The morning times., 1896-09-13

do ownpour of rain, and apparently In
spite OF this, there was scene OF actiVny
all around the tower. Train after train
rolled by in either direction, and a man
who attends strictly to business In switch
tower has about all he can handle conve-
n.ently Added to the several trains on
the railroad tracks there are the trains
OF the Washington, Alexandria and Mount
Vernon Railway, which come and go SO
often that one is not out OF sight before
another is in its place.
There is something Majestic about rail-
road train, as there is about steamship
and some OF the limited expresses on the
Southern and on the Chesapeake ami Ohio
which pass this tower almost hourly are
among the finest in the world. They look
especially interesting as they go flying
past the tower or as they are brought to
dead stand hear the tower, II circumstances
occasion such a procedure.
Even the little trains on the electric
railway attract more than passing no
tice as they come In sight with that pec'I-
liar whirring sound made only by e!ec-
.ric cars. The little trains OF three cars
take the tracks at this end of the bridge,
ana WDeU Ouct on tDt tTdthS tiihb hiC A'f.
on the bridge they make quite a showing.
There are sixteen freight trains a day
which pass over the bridge in eith.-r IL
rection, making tbirty-two trains OF 'his
nature which the operator and sw':',.I-
man must look out aud account for 20
particular notice Of the trains is appar-
emily taken by the men in charge, but
every few minutes he will get UP from Il
comfortable chair. throw over a sY:tch
or two, and in less than minute dioEg
comes a train, and the witches are changed
again The passing of these freigh; trai1s
shows a good deal how business Is ia the
wOrl:aday world.
II trains are lorg and heavily loaded it
means that business is good; that orders
for this ana that have aud are bai:g
iss ued, and that merchants, mani;n;-
turers, and producers OF raw materials lre
busiiy engaged in filling the orders s'nt
ont When freight trains are short ard
running light they show that there Is Il
lack OF general business every where. !Jit
is felt not only on the railroad, bnr II
other branches OF trade.
A short distance north OF the bridge and
between Twelfth and Thirteen and-a-half
streets and Z and Water streets southwest,
are the yards Of the Southern Railway, and
their roundhouse and car sheds. Several
gangs Of workmen are here engaged at all
hours OF the day and night There is no
let-up even on Sunday, for trains IN ust be
made up and cars and motive power must
be in proper shape. Inthe roundhouse there
are men ena ged in cleaning or making Some
minor repairs to engines, whii. in the car
sheds the passenger coaches re being over
hauled and thoroughly cleaned before be
ing made up into trains for a trip TO the
end Of the line in the far South.
Switch engines are coming and going at
all times, the crews either bringing car
in or taking one out. This program is gone
through every day and every night, the in
dustrial march being ordered years ago,
and it has been just so ever since. That it
will remain in operation there is little
doubt, for the railroad business is busy
one, especially about this city. at all times
of the year.
USED BY MANY ROADS.
Across the main tracks of the Southern,
the Chesapeake and Ohio and the Penn
sylyania railroads is the west side switch
yard of the Pennsylvania railroad. extend
ing from Twelfth to Fourteenth streets
southwest, and here the sane scene OF ac-
tvity as In the Southern Railway yards is
witnessed every day and every night.
II there is a lot OF heavy freight from
the East and North for points South which
goes by water from this city the cars are
unloaded in the west end yards and the
freight cartcd in trucks To tie boats lying
along the seventh street cocks. II there
happens to be carload of iron, new
street car for one of the several lines, a
heavy piece OF machinery, they aIe un-
loaded in this yard, for it occupies mere
central position in the city than any Of he
other yards. and while the work done
here Iaore convenient both for the rail
road people and the truckmen the busi-
ness is siinply part OF the everyday ar-
fair and adds SO much to the busy opera
uonS that are paramount In this section.
From the switch tower good view of
the decks and industry along the river
front is obtained. The work of loading and
unloading the largest of sailing vessels is