The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-03-16

1t has just been announced that to pro-
vide for the increased volume OF traffic on
Rock Island lines. a large amount Of new
equipment will be delivered, during the
month OF March, on orders placed several
months agu. 1t Is indicative Of the In.
dustriai and commercial prosperity of
Rock Island states that, even before the
receipt Of the new equipment, it has been
found necessary to place another large
order for delivery IN the early summer.
The rolling stock which win be placed
in service this month includes twenty new
pattern passenger cars from the Pullman
shops. which embody 90 many comiort-
contributing devices that they make u
distinct advance in day passenger equip
ment. This new departure will come al
a surprise to the western travelling public.
Ten OF the cars will be seventyfoOt chair
cars, furnished with sixty-four twin re-
clining chairs, seating as many people.
The interior finish is Mexicaa mahogany;
decoration is olive green, with plain green
lines and the chairs are upholstered in
green. The cars are equipped for lighting
both by Pintsch gas and electricity and
are fitted with electric fans, for ventila.
ton aud cooling.
The other ten cars are seventy foot yes.
tibuled coaches, with seating capacity for
eighty. The seats are upholstered in
maroon plush; otherwise the
are the same as in the chair cars. All the
cars have very large double plate glass
windows and are equipped with Pullman
standard six wheel trucks.
One new feature that will be introduced
in these cars is an improved draft gear
with 125.OOO pounds spring capacity.
This is about six times the spring capac-
ity OF the ordinary passenger coach. On
heavy trains, pulled by giant locomotives
this increased capacity OF the draft gear
prevents disagreeable jars in starting and
stopping of trains.
An order is also in for over 700 freight
cars of various kinds, including l 500 re-
frigeratOr cars, 500 box cars, 500 fur
niture cars, ATS coal fats, $50 special
design dump cars, $50 convertible coal
and ballast cars, and 25 drop bottom
stock cars.
The Rock Island will also receive, dur.
ing March, So new locomotives of various
kinds, including twenty Pacific type pas.
senger. ten Atlantic type passenger, fifteen
freight and twenty switch engines. An
additional order for fifty locomotives
will be placed in the near future for de.
livery in the summer.
OF the new motive power to be deliver.
ed this month, six OF the passenger en-.
gines are to be equipped with a new super
heating device, being the latest develop.
ment in locomotive construction, to &C.
cure economy in the generation and efh
cheney in the use Of steam. Briefly, the
device consists Of return steam flues inside
the upper fire tubes leading from the FRI
box. The steam from the dome in passing
through this system is exposed to heat
which raises it's temperature, ,evaporating
entrained water and the steam passes
perfectly dry to the cylinder
This new equipment, which il to bt
added to from time to time, places tht
Rock Island in the frontsrank among tn.
western railroads in the matter OF trans
portatiOn facilities. The foresight mani
tested in thus meeting, and adequately
providing for, the exigencies of increased
traffic is characteristic OF the progressive
policy Of the Rock Island management.