The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-10-15
RAILROAD NOTES.

The railroad exhibit at the Atlanta
exposition is said by railway officials
10 comprise the finest specimens that
have been grouped together in some
time.
During the third week in September
fifty-three railroads increased SlS per
cent. in gross earnings. During the
second week seventy-nine railroads IN
creased e37 per cent. in gross earnings.
The Pennsylvania and Reading rail-
road have reduced their passenger
rates on suburban lines in the vicinity
OF Philadelphia to compete with the
trolley cars. New trip books have
been issued. which average 2la cents per
mile.
John Barr. who died a few days ago
at Philadelphia from a general col
lapse of the system was a former con-
ductor on the Pennsylvania, and when
the Johnstown flood occurred. May
81, lSS9 he was Pullman conductor on
the Inflated day express. which was
caught by the rush of the waters and
swept from the track Barr saved all
the passengers of his car but two. who
foolishly went back after articles Of
clothing. but the shock and exposure
so undermined his constitution as 20
make him an invalid since 1891.
The Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo
Railroad company has awarded con-
tracts for the equipment of it's lines
with interlocking switches and signals
to the Auto-Pneumatic Railway Signal
company. This is the system that is
now used by the Delaware. Lackawan-
ma and Western, New York and Penn
sylvania railroads.
The Pennsylvania Railroad company
has placed orders for 40 600 tons of steel
rails. as follows: Pennsylvania Steel
company 10 600 tons at S2S per ton:
Cambria Iron company. 10000 tons at
SOS; Carnegie company, 10000 tons at
SOS: Lackawanna Iron and Steel COM
pany, 1000 tons at s2S. and Illinois Steel
company, s GOO tons at s29.
The Ontario and Western railroad is
about to order 500 coal cars and the
New York. New Haven and Hartford
road is in the market for 1000 freight
cars 1t is reported in Chicago that the
roads centering in that city have
bought this year Il, 900 freight cars and
100 locomotives.
A. special train on the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western on Monday
ran 2O3 miles in 1872 minutes on the Buff
falo division. Five stops were made.
consuming fifteen minutes, making
the 2O3 miles in III minutes, or mile
in 81 l-3 seconds. This is corroborative
of the statement made in this column
recently that the Delaware. Lackawan-
ma and Western is equipped to equal, If
not exceed, the world breaking records
of the New York Central. 1t may not
be generally known, but 1t is a fact
appreciated by the travelling public,
that Notwithstanding the breakneck
speed of the Centrals flyers. the Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western can
make better time between New York
and Buffalo because of the more direct
route.
In some localities the cast-off horse
car is assuming a new form of useful
ness. A railroad company in Con-
necticut has been running an Old horse
car into the country districts for the
collection of the peach crop. At As
bury Park an old car has been turned
into central station. where storage
batteries are recharged for electric
launches. dom estic lighting, sewing ma
chimes, monographs, etc, and the pro-
prietor has reaped a handsome return
on his Investment.
The western lines have been troubled
much for years past by the swindling
operations of commission men. who
flood the country with their smoothly
written circulars sent to the agents of
the lines in the small towns offering
them a large commission for all the
stuff they can ship to them. The st.
Paul Is about to issue circular to its
agents with instructions not to ship
produce or grain to houses who are Of
fering extra inducements. They are
also in consultation with the postofice
authorities in regard to preventing
them from using the mails.