The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-24
ALL NOW STANDARD
NO NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY TO BE
FOUND IN INDIANA.
Work of Changing the Bedford &
Bloomfield Branch of the Monon
COznpIeted-Rate Troubles.

n Monon has completed the work of
converting the Bedford & Bloomfield branch,
forty-three miles in length. from a narrow
to a standard gauge road, and there is
now no narrow-gauge in this State. The
Bedford & Bloomfield, however, has a third
rail, and it will remain until the narrow
gauge equipment is worn out, which will
be In a short time. During the past twelve
years nearly ten thousand miles of narrow
SAUCE railroad, belonging, to $50 separate
companies, have been either CONCERTED to
standard gauge or abandoned entirely, in
the United States alone. The construction
interest and promotion expenses, probably
cost, on an average, 5000 per mile, some
Of which is represented in roadbed of the
converted lines, the remainder is lost. TIC
this sum is to be added the epss in direct
operation. which eventually led to their
are no figures, but which, on a moderate
assumption would bring the total loss. in
10000 per mile, making the aggregate cost
Of the narrow-gauge fallacy in the United
States, say 500, 100000 This is a guess,
O. course, but probably rather under than
over the real figure.
Car and Foundry Business.
Business with the Indiana Car and
Foandry Company, formerly the Indian
apolis car works. is satisfactory, The COM
pany Is working nearly four hundred men
and mas evepy department in operation.
~ - DdAAA1nS v DAldICtA ClQCh
cars for the Baltimore & Ohio of a very
superior build. provided with apparatus for
feeding and watering the stock, with air
brakes, patent s~elf-couplers and many
other late Improvements. Next week the
company will m the building of
110 box cars, 5000 pounds capacity, for
the vandalia, and as soon as these are
for the Big Four, and other contracts in
hand will keep the establishment busy for
some weeks. nil the new work IS gsoing;
cars for the fast freight lines. The cars
which this company builds are of such
work. as in every detail of construction
only first-class material is used. The Of
ficials of the company are hopeful that the
dull point has been passed and that for
Asometinie to come they will be kept busy.
Eompetition is very sharp and profits small,
but this establishment has some advantages
not possessed by most car works. Natural
gas IS one OF the favorable features. The
SSmPaag h building inssa and eanipped : it n With ae a
hose carriage and plenty of hose and on
fairgrounds are four fire plugs.
The Clearing House MIDDLE.
Some time ago the Western lines were
congratulating themselves over the manner
In which their immigrant clearing house
was doing it's work. Not a murmur, they
declared, was to be heard on any side.
Now the clearing house is in deep water,
and Chairman Caldwell has gone to New
York and Boston to prevent what may be
serious trouble. The Grand Trunk has all
along been demoralizing the immigrant
rates through New York and Boston. In
the latter place the business has always
been in bad shape. and lately the New York
lation. This sort of thing is far from
agreeable to the Canadian Pacific, which
" ths sa strong 11ps rival hsa Of ;9t, the te Grand Trunk thds,
pnce that If the market is not steadied it
will be forced to protect its interests in
the best manner possible. Ehis would mean
the destruction of the clearing house, as
none of the transcontinenta) lines would OBJ
serve the agreement with the Canadian Pa
stands rates are being freeiv manipulated
and unless Chairman Caldwell succeeds in
look for the long life of the clearing house
IL not brilliant.
Homeseekcrs' Rates Cut.
Some of the Texas roads which are not
members Of the Western Lines Passenger
Association have taken action which will
tend to demoralize the homeseekers' excur-
sion rates put on by the Western lines.
They nave knocked off the 81 which all
otaer lines lave added to the excursion
rates, and made 1t one fare for the round
trip. The Atchison has declared that to
meet this competition it will be necessary
f3r 1t to make q one-fare rate from all
points on its lines in Illinois,, Iowa, Mis-
souri, and eastern Kansas to all points in
Texas and Arkansas. The other lines de-
clare that Arkansas and Texas are no more
entitled to q ~one-fare rate than Kansas,
Nebraska Colorado and the Dakotas. There
is now. every probability that the general
rate for the excursions to be run April 80,
May q and June IL will be one fare for
the round trip.
Personal. Local and Genera Notes.
Frank Reed, general passenger agent of
the Monon. is expected in the city to-day.
The State Of Florida will establish quar-
antine against the island of Cuba on May