The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-05
OF LITTLE BENEFIT
RAILWAYS HAVE NOT MUCH TO GAIN
BY CONTESTS OF SPEED.
Another Fast TransconfinentaI Train
Hopeless Deadlock I'm the Reor-
ganfzation of the SANTA Fe.

In railroad circles the opinion prevails
that President ingalls, acted wisely when
he postponed the proposed fast run from
Cleveland to St. Louis. Everyone who
knows the condition OF the track from
Cleveland to st. Louis and the character
OF the new Garstang engines, which would
have hauled the train. is aware that the
time would have been the fastest ever made
over a single track in this or any other
country, SO the withdrawal of the PROPOSE
ton cannot be attributed to fear OF a fail
ure- On no road in the country are faster
runs made with regular trains than on the
Big Four lines almost daily, and on no ten
divisions OF railways do trains daily come
nearer reaching terminals on time than on
the Big Four system. What good would
have come out OF such a fast run as was
proposed is not really apparent, hence it
was best that it should not be made. In
commenting pm this question of fast runs
the Philadelphia Inquirer says: This is
fast travelling, but what does the attempt
amount to? 1t merely shows the POSSIBLE
ties. Fast time can be made. but fast time
viii not be made IL the cost OF making il
exceeds the income from passengers. These
are practical days. A swift train as an
advertisement has its uses temporarily,
but no railroad In the world VIII consent
TO run trains for any length OF time that
do not pay for themselves. Therefore, ii is
useless 10 talk about extraordinary time
as a fixture on the time tables. We shall
not have IL under present conditions. There
are several things requisite to fast service.
The track must be comparatively clear.
Grade crossings in the numerous towns
along the lines OF the roads must be abol-
isned. There cannot be a decrease of speed
at every village, and the track must be in
the very best OF condition. Again, there
must be a continual feeding of the fires.
for the Increased development of steam
means the increased consumption of coal,
which is expensive. The faster a train goes
the more IL costs. SO that after the grade
crossings are no more, and there is a free
track. there is still the problem of cost to
be met; And yet we are going TO have in
creased speed before long. The solution OF
the problem lies In the development of cleo
tricity-"<
Deadlock In santa Fe Reorganization.
For three weeks the Santa Fe reorgani-
zstion committee has been at a deadlock.
Its members are hopeiessly divided on the
ssakeup OF its board of directors and as
to who shall be president after the reor-
ganization. Ninety-nine per cent. of the
stock has been deposited favorable to the
plan. An Eastern financial paper says:
In the order of the disagreements. the first
trouble was on the man to be selected for
president. The committee had worked on
80 ~ N(NAC AAOAA ~ Ah'-A~
nous. and IL developed Immediately that
President z T. Jeffery. of the Denver &
Rio Grande, had strong backing for the
presidency. A clear majority of the COM
mittee favored Vice President Robinson for
the position, but a majority was no more
effective han one vote. For three long
weeks the committee has been in session
trying TO decide on the man for the presi-
dency and on the members and chairran
Of the board OF directors. Perhaps two
men have never been more thoroughly dis
cussed than have Messrs. Robinson and
Jeffery. Ii was shown that no man living
knew the Santa Fe as did Mr.. Robinson.
Everyone admitted his pre-eminent ability
as an operating official and that no one
could have better performed his present
duties on the Santa Fe. 1t was urged that
he had built part OF the Santa Fe and that
he was familiar with every detail Of it's
building and operation. Against this was
urged the record Mr.. Jeffery had made as
president of the Denver &c Rio Grande.
While IT was admitted that the times.
might be responsible for some of his sue
cess. there was no denial Of the fact that
he had taken the Denver & Rio Grande p.
the lowest ebb in its fortunes. and that it
was now better of than at any time in its
tistOry.Y