The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-14

A Test Made on the Pennsylvania
Railroad.

Railroad.
What a freight engine can do in the way
of hauling loaded cars has been demon
strated on the middle division of the Penn
sylvania railroad. Some mammoth engines
have been recently constructed for that
road and one of those on a trial trip this
last week drew 100 loaded cars. 1t was sub
sequently attached to a train of 155 cars,
and although it did not move them sue
ceeded in pulling apart two cars and almost
running them. Another gigantic freight
locomotive turned out of the Juniata shops
is to be tried the coming week and is ex-
pected to haul 1876 cars.
What the weight of these cars and their
freight is is not stated. 1t is hardly posi-
bic. though that they are as heavy as
Central Railroad loaded freight car. The
engines used on the Centrars freight
trains, while of course, not TO be compared
in pulling power with those moguls recent
ly built for the Northern road, are at the
same time fine locomotives, and capable of
doing very heavy work. On some sections,
where the grade is level, they can pull as
high as fifty cars. or a weight of about
two thousand tons, while on some other
portions of the system the limit of their
capacity would be sixteen or eighteen load
ed cars. Beyond fifty cars. even on the best
of grades and tracks, the train is too I'M
wieldy to handle. On a good level grade the
average haul on the Central is about / 400
tons, while on the steep grades 1t runs
down as low as 600 tons. An engine, for
lstance, will start out from Birmingham
bound east with probably sixteen or sew
enteen cars, taking that many as far as
Columbus. There a lighter engine will
take the train and bring it on to Macon.
Enough cars to increase the weight to
1000 tons could be added there and brought
down to Tennille. From Tennille on to
Savannah additional cars could be added
until nearly 1000 tons weight was reached
before Savannah came in sight. The ca
pacity of the engines on the Central is
regarded as sufficient for the traffic and
equal to that of the great majority of the
roads in the country.
The Georgia and Alabama Road comes
up with its usual hattering weekly state
ment of earnings. For the week ending
Aug. its earnings were $27,394 against
S17 54S last year. an increase of 56 per
cent, and from July l to Aug. s. $116,6S0
against $95, 800, an increase of 81, $50, or q
per cent.
The reorganizat ton of the Baltimore and
Ohio will, it is said, have no effect On the
relief department of the road. Officials of
the department say that, if anything, it
will be strengthened. The present men,
bership is % Al. There has been paid in
the relief feature alone s5,105, 6O7.32 for
225 922 cases of accidental death, surgical
expenses, sickness and deaths from natu-
raj causes.
What is said to be the largest switch
service in the country is being put in at
South Chicago, where the tracks are oper-
ated by four roads, and the use of 1876
switch stiles is required.
The trunk lines have granted a rate of
one fare for the round trip on account of
the Knights of Pythias biennial encamp-
ment, TO be held at indianapolis during
the week of Aug. p to p. The Eastern
roads have steadily refused to make any
concessions to Western cities which failed
to pass anti-scalping ordinances, and In
dianapolis, being unable to pass such an
ordinance on account of the state law,
had lost all hope of getting favorable
rate. The Western Passenger Associa-
tons have already made a rate Of I cent
a mile for the encampment.
The Jacksonville Times Union is respon-
sible for the statement that the Plant
System has, or is now, expending in i'm
provements in that city a total of about
100000 In the meantime the plans for
the new depot at Savannah are still in
blue prints only
Considerable interest is being felt in rail-
road circles as to the routes over which
the soldiers now in Florida will go to
reach their next camping grounds. 1t is
the impression that the Florida Central
and Peninsular, in moving the troops
from Fernand.na, will give the haul 10
the Southern at Everett City. There is
reported to be some lively competition be
tween the Plant System and the Florida
Central and Peninsular about securing the
handling of the troops, as well as of the
great number of mules and horses.
President J. Shelton Williams Of the
Georgia and Alabama was in the city yes