
ments with the common brake, testing of
engines, and other preliminary data One of
the tests is stopping freight train of fifty
freight cars under full Roadway. The Eames
Brake Company are Of the opinion that their
brake is the only brake which will work at all
satisfactory in a test of this character