The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-24
A IN GOOD SHAPE
EXCELLENT CONDITION OF RAIL
ROADS IN THE CENTRAL STATES.
The c., H. & ID. May Establish n CIeve-
land Line-The Construction of
Fast Passenger Engines.

The chief engineer OF one OF the largest
systems OF railroads I'm this territory said
yesterday: There was never a time in the
history OF indianapolis lines when they
were In as good physical condition at the
close of a winter season as this year, and il
IL were necessary nearly every Indiana road
could be operated for several years without
any large outlay In improvements; still, 1t
Is, OF course. better to continue putting in
heavier steel and new ties, reballasting, etc.
In another respect the roads are in good
shape-that of bridges. Investigation will
show that on eight out of ten roads 80 per
cent. OF the bridges are new iron struc-
lures, built in the last four years. Only in
one thing are Indiana roads behind the
times-that Is in depots at way stations.
This. however. will receive more attention
the next year or two. But the point l wish
to make Is that the physical condition of
the railroad properties OF Indiana, and, in
fact, Ohio and Illinois, Is such that no
heavy expense need be incurred in repairs
or construction work the present year,
which means. IL rates are we'll maintained
and there is any business. better returns to
the security holders and possibly TO the
stockholders. Many OF these men are now
getting uneasy and wish to see some divi-
dends. There will probably be some i'm
provements made in the way of building
shops and adding to those already built,
but this will be a small expense as com
pared with what such roads as the Big
Four. the Panhandle. the Monon. the Lake
x Dayton, the Indiana, Decatur & Western,
the Illinois Central, the Chicago & Alton
and the Ohio & Mississippi have been ex-
pending the last few years in permanent
improvements TO rOadbedS."
A superintendent of motive power, who
heard the conversation. said: The same
thing Is true, comparatively speaking, with
the equipment department.. There is scarce
ly an Indiana, Ohio or Illinois road which
has not In the last five years expended i
large sum in purchasing new locomotives
new passenger coaches and new freight
cars, and the roads in the territory namod
now have double the amount of first-clsss
power, especially, Is of the highest grade.
Should the roads maintain the present high
grade a1,ss Of , equipment no large outlay viii be
light engines wear out they will be re-
placed by heavier locomotives, but this will
be only In the line of maintaining the char
acter OF the equipment"
Cleveland Line for c., H.. q ID.
The Cincinnati. Hamilton C Dayton, 1t Is
stated, has given the Big Four people
notice that If 1t invades Its territory by
putting OF through car service from Cincin-
natl to Toledo and Detroit. in connection
with the Toledo & Ohio Central, 1t will re-
taliate by establishing a Cleveland line. The
Toledo Blade says: "a through car serv-
Ice could be put on over the c., H. & d. by
way Of the Nickel-plate which would seri-
ously affect the Big Four passenger traffic
between Cleveland and Cincinnati. The
Nickel-plate is anxious for such an orange
ment, and all the c., H. & ID. has TO do is
to say the word. The Big Four has at
present virtually a monopoly upon the
Cleveland and Cincinnati business, like the
C., III. & ID. has on the Detroit. Toledo and
Cincinnati traffic, and will probably think
several times before IL does anything to
bring the c., III. & ID. into Cleveland. Just
now the traffic managers OF both roads are
doing some very close figuring. The c., H..
& d. would make connection at Leipsic
with the Nickel-plate, which would make a
little longer route than the Big Four"