Evening journal., 1898-03-26
THE TRACK INsPECTION.


The Pennsylvania railroad officials
went over the Maryland division OF the
p, w. & B. railroad on a tour OF IN
spection yesterday. They did not use
the regular observation car, as 1t is in
the shops undergoing repairs.
There has been a change IN the
manner of awarding the prizes for the
best track" said a railroad man OF uhe
Wayfarers acquaintance at the r., w
q B. station this morning. Hereto
fore the foreman having the SMOOTH
est and straightest section OF track re-
ceived the first prize and the one nav
ing the next best the second prize
Now the prizes wlll go to the super
visors having the best track and road
bed. The Jurisdiction OF one super
visor extends from Philadelphia to
Wilmington; Of another fromIWlmlng-
ton TO Perryville, and OF another from
Perryville TO Baltimore. How uhe
others run don't know. The prizes
will be sufficiently large to enable the
fortunate supervisors to give smaller
prizes TO all OF their foremen.
''HOw Is the condition OF the road
bed ascertained?" asked the way
farer.
glass filled with water is set on a
table in the centre Of one OF the cars
Whenever a rough piece OF road is
struck the water spills. Then there 10
an instrument which marks crooked
track and low places, and a bell which
rings every time a low spot Is struck.
All these things are noted. There was
a time when the record OF the Water
street tracks looked like a snake, fence,
hut after the heavy steel rails were laid
there was a marked improvement, but
now. / understand, the indicator shows
that Il is getting in bad shape again.
"There was time when the inspec-
tion train went down the Maryland
division and then left II for some
other division. The section men were
not long in taking advantage OF the
fact. Five or six weeks before the In
spection train was due they would put
an their men at work on the south
bound track and get II in tip-top shape,
neglecting the north-bOund track all
together But their day OF reckoning
came. One trip not a drop OF water
was spilled on the way downthe road.
IL was such a remarkable showing that
the officials were delighted.
LETS try the nOrth-bOund track,
one OF them suggested.
"'All right said the others.
'"They were soon rushing northward,
and the track was so rough that all
the water spilled from the glass, and
SO crooked that the indicator was al
most fractured
''Since that time the inspection train
has gone down one track and UP the
other. and the winners OF the prizes
must have both in good condition.
Al WALKING ADVERTISEMENT.
Alfred w. Tatman, of the clerk Of
the peaee'5 offlee, is one OF the most
unassuming men in the Court House.
He is quiet ard good natured, and this
doubtless encourages his fellow-clerks
to take liberties with him.
Yesterday afternoon Mr. Tatman and
William w. Draper, OF the same office,
put their street coats on TO go down
town William Eliason, another clerk,
took advantage OF the opportunity 20
pin one of those large Brotherhood OF
st. Andrew cards on his back 1t adj
vertised the fact that a business men 8
service would be held at st. Andrew s
Church at noon on that day. Across Its
entire face was a large red cross, the
emblem OF the society.
The two young men walked down
Market street together. the victim of
the Joke being wholly unconscious of
the spectacle ne was presenting. Whe1
the Wayfarer saw him he was at Ientf
md Market streets, on the south-bOund
track with everybody I'M his wake
laughing with great heartiness at hii
expense. How far he went before dis
covering that ne was serving as
walking advertisement for the Bro
sherhood OF st, Andrew tho Wayfare
6s not prepared to say, but It must hay'
been several squares.