The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-13
cENTRAL,s IMPROVEMENTS.
Steel Rails, Stone BellastinR ant
Pretty Parks Among the Changes.

Pretty Parks Among the Changes.
GRIFFIN, GA, Aug. 12.-The Central
railroad is fairly humping self. II it ever
lay in lethargic sleep it has risen, busted it.
self, and runs foremost in the great race
of progress.
l went out yesterday over the road and
saw the beautiful parks which General
Manager Gabbett conceived three months
ago.
They are marveIs of beauty. They are
situated close enough TO the track for the
fragrance Of the flowers to pervade the cars
as the trains pass
BEAUTIFUL FLOWER GARDENS.
They are laid out in beautiful designs, and
the plants are of the rarest sort In some
of the parks are lakelets, whose banks are
fringed with violets, with backgrounds of
lockwood. So ne have mounds des gned like
urns, covered with every variety or roses.
Others have circles, crosses and trlangles OF
lilies, bordered with delicate shrubbery
and shaded by graceful palms and pal
mettoes.
1t is feast to the eyes Of weary passen-
gers-the sight of these parks Supt. Dlll
and Roadmaster Marvin have nursed the
enterprise of G5aeral Manager Gaboett
with great deal of care, and where once
Zig beds of rubbish lay heaped have sprung
the most beautiful gardens Of the rarest
flowers. The Central is the only road In
the state which has beautltied its line In this
manner.
Such progress is significant Of greater
events.
THE GENERAL MANAGERS IDEA.
General Manager Gabbett said that his
idea In constructing parks was TO throw
around his employees every possible refining
influence. To bsautify the stations, improve
the appearance of the rolling stock and
motive power; in short, to improve the
standing of the system, elevates its employees
and makes better and more trustworthy
men. 1t is said that person may degene-
rate more rapidly in railroad life, by per
hitting himself to be isolated from the
refining influences, than in any other bust
ness.
Such considerate men as the Centrals
general manager have found this fact out,
and they are seeking to improve the attrac-
tions of their roads so as TO make better
men Of their employees.
THE CENTRALs BIG QUARRIEs.
visited the Centrals immense granite
quarry few miles from here to-day.
1t is an industry in itself. On tract of
sixty acres Of land numbers of hands are
engaged blasting out stone. These great
rocks are transferred to a powerful
crusher, where they are ground into small
particles. These particles are then put on
automatic dump cars and sent out over
the line.
Loading and unloading the cars requires
the attention of but couple of men.
The road has been ballasted from At
lanta over two-thirds of the way to Macon,
and the work is being rapidly pushed to-
ward Savannah. Every particle of dirt is
| removed from between and underneath the
| crosstles before the granite is put down.
| After the stone has been packed down hard
| the track is made solid, and the ties are
prevented from moving or jostling about.
| The moving of the train over the ballaSted
portion of the line is great deal smoother
| than over the unbaltasted part, and there is
a marked absence of noise and dust.
In addition to ballasting between the ties,
tho banks are raised and the ballast is put
down, shaping the roadbed according to the
standard section. All along here sixty
eight and a half pound rail has been put
| down, and the entire line from Atlanta 20
| Savannah will have the same rails in a
| short time. New crossties are being rapidly
| laid where the ballasting is going on.
| MORE ENTERPRISE.
Another piece of enterprise on the part
| of the Central is the establishment Of al
| hourly service on the double track from
| Atlanta to East Point and thence to Hape'
VILE The double track will be extended
shortly from East Point to Hapeville, and
the entire run from Atlanta will be made
on double track.
Regular Coney Island cars are used or
the Hapeville trains, and they are lighted
by gas. This double track has been care
fully ballasted, and the heaviest steel raj
put down. No road in Georgia has evel
established an hour service before. Th'
demand for the Hapevilie train was appar-
ent to Mr. Gabbe.t soon after he became
general manager, and the ser
vice has been great success
General Manager Gabbett has ordered
number OF ~alLlng room, &C., erected. ant
work has begun on a good many of them
Waiting rooms at Griffin, Miner and Nor
row will probably be completed first.
The Central has now, it IS said, the pref
test engines an i cars in the state, and tn
service is more satisfactory than it has eve
been, except, perhaps, on the Columbus an
Macon line. 1t is understood, however
that the service on that part of the roa
will be improved in short time.