The Springdale news., 1889-08-02
RAIL ROADS IN INDIA.
They Are Not Such as to Call Forth an
 Americans Enthusiasm.

Americans Enthusiasm.
 Nearly all the railroads in India are under the Government and many of the roads were built by the Government, guaranteeing five per cent to the stock holders on the condition that the profits above five per cent. shall be equally dl- vided between the Government and the stockholders. Over other of the roads the Government has sort Of control, and the result is that the tenure of place on the railroad is much the same as that of the civil service of England Men expect to stay lifetime when they enter tho railroad service, and there is no danger of their discharge during good behavior. There are no strikes in India, and position on the railroad is considered very desirable by the natives.
 The laws are on account of the Gov ernment owning the roads almost alto gether in favor Of the road, and our farmers would rise in indignation at some of them. If an American has a COW killed on the track of a road run ming through his farm the railroad company pays well for it. Tn India the owner of cattle found trespassing on the railroad is liable to a penalty of $3 30 for each animal. Any man who drives any animal across an Indian railway, except at certain appointed times and places, is liable to fine of Sl7, and any man who enters a car re- served for females can be fined %35. The man who tries to get on q train here after it is star;cd will be fined S7 and any one who attempts to dcfraud the railroad company in any manner is liable to fine of SIG.
 The postal cars ave in the middle of the train here in India, and the pos tal clerks are natives. It takes about | as many clerks to manage tho mail as with us, but the service is much cheap I er The head clerk gets about seventy rupees month, or less thrn $50, and \ the others receive from SlO to S20 . month Letters arc sorted on the trains, and postage is charged for thC posting of letters at the trains just bc fore the cars start
 One of the worst things about these ln dian trans is the impossibility of pass ing from one car to another, and the dliii culty which one has to get at the guarC CT to stop tho train You may be lock cd tip in the same compartment with l; mad man or a robber, and it i5 impos sible for you to help yourself. In th cars of one of the Western Indian road there is little electric button, fcnce' around with walnut frame, owe whch is pane of thick gIass. Jus around the button arc the words
 ITO stop tho train break the glas and touch the button.'
 On one of the trunk lines I wa closetcd in frst-class compartment i
 a train going at the rate of thirty mile an hour Looking upward l say tina tho glass globe containing the lam ,, was leaking and that full pint of Q had run out of it and that this WA
 shaking With each sway of the caI
 There was nothing between 1t and on , blaze, and feared every moment thf it would catch, the glaH ....,i '' hI Oll WOulI ~nrea
 'fi' " 'lH thc carpet of thc little bo.
 like room below. M which wa-
 looked for hcli-roro There w; none. l went all around the floor , , thc car, looking over tile walls an sought everywhere some means of -toI ping the train could find none. an l had 10 wait until we arrived at tn next station half au hour latei
 Luckily no accident happened and WIS able here to call the guard an have the lamp removed Had ther
 been an explosion my only salvatio would have been in putting out th flame or in jumping through the ca
 window while the train was going {
 this lightning speed. Frank G. Cal pcnter, in Couricr-Jo3rnaI.