The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-17
RAILWAYS OF THE SOUTH
GREAT IMPROVEMENTS ON LINES
SOUTH OF THE OHIO RIVER.
Receiver MaIott's Statement for April
New York Merchants Receive
Setback iH Their Plans.

Including the Baltimore & Ohio as a
Southern line, the Improvements to the
railways of the Southern States have far
exceeded those on Northern lines the last
two years. The improvements on the Bal
timore &, Ohio, which have cost Sc, 900, 600,
have before been set out in detail, but
those made on other Southern systems
have not been mentioned. The Southern
Railway Company has expended a large
sum of money in bringing that road and
it's equipment up to the standard, and has
not yet ceased work to that end. Two new
wharves have been completed at Primer
Point, Norfolk, and third is to be added
and immense warehouse sheds are to be
erected and the trackage largely increased
at cost of $3.50, 900. The main line between
Washington and Atlanta has been divided
into four divisions of about the same length
at an outlay of $4,000, and on every hand
Improvement is the prominent feature with
this company. The Seaboard Airline is
another road which has come into greater
prominence in the past two years. Its en-
tire mileage of main line has been laid
with new heavy rails. some fine locomotives
purchased, and there is no road in the
country that is now making better time
with its trains In other directions this
company is showing a very aggressive spir-
it, which makes it much more important
railroad system than at any time in the
past. The Plant system has been expend-
ing money freely in improving its roadbed
and equipment. The Mobile & Ohio is an
other railroad company which has expend
ed money literally to bring it's track and
equipment Up to the standard, and will now
build a hundred-and-fifty- extension,
xxvIf oh 70, INa In 1I.A ad.
junct to the road in the way of furnishing
business. The Louisville q Nashville has
not done much as some of the lines, as
It's road has for years Deen one OF the pest
but aside from the Baltimore az ONO, the
Illinois Central, after acquiring control of
the Chesapeake & Ohio Southwestern, has
made the most remarkable strides in inn
pr0vement, taking a wrecked road and con-
verting 1t into one of the standard roads
of the South and placing it en- a financial
footing which means prosperity for years
to come. The Queen & Crescent should
not be overlooked, as Receiver FELTON, has
brought the track of this system up to a
condition which any railroad management
might we'll envy. Probably no road in the
Southern States has as good track and
as we'll protected by tnterlock1ng and sig
nal devices as the Queen q Crescent. A
railway official yesterday, speaking of the
Improvements to Southern lines, said NJ. E.
ingalls,, president of the Chesapeake &
Ohio, deserves more credit, he being lead
er in the change of Southern railway sys-
leillSs lllcH any one lIIdtl lie hllSW w. IAS
saw several years ago, in the Chesapeake
& Ohio road of great promise. and con-
WINGED his friends, who depend on his
judgment, that 1t offered opportunity to de-
velop strong trunk line, and, with am
pie backing, he undertook the work. There
is now no trunk line which has a stronger
hold on shippers, especially for export bust
ness, than has the Chesapeake & Ohio, and
as a passenger line it ranks among the
best. In this case a wrecked road in every
respect has been brought up to the stand
ard of the best in the country.