The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-07-31

Professor L. G. Hill, chief Of the gov
eminent reclamation service In Arizo-
ma, states that the Southern Pacific
railroad will soon begin the task Of
draining the great inland sea that Is
now forming in the Yuma basin in
Arizona, according to dispatch from
Denver. The undertaking is without
parallel in the history Of railroading
in this or any other country.
The Colorado river has broken through
its banks in Arizona. The course Of
the river has been diverted by this
break, and the whole volume Of water
practically is pouring through the break
and settling in the Yuma basin. 1t has
already washed out 200 miles Of South
ern Pacific tracks, besides doing other
damage. An area $50 square miles in
extent is covered. Brush mattresses
will be foated to the gap In the river
bank, fastened with piles and weight
ed with rock. When these are built up
back into its natural channel.
For the purpose Of widening the
sphere Of usefulness Of the telephone
extensive experiments are being made
on the Hartman lines, says the Chi
cago Inter Ocean. 1t Is proposed, II
found practicable, to equip trains with
telephone device enabling the con-
ductor and engineer to consult while
the train is in motion.
A complete telephone system is also
soon to be established In connection
with the extensive block signal system
now installed and is to be used to bring
dispatchers and tower operators into
closer touch. 1t will also serve to con-
meet the dispatcher with the nontele-
graphic stations along the line. On
some sections Of the road 1t Is intended
to introduce the composite system Of
wires, by means Of which one wire
may be used simultaneously for both
telephone and telegraph work.
Trains will be equipped with porta-
abling the conductors to reach the dis
patcher or the nearest telegraph sta
ton Immediately. In addition to this,
all wrecking trains are to be equipped
with composite phones, and telephone
communication Is to be established be-
tween division and district terminals.
1t is also an important factor that this
general use of the telephone and the
possibility of operating trains by it will
place the railroad above the fear Of a
strike Of telegraph operators.
Prospects of dustless roadbed with
out the use of oil or cut stone Is pleas.
ing to officers Of the Illinois Central
road, says the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Though gravel Is conceded to make the
easiest riding roadbed, its dust feature
has made it nuisance. General Man.
ager Rawn of the Illinois Central and
his assistant, Mr.. Fritch, have made q
find in the way of dustless gravel. Re-
Gently the company began taking grav.
ell out Of the Mississippi river at the
Memphis bars. The gravel, being wash.
ed for centuries. is free from soil. The
only thing on 1t IL sand, and all but Is
per cent Of this is washed OF after II
IL taken from the river. The first of
this new ballast Is being used on the
Yazoo and Valley line. It is clear and
clean as crystal and must ever be
dustless. The Illinois Central will ex-
tend the new found ballast over all
lines Of the system, giving 1t an easy
riding and at the same time a dustless
roadbed.
The Baltimore and Ohio has hit upon
new plan to add to its supply Of fat
cars. Instead of following the plan of
other roads of destroying the old wood
en- cars the B. and o. is removing the
upper portion Of such cars and using
them for fat cars. The plan was inau-
gurated only short time ago, but so far
more than hundred box cars have been
converted into fat cars and are prov
Ing satisfactory in the transportation
OF structural material. This plan will
result In great saving to the road, as
many Of the box cars were about to be
sent to the scrap pile, as they were
practically worthless as far as their
original use was concerned. 1t is said
the B. and o. is preparing to send thou
sands Of old box cars to the shops.
where the upper portions Of the cars
will be removed.
The Reading Railway company re-
Gently turned out passenger locomo-
tive for the Atlantic City railroad which
has made record, says a special dis
patch from Reading to the Philadelphia
Public Ledger. 1t was designed by
Superintendent d. II. Taylor and built
by Reading mechanics. On trial run
the locomotive made the distance be-
tween Camden and Atlantic City in
forty-one minutes. This is at the rate
of seventy-ive miles an hour. A mile
stretch between Egg Harbor and Ham,
monitor was skinned over in less than
thirty-fve seconds. The engine car
ries go pounds of steam and has fifty.
six inch drivers. The total weight Of
the train was ass tons. A mate to this
engine was recently turned out Of the
shops and several more will follow.