The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-26
AFFAIRS OF THE RAILWAYS.
Al New Invention of the Greatest Value and
Highest Importance.

a New Invention uf the Greatest Value and
Highest Imporfance.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.
LOUISVILLE. KY, March ga remarkable
and valuable invention in railroad mechanism
which has recently successfully stood severe
practical test of eight months duration on the
Kentucky g. Indiana Bridge railroad.
was sold here yesterday TO the Amer
lean Semaphore Company for $150.000
block signal, the rails being used SO electrodes.
1t not only affords absolute and unfaing pro-
lection 10 the block section, but indicates the
presence Of broken spread rail, misplaced
switch or obstructio on the track within any
section. An entirely novel sciet1ic feature is
the of a chloroform compound expanding
in q partial vacuum. from which the power Tor
moving the signals Ia obtained the small electric
current being only an auxiliary. Scientists ana
mechanical engineers. as well as many prominent
railroad men. pronounce the invention
mechanical phenomenon. and say
that the wonderful results obtained
from its use win effect revolution in railroad
operations, as it reduces the chances Of railroad
accidents TO minimum, admitting OF the
maximum speed with safety New FORK, Pitts
burg Chicago and Louisville capitalists are
among the present owners of the device.
Freight Traffac Improving, but Still Light.
Last week there were received and forwarded
$40 more loaded cars at Indianapolis than in the
week ending the 10th. but still the movement is
light II will be noticed that the east-and west
lines handled 40 per cent fewer cars last week
than in the corresponding week of 1887. The
corresponding week last year was the banner
week OF the year 1887. Rates were somewhat
demoraIized and shippers, anticipating an ad-
vance with the taking effect of the interstate
law, were forwarding their business to the full
est car-capacity of the Eastern lines. For In
stance, the Decline forwarded last year 687
more loaded cars in the week ending March 70
than this year in the week ending March
"a, and the difference in volume OF bust
ness is fully marked with all lines which carry
east bound business There 10 but httie export
traffic, although ocean rates were never lower
than at the present time. Then theirs Is but
little grain provisions moving eastward. An
improvement, however, is looked for IN the
near future. Wess-bound business Is good; new
err better. For two or three days in the early
part Of last week. owing TO the snow blockade
East, in the week preceding, the west-bound
tonnage was light, but now it is exceeding that
of the corresponding period 1887 and promises
to continue heavy for some weeks to come The
freight carried is largely merchandise. carried
at tariff rates, and yields handsome revenue to
the road compared with that of year ago.
Traffic with north -and-south roads is about M
TO the usual March average. The unfavorable
weather of the past week has somewhat
affected local business, but this -
only tenn porary everything indicates good
local traffic through the spring and summer
months. Business generally is affected some
what by the luli in railroad building IN sthe
Western and Southern States, as the movement
of railway supplies is lighter Then the ship
ments of live stock off few hundred cars;
this. with the small amount of grain moving, re-
duces the volume of business the most seriously.
Strikes on the other roads and rumors of more
90 come indirectly affect the business of all
roads in the country. Indianapolis lines, how
ever feel it less than most of the Western roads.
Yet there is uneasiness among railroad men
which does not tend to make business brisk and
many Of the roads have abandoned making CON-
templated improvements until the situation is
better understood Below is given the umber
of cars received and forwarded at Indianapolis
in the week ending March "a as compared with