The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-04
ELECTRIC LINE, TO RUN
FROM INDIANAPOLIS TO
CHICAGO, IS PROJECTED
To Be Equipped in All Ways to
Compete with Steam Roads for
Passengers and Freight.
LOCAL MEN INTERESTED
Promoters Say Will Run Standard
Passenger Cars and Pullman
SleeperS.

What promises TO be one of the most i'm
portant enterprises yet undertaken in the
way of electric railway building in this
State was put under way yesterday, when
the Chicago & Northern Indiana Railroad
Company filed articles of Incorporation in
the office of the secretary of state. This
company proposes to build road in every
respect like a steam railroad except in the
matter of motive power. The plan is to run
the line through Lake, Porter, Jasper.
Pulaski. White, Cass. Howard, Clinton.
Upton, Hamilton and Marion counties into
indianapolis over a private right of way.
Chicago is the northern terminal of the
route.
The directors of the company are Lester
Souie, A. l.. Wheeler and Senator Charles
~ Thompson, all of this city; Henderson
E. Davenport. Sheridan; James G.. Kemp,
Kempton; Martin w. Eikenbury, Russia
VILE, and Luther Mcdowell. of Young
America. The nominal capital stock is
$4,000. of which Mr.. Soule holds $4,000.
1t is said, however, that millions of dollars
are back of the project, and that it has
the support of several wealthy men
throughout the State who are not men,
toned in the list of incorporators. Mr..
Soule is president and general manager of
the GlODe CONSTRUCTION Company, OF DeS
Moines, Ia, which holds the contract for
building the Indianapolis & Logansport
steam road. if its projectors decide to re-
vive the matter of building that line.
An official of the company says that the
road will operate in competition with all
steam roads covering the same territory;
that both freight and passenger traffic will
be carried on just the same as on steam
roads, and that the line will be equipped
with standard passenger cars and Pullman
sleepers.
1t has long been recognized that Indian
apolis is handicapped in securing the ship
ping trade of the north part of the State
on account of the roundabout way that
every shipment from that locality must
come. 1t is stated to be one of the pur-
poses of the new road to compete for this
trade and to direct it to this city.
1t is ALSO cited that large electric motors
have been tried with marked success and
that average length passenger and freight
trains pulled by powerful electric loco
motives. both cheaply and at good speed.
The motors on the new road will be of the
most modern design.
Work on the road will begin Monday,
when a corps of surveyors will start from
Sheridan to look over and survey the route.
The first excavating will also probably be-
gin at Sheridan about the 1st of June. 1t
is the intention OF the projectors. however,
to complete the line between this city and
Logansport first. 1t is believed by the COM
tween Indianapolis and Logansport by the
first of next year.
The more important towns along the
route north from Indianapolis are Sheri-
dan, Kempton Russiaville, Young Amer
lea and Logansport whence the line will
go to Chicago by way of Valparaiso. The
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