The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-02
NO MORE FAST TRAINS
PENNSYLVANIA WILL NOT BEGIN A
TIME WAR AT PRESENT.
The s.Ixnickerbockerv Not Stealing
Any OF Its Trafiic-D. j. Mackey's
Quest for Funds.

From semi official source it is learned
that the Pennsylvania and the vandalia
lines have decided, for the present, not to
put on faster train to meet the competi-
ton of the Knickerbocker express over the
Big -Four and the Vanderbilt lines; at least
the new train will not be put on until spring
travel sets in. The officials Of the former
lines have decided that the business between
st. Louis and New York would not, at this
season of the year, justify putting on so
expensive train as the one proposed, and
for the present trains 20 and Il will be the
fast trains of the Vandalia and the Penn
sylvania people. These trains seeming
ly doing about much business as usual at
this season of the year, which would indi-
cate that the we'll patronized knickerbocker
express is drawing business from other of
its competing lines between st. Louis and
New York than the Vandalia and the Penn
sylvania. When fast trains between the
West and East are spoken of. but few per-
sons think for moment what advance has
been made in that direction. One has to go
back only to 1870 when the first through
fast express train was put on between st.
hours in making the run, stopping six times
for meals and allowing one-half hour for
each stop. Now all the food is furnished by
the dining car, and the same line is covering
the same distance in twenty-nine hours and
ewenty-seven minutes. It's chief competitor,
the Big -Four and the Vanderbilt lines,
which run sixty-tive miles greater distance,
are making equally as good time
Railroad Building I'm 1895.
Railroad projectors and civil engineers
who keep in close touch with new railway
enterprises express the opinion that 1895
will see much more railway building than
there was in either 1898 or 1894. In Indiana
there are half dozen roads, varying in
length from sixty to 125 miles, which
located and rights of way secured most
of the distance, and in several cases sub
sides have been voted pending their being
built this year. While none is very i'm
portant and probably when built will be
absorbed by one of the strong lines, they
mean the revival of railroad building in
this State, and that this feeling extends be-
yond Indiana is evidenced in the following
from the New York Financial Chronicle:
"The year now closing has been in every
way an extraordinary one, and no industry
has feit the unparalleied DEPRESSION In nj, trade
be surprising to hear therefore that the
record of new railroad construction for the
year Is the smallest for very long time
past Both the Railroad Gazette Of this
city and the Railway Age of chicago have
issued statements showing the new track
laid, and both agree in making the total
very small, though somewhat larger than
seemed likely when the figures for the first
cording to the Age, 1,9l9 miles of road have
been built during the twelve months, and
gregate has been only 1.761 miles. In either
case we have an addition of less than 1000
miles, which for this country is a mar
velously small amount of new construction
But nearly every condition was unfavorable
to such undertakings. and no other result
could have been expected. The Gazette
says the new mileage for 1894 is apparently
the smallest actual amount of new road
built In any year since the civil war. In
Y,
dition for the twelve months was 1900
miles. 1t would be well for those who have
done so much since that time to discourage
the building of new lines to reflect upon
the part played by this falling off in new
construction work in bringing about and
trade. The Gazette is of the opinion that
tivity. 1t says that there has been a con-
siderable revival already, and that IN the
has been made in resuming active work
on projects which were delayed by the
financial depression, so that there is every
indication that all over the country new
railroads of local Importance will be taken
up and pushed to completion. We think
this favorable prospect may be realized
Mnckey's Search for Money.
Three months ago D. ]. Mackey went to
Europe to arrange for placing some bonds
to build an important road which has long
been one Of his pet schemes. He has just
returned, and the Terre Haute Express says:
Railroad officials who have watched the
rise and fall Of David J. Mackey are won
dering what was the result OF his trip to
England. Before his departure the news
papers were full of information relative to
the scheme Mr.. Mackey had to construct
road In the West; also to manufacture steel
to make a trip to Europe, the purpose of
which was. to float bonds of the new COM
was seen at the Union Station but would
say nothing concerning his trip: He has
maintained the same silence since his return
to Evansville. and as the construction COM
pany has scarcely been heard of since Mr..
Mackey came back the general opinion is
that he failed to place the bonds of the COM
pany of which he is president
The Ii. & o. Branching Out.
In addition to the Baltimore &c Ohio's pur-
chase of the Monogahela branch it has also
completed a deal for the West Virginia &
Pittsburg road, which extends from Clarks-
burg to Camden, on the Gualey, a distance
of hundred miles. This gives the Bal
timore & Ohio a direct line to Pittsburg
tend the llne from Camden to Charleston,
through the interior of West Virginia, where
1T will connect with the Chesapeake & Ohio,
giving the Baltimore & Ohio a direct line
through the most valuable coal and timber
sections of West Virginia. Both these lines
have been run in connection with the Bal
timore e Ohio since the completion of the
State-line branch.
November Accidents.
The record of railway accidents published
by the Railroad Gazette shows that in No
vember there We're LAG accidents in this
country, in which twenty-five persons were
killed and sixty-six injured. OF these acct
dents. fifty-nine were collisions and eighty
four deraiments Overlooking cars is again
becoming too often the cause of freight
wrecks. OF those killed seventeen were en-
ployes and five trespassers not passenger
being killed. OF those injured forty-seven
were employees, fourteen passengers and i've
trespassers.
Personal. Local and General Notes..
c. L. Schaff, assistant general manager
OF the Big Four arrived in the city last
night and will remain over to-day.
J. O. Van Wrinkle general superintendent
OF the Big Four lines, yesterday gave
dinner to his clerical force, numbering four
teen.
1t Is stated that the Indianapolis, De-
catur & Western. according to its mileage,
sells more mileage books than any other
Indianapolis line. It's book Is honored by
number OF important roads.