The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-17

ty weeks Of the fifty-two Of each year. The rea'
son for this is that soon as shippers get
chance TO ship over this line they
turn the greater part of their business
on to it The fact is. there is no justice or
reason that the Chicago 81 Alton or the Ohio 81
Mississippi should be recognized IN the East ST
Louis east-bound live stock pool Certainly the
G. & A. should not be- That the Vandalia, the
L & St l.. and the Wabash are the proper lines
to forward live stock and perishable freghts
over, must be admitted. Their facilities, more
especially the two first named roads. for moving
stock promptly, feeding and resting cattle at
proper distances gives more force to the above
remarks. At best, live stock suffers when
ried over the most direct routes and the shortest
time. The Vandalia has repeatedly asked for
an increased per cent, hut has been bluffed, and
against the pool rulings is manifesting itself on
the part of the management OF the Vandalia
road.
Fast Run.
"In April, 1885, said an old traveller to q
Journal reporter, 'the Panhandle company
tried the experiment. of running passenger
trains between Pitssburg and Columbus. o.. at
as high a rate OF speed as could possibly be at
tanned. Trials were made every day for .
week, and on many trips the speed attained as
tonished even old railroalers who had for years
been used to seeing their trains travelling at a
fifty mile an hour rate. Anyone who will look
over the files of the Pittsburg Dispatch between
the dates Of April and 16. 1885, can find an &C
count Of the remarkably fast time made by the
train on which was passenger, which left the
Smoky City between 8 and A. M. and was
run as fast as one of the best
locomotives in the country could go. No one
of the passengers knew that trial of speed was
to be made but we were afterwards informed
that Superintendent Taylor was on board and
~ 49, - - 49, H..
as fast as possible We pulled out over the long
bridge very slowly and around the high cliff that
skirts the river till the inky blackness of Cork
Run tunnel enveloped us, and after emerging
from the deep cut at its western portal, we
found that we going like lightning round
sharp curves and through villages where the
people stood and watched with attitude
that showed that they knew we were flying.
Some old travellers sat calmly in their seats read
ing the morning papers, but even they soon
began to cast ominous chances through the win
dows rs the black rocks of deep cuts few past,
as though they had been shot out Of some i'm
mense mortar. The whistle of the locomotive
was sounded SO often for stations and crossings
that scarcely minute passed that we did not
hear it. Alter the long blast we would fash
through some little town, where people could be
seen on the platform of the stations holding
their hats and seeming to behold the flying cars
with amazement Dogs rushsd from doors
where they had been resting and ran toward the
cars barking, but before they reached the gate we
were out of sight and around some curve, going
like mad, with the coarse whistle sounding the
crossing signal almost necessarily. Often there
would come the tap of bell and the rush of an
eastbound train on the opposite track with a
suddenness that was appalling. The pas
sengers began to look scared and
as if they would ask the cause
of such wild speed. One fat drummer got
up and attempted to go to the center of the car,
but found navigation SO near impossible that he
squatted down on the next seat to the one he had
left. and motioned to the conductor, who had
just entered our car to come to him. The con-
ductor managed to come near by using the seats
to steady him, and the frightened drummer
calculated: what in the - is the matter with
this train; they will kill us all if they don't slack
up9' The conductor then informed US that
special run was being made, but that the track
was clear. and there was no danger. We soon
reached Steubenville where we run slow over
the Ohio river bridge, stopped for water in that
with more rapidity than before The next
stop was at Denison,. the end of the
division, ninety-three miles from Pittsburg,
We had made the run at the rate of ifty-fve
us out of Denison, and the way we covered the
straight track was amazing. l have been OH
many roads, East and West North and South,
but never did go over the ties SO fast as then.
It seemed only a minute between bridges that
knew were a mile and half apart, and looking
directly through the window telegraph pole
could be seen all the time There is q grade
crossing at Newcomsrstown which caused the
next stop. When arrived there Superintend
emit Taylor into the telegraph Office and sent
the following message to the operator at Pitts
burg: EAST enough to suit my taste. For Gods
| sake run her littleslower." We had run the
fourteen miles from Denison at the rate OF sew
enty two miles an hour, without allowing for the
time lost In getting started That was the fastest
ride ever got, and l do not want to try 1t
again.