The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-03
RAIL AND CROSsTIE.

/
rallro ad, with headquarters in Memphis, Is
spending few days at the Hotel Iybee.
The Oldest railroad conductor believed to
be living in the United States is Richard
| Coug hin Of Paterson, n. ]. He is about 50
years Of age and in 1888 ran on the road
between Paterson and New York.
There will be no more card playing in the
| drawing room cars on the Long Island
road, according to an order recently issued
| by Vice President Norton. Frequent com
| plants by ladies led to an investigation,
and it was decided to put stop to the card
playing.
General Manager Gabbett has issued a
circular announcing that the jurisdiction Of
| w. W. Starr superintendent transporta-
| ton; William Hunter, chief engineer main
tenance of way; Capt. ]. G. Haskell, pur-
chasing agent, and T. L. Chapmal, superin-
| tendent Of motive power of the Central
| railroad, has been extended over the Savan-
nah and Atlantic railroad.
The project for railway to Alaska is
about TO take definite shape Application
will be made to parliament at the next SEES
sion for the passage OF an act Incorporating
the Vancouver, Northern and Alaska Rail-
way and Navigation Company, with power
to build a railway from Vancouver. or
some other point on Burrard inlet, on the
banks of the Frazer river, to points on the
Parsnip and Peace rivers, with branches in
northeasterly direction to the Skeena aud
Stikeen rivers to the boundary OF Alaska.
The Americas Times says: The construc-
ton work on the western division of the
Savannah, Americas and Montgomery rail
road is being pushed rapidly forward.
Already the road has been made standard
gauge to Preston, and in the couse of a week
or ten days will be completed to Richland,
where it intersects the Columbus Southern.
The roadbed has been graded on to
the Chattahoochee river, and tracklay
ing is progressing at the rate of a mile a
day. Beyond the river, on the Alabama
side. work is being rushed forward as
rapidly as possible. A large force of labor
ers started yesterday at Hurtshoro, and
will work eastward toward the river. 1t is
confidently expected now that the road will
be completed to Montgomery, its western
terminus, early in January, thus giving an
air line from the west to the seacoast via
Americas
The Columbia Is. c. Register. writing
of the South Bound, says: "Only the right
effort and cooperation of Columbia's citi-
zens is needed to bring it here. The survey
ing party engaged in running possible line
for the proposed road from the point where
it would cross the Charlotte, Columbia
and Augusta railroad to the Congaree river
are now near New Brookland, and it is
expected will have completed their work as
far as the river within few days. Engineer
Moore is in charge of the surveying party,
and it is stated that the line now proposed
will run in close proximity to New
Brookland and strike the Con-
garee not far from the Gervais
street bridge. 1t is also stated the people of
Lexington, in the section through which
the road would run if put through, ex-
press willingness to assist the enterprise to
the full extent of their means. The latest
scheme in regard to furnishing a crossing of
the COngaree by the new road is for the
County of Lexington and the City of
Columbia to unite in building bridge there
for. The plan proposed is to build a double
deck bridge, with the lower portion for
wagons and foot passengers, and the upper
for he railroad. This idea carried into
effect would give Columbia and
Lexington what both so earnestly
desire, a free bridge. If
this can be accomplished and Column
bla will give the new road the right of way
along certain unused streets to enable it to
connect with other roads at the Union
depot, there is every reason to believe our
city will be made the terminus of the line.
Why not have mass meeting of citizens to
consider the situation and take any steps
necessary. The matter is OF the utmost
Importance, and the proposed short cut to
Augusta by the Coast Line, which leaves
Columbia one sid =, makes it more impor-
tant than ever before.n
Chief Engineer Wells of the Macon Con-
| struction Company, who has charge of the
surveys for the Macon and Atlantic rail-
road, is reported to be one Of the best en-
| gineers in this country. Mr.. Wells first
important work was the location of the
| Savannah and Western railroad from Tai
| lonOOSa river tO ,pad9 4 In inplu6 i0o COnsa
and Oak mountain tunnels. OF this work
| Gen. Alexander once said: 81 cannot ex-
press in too strong terms my high apprecia-
| ton of his ability integrity, Indomitable
| energy and perseverance and his re-
markable talents for railroad location
which l may consistently say
have never seen equaled." This COW
cred the period of 1S7l-72-73. In 1874 Mr..
Wells made typographical and underground
surveys and drainage system for the Dade
| Coal Company. From 1875 to 1878 he was
| engaged in making United States govern.
ment surveys. lie was in charge of the
survey of the government railway line, con.
Meeting the Tennessee river with the At
lantic ocean at Port Royal. From 1878 to
1850 he was engineer in charge of the loca.
ton and construction of the southern di-
| vision of the Louisville and Nashville rail.
| road. In 1SS0-S1 he ran surveys down the
! Ouachita valley for the Gould system. In
l8S1-'S2 he ran lines for the Erlaager system
from Shreveport, La, to Preside del Norte
in Mexico. In ASSESSES he was engineer in
charge of the northern division of Mobile and
Ohio railroad. He changed the gauge of
the first track that was changed east OF the
Mississippi river. He changed 100 miles in
eight hours, without losing schedule or 6
single derailment. BY the request of Gen
eral Manager Talcott he wrote history
and formulated plans upon which IA DOC
miles Of railway were afterward changed
in single day. This was copied by all in
portauJ railway Journals. In 1884 he &C.
cepted a call to the st. L uis, Ar ansis and
Texas railroad to change the gauge OF the
Southern division, and also had charge OF
the location and construction of the Mount
Please It branch Of that road, 100 miles
long. In September 1885, he resigned fro
| the st. LOUIS, Arkansas and Texas railroad
to become chief engineer Macon Construc-
ton Company, which position he has since
| held.
We are Preparing
For stock taking; and all summer goods will