The Indianapolis journal., 1898-01-31

From the statements of the chief engi-
neers OF the leading roads it is evident that
the companies with the marked improve
ment in business intend to spend money lib
orally in improving roadbeds, terminals and
equipment. The Pennsylvania lines lead off.
having already purchased 100000 tons of
heaVy steel rail- and on every division more
or less Improvements are under conternpla-
ton, the construction of additional tracks
from Altoona to Gallatzin being among the
most expensive yet undertaken. On the Erie
q Pittsburg a great deal will be done this
year in cutting down grades and straight
ening curves to enable the PENNSYLVANIA to
compete successfully with the new Carnegie
line. The Big Four will purchase at least
iif$y miles OF new steel, and will probably
complete the double track between Cincin-
natl and Lawrenceburg Junction, twenty
five miles, twelve miles of the distance now
being double track The principal improve
ment on the Peoria & Eastern will be the
completion of the new shops at Urbana, ILL.,.
and the building of few new depots at
local points. The Big Four will build a num-
Der of new depots and improve terminal fa-
cilities, especially on the Michigan division,
where the great increase in business neces-
states such Improvements. On the Pennsyl-
vania lines west on each division, few
miles of new steel will be laid and several
hundred thousand new ties put in but the
tracks of the Panhandle and the j., M & l.
are now so good that there is but little
room for Improvement, except to keep up
ordinary repairs. Receiver Malott of the
Vandalia, expects to put in this year forty
miles of heavy steel; several miles are now
being laid between Indianapolis and Car
tersburg. General Manager Ramsey, of the
Wabash lines, proposes to continue LAYING
the main line with heavier rail, a work
which has just been completed between To-
ledo and Peru. The Lake Erie & Western
will lay probably twenty miles of new steel.
between Indianapolis and Peru, most of the
distance having been laid with heavy steel
rail in the last two years, and on the MAN
line ABOUT as much more new steel will
likely be laid. The indianapolis & Vim
steel this season. The Cincinnati Hamilton
d Daytons chief work will be in the COM
pletion and equipping of the new shops at
Lima, 0. The improvements to this property
nave been so gradual and with so little
noise that so per cent. of the track is now
laid with practically new steel, and 80 per
cent OF its bridges are new within the last
three years. What will be done on the Indi-
ana, Decatur q Western has not been def
nltely decided, but the new owners, there is
good authority for saying, propose to bring
the track and equipment of the road up to
the highest standard. It is stated that the
Ohio & Mississippi will do a good deal in
laying new steel and constructing new
bridges. The Monon has its indianapolis di-
vision in fine condition. laid with heavy rail
to New Albany will receive more attention.
The management of the Evansville e Terre
Haute can this year spend more money in
improvements as II has got the expensive
job of filling the washout at Hazelton off
its hands The present management of the
property is aggressive, and it is no exagger-
alton to say that it was never better
handled. Receiver Jarvis is getting the
Louisville, Evansville & st. Louis into
much better condition. and it is now safe to
run trains over the road at any desired
speed Since appointed receiver he has done
considerable in the way of laying new steel
rebuilding and strengthening bridges and
the road is ssid to be in much better shape
than when he took charge. Taken as q
whole, probably the condition of the roads
crossing the northern part of the State is
nearer to standard than any like mileage in
this country. In the last five years the Lake
Shore has expended at least 50 000. GOO in i'm
proving the western division of it's line
crossing Ohio and Indiana, and the Michi-
gan Central has spent money lavishly in
the same direction; both now have as good
track as there is in this country. The Nick
el-plate and Grand Trunk lines are in excel
lent condition. The condition of the track of
the Pittsburg. Fort Wayne & Chicago Is
such that ii is second to none, and improve
meuts this year will be largely in the direc-
ton of doubling the track or constructing
long side-tracks which. in the future. can be
utilized as q second track. Since the Penn
sylvania Company came into fun control of
the Grand Rapids & Indiana extensive inn
provements have been made and are vet to
be made, il being the intention TO bring the
road up to the Pennsylvania high stand