The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-20
TO USE ELECTRIC POWER
THE C., III. & ID. WILL so EQUIP SOME
PORTIONS OF ITS LINES.
Applications for DfnerentiaIs Must BE
I'm by Dec. 1.-The New York Board
of Trade Favors Pooling.

The Cincinnati. Hamilton & Dayton man
agement recognizing that the public de-
mands lower rates and trains at shorter
intervals for their suburban business than
Is practicable with the present motive pow
er and heavy equipment has decided TO
adopt lighter equipment for the handling
Of local business in some of its most dense
ly-populated territory by calling to its aid
electricity, and deal was consummated
in Cincinnati yesterday by which the Gin
cinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railway be-.
came the owner, by purchase. of the street
railway lines of Middletown. o. The c.,
II. q ID. will assume control at once, and
will make immediate connection between
the street-car track and the railway.
Through cars will be operated from all
parts of the city of NIiddletown to Ham,
ilton, with electricity as the motive power
The most modern-equipped motors and cars
will be put on this line in short time,
and very low schedule at first will be
adopted, every effort put forth to give the
travelling public an electric service which
cannot be excelled anywhere in the coun-
try. In short time the electric service
will be extended south Of Hamilton to Gin
cinnati. thus revolutionizing its suburban
business, which is the heaviest of any line
running out of Cincinnati. The action of
the c., H. & ID. in this matter. which in
sures electric service between Cincinnati
Hamilton and Middletown far superior to
any which can be afforded by a line built
exclusively for that purpose, because of the
fact that the railway has a much more
solid and smoother road than would be
built for the exclusive use of the electric
service, will probably result in discOuraging
the investment of much larger sums Of
money by competing lines through territory
where there Is not business enough for more
than one such road.
Shops Soon to Be Well Employed.
At the railroad shops the officials are
gradually increasing the number of work.
ing hours, and as soon as permanent inn
provement in freight traffic Is shown there
will be plenty of work. During the dull
times many Of the companies allowed their
rolling stock to get more or less oct of
repair, and with increased earnings the
work of putting it in good order will Le.
pushed. Ordinary repairs when business
is good keep most shops well emplpycd,
On many lines damaged cars have accumu-
keep up repairs. does the oennsvlvania,
there are a number OF crippled cars tl.at
must be fitted up for service If business
continues to improve. On the Big Four re-
pairs have been kept well in hand, and
comparatively speaking, a very small per
cent. of their cars are unfit for service. The
IldS hcpt llS tqulpHlcHl III SOOu
condition. The Lake Erie & Western has
been doing a good deal in that direction.
AS fast as cars came in to be equipped
with automatic couplers and airbrakes
other needed improvements. have been
made, and the passenger and freight equip
ment Of the Monon is said TO be in ex-
cellent condition. Neither the Monon Lake
Erie & Western nor the Big Four has, dur
Ing the depressed time. greatly reduced
shop forces number of hours of work;
consequently with the Improvement in
business they are able to put most of their
own cars Immediately in service, which
has been "a fortunate thing for the roads
named. as majority of the roads have
ment in use and it has been quite difficult
to get any road to allow its cars to go off