Evening star., 1896-11-09
Extensive Railroad Improvements
Soon to Be Begun.
M'KINLEY'S ELECTION STARTS WHEELS
Outline of Work Planned by the
Pennsylvania.
M o RE RAILS ANTED


| it is understood. soon resume the compile
tion Of a vast system Of improvements
which were begun early in the year at
various points along it's lines, but upon
which work was suspended when the pres
| idential campaign opened.
prominent official of the company says
that during the last week business has
shown signs Of improvement and that many
| cars that have been lying idle on. the
| tracks are now in use.
1t is urged that the election of Mr. Nc
Kinley will benefit the railroads as we'll as
other business, railroads will be com
| PEELED, owing to the increase in business,
not only to purchase cars and rolling stock,
| but will also have to buy steel rails-some-
| thing that has not been done SINCE early in
the season.
In the early part of the year the directors
| of the Pennsylvania appropriated large
sum of money for the purpose of making
a number Of changes in the grade between
Philadelphia and Pittsburg, and at the
time work was stopped considerable head
way had been made between Harrisburg
and Pittsburg
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company has
work on hand which it is said it will no
doubt undertake to do as soon as the con-
d1tlon of business warrants IL. 1t is under
stood that work will soon be begun on ex-
tending the piers at the Market street ferry
between Philadelphia and Camden, and ii
will erect two-story ferry house on the
Phliadelphia side. This house will be so con-
structed as to allow the running of the
trolley cars of the Market street line to the
second story, and to do this the trolley road
VIII be elevated from Front street over
Delaware avenue. BY this Improvement
passengers can at all times safely cross
Delaware avenue by the overhead bridge
Rebuilding the Dig Bridge.
Another important piece of work which
1t Is understood the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company has under consideration is the
| erection of a new bridge across the Susaue-
hanna river between Columbia and Wrights-
vile, to take the place of the bridge which
was recently destroyed. The work of clear
ing away the debris is now under way and
the engineering department is said to be
preparing rough estimates for a new
bridge The matter is said to be at .his
time before the road committee. and it is
thought that a report il Will be made
at the next meeting of the board CT d-
rectors
Besides the changes above mentioned, the
company has, it is said. had plans prepared,
and in some cases work has been COM
menced. for the changing of the line at
Rheems, and for doing away with the curve
at Gfeensburg by the construction of a tun-
mel near Radabaugh. There is also, it is
understood, work to be done between
henZers and Leamans, and big >change
OF line for about rive miles between Lilly
and Portage.
1t is said that II is almost certain that a
war will break out shortly between the
lines composing the Joint Traffic Associa-
ton and the Southern Pacific on the immi-
grant question. AS heretofore stated, the
Joint Traffic Association has during the past
allowed the Southern Pacific a commission
on immigrant business, but now that mu-
tual understanding has been reached be-
tween the steamship companies on the one
hand and the roads in the Joint Traffic AS
sociation and the Western lines by which
the agents for soliciting business in New
York are to be done away with, the GUS
tom is to be discontinued. and it follows
that either the Southern Pacific must now
pool its immigrant business with its west
ern competitors or incur unpleaSantness
that must result from the strong combina-
tion of the steamship, eastern and western
lines.
Prosperity in the West.
Advlces from the west are to the effect
that the offices of the railroads out there
are looking for a great increase of business
within the next few weeks. 1t is said that
the election being over. the merchants
throughout the south and southwest who
have been delaying the ordering of their
goods will, now that they have some as
surance of the way the markets are likely
to turn, procure their winter stocks, and
this is expected by the roads to make a
vastly improved business, in which eastern
roads will also participate. In addition to
at once.
The directors of the National Company,
which is the parent organization of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Com
parry, have determined to increase the cap
ital stock of the former to $4O,0O00O0.
1t is understood that this is only part
of the general plan for the reorganization
of the Philadelphia and Reading but it is
regarded as the most important step that
has taken place since the sale under fore
closure proceedings. and is said to be in
tended to pave the way to put the P. and
r. a paying basis, position which it
has not enjoyed for many years, SO far
the stockholders were concerned.
1t is also said that part of the plans
as already devised contempates the opera
ton of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Company well the railroad.
A proposition has been made to the
Southern Railway Company to lease the
Atlantic and North Carolina road, which
runs between Goldsboro' and Morehead
City, a distance of ninety-six miles, and a
meeting will be held today at New Berne,
N. c., by the stockholders to consider the
matter. 1t is thought that the lease will
be made, as the Southern offers per
cent annual rental.