The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-16
MARTINSVILLE Line OPEN
SPECIAL CAR MAKES THE INITIAL
TRIP TO INDIANAPOLIS.
Eighty MartinsviIle Citizens Honored
by First Through Trip-Construc-
ton of Road Is High Class.

The Martinsville line was opened yes
terday. The opening was not attended by
any ceremonies except the running Of car
from Martinsviile to this city and back to
Martinsville. The car left Martinsville at
o'clock last night and reached the city
about 7:3o. Most of the passengers. num-
bering about eighty. attended the theaters.
The car returned about IL o'clock.
The passengers included many Of Mar
tinsville's most prominent people. but the
trip did not give them full benefit of the
beautiful scenery along the route. 1t did
give them, however, an adequate idea of
the superior construction of the roadbed.
which proved almost as even as one of the
oldest steam roads. President Smith at
tempted no record-breakihg trip. His idea
was merely to demonstrate that the line
had a first-class roadbed.
In point Of cost the Martilsville line Is
probably the most expensive one of the in
terurban lines entering Indianapolis, for
there were many streams TO cross and all
these have been bridged with steel and
concrete. 1t Is perhaps the only road in
Indiana that has every bridge of steel and
concrete. The first bridge is at Eagle
creek. just beyond the city limits-a steel
span OF l42 feet. Beyond there are numer-
Gus culverts of concrete. Over a slough at
Beelers farm Is another steel span. Just
this side Of Mooresville, over Little White
LICK, Is another bridge OF this heavy metal,
resting on foundations SO Arm. that the
chfsel could scarcely make impression
on them. Over Big White Lick, just be-
yond Mooresville. is a two-span bridge as
large as any railroad bridge in Marion
tinsville, Is a three-span bridge, one of the
longest bridges in this part of the State.
These bridges, OF course, are all above
high-water mark. and to reach them with
out an incline numerous fills have been
made, cutting across low lands. To make
time on trolley road II is necessary to
reduce the grades, and while this Is ex-
pensive, yet In the long run 1t is econom-
ical, besides offering passengers fine
service.
BEGUN TWO YEARS AGO.
Mr.. Smith began two years ago on this
project Of the Martinsville road. Chicago
and Cincinnati capitalists had concluded to
build the road, being very much impressed
with the outlook but while they were get
ting ready Mr.. Smith bought up much of
the right of way paralleling the /. s. ".
railroad and before the outside capitalists
got their plans well under way Mr.. Smith
was proceeding with his grade.
The line passes the stockyards, Nordyke
trial plants and proceeds in an almost
straight line to haywood. the first station,
where substation for the reduction of the
high potential current used on this system
Is installed. This is brick station and
waiting room. The second station is VAL
ley Mills the third West Newton and the
fourth Friendswood. Near Mooresville Mr.
Smith had a sorghum mill moved i'm order
to get a straight line for his road, and in
several places he crossed peoples front
yards to keep from making a detour.
The Martinsville road is entirely over a
private right of way which Is inclosed with
and the rails are seventy pounds to the
yard. making standard construction
throughout. The large power house, with
Its mass of expensive machinery, Is located
on bluff on the edge of Mooresville,
where convenient access is had to the
water of White Lick creek. This power
house as now equipped has a capacity for
running a line of electric railway seventy
five miles long. The engines were made by
the Atlas engine works of this city. The
system used is the high potential alter
mating, the same as that used on the Union
Traction. There are ten cars at present
on the line besides number OF freight and
ballast cars.
The Indianapolis & Martinsville Rapid
Transit Company Is capitalized at $75OOOO
and bonded for the same amount. 1t was
financed entirely by local capital. The d.
rectors are Charles Finley Smith, John H.
Holiday, Americas G.. Daley, Harry S
New, Gavin l.. Payne. H. M. Foltz and L.
M. Smith.
Regular service between here and Mar
tinsville will be established within q few
days, OF which announcement will be made