Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-01-29

Charles T. Shelton, formerly super-
intendeut Of the West Chester, Ken
nett & Wilmington Electric Railway
Co., has made a success OF his new
venture in the West, where be now has
charge of one OF the most notable troll
ley lines in the county. Mr.. Shelton
was superintendent of the kennett
road while homas +. BByard of this
city and Bays Henry OF Philadelphia
we're the receivers, and he is we'll and
favoraly known here. He is now super
intendent OF tho Fort Wayne 4 Wa
bash Valley Traction Co., whose line
masses through one of the most pic
turesque stretches OF country TO be
found along any interurban line in the
middle West. Ii follows the bed Of a
canal, running fer the most part be-
tween the canal and the Wabash River.
At times the bluffs rise to a great
height along the right of way, and
again the line passes through wooded
tracts. A number of historic points
may be seen from the car windows, the
most notable including the reserves OF
the descendants of the MIami Indians
and the ruins of the old canal locks.
Another place Of interest which is
pointed out to the passenger is the
Zen Wallace farm, east Of Peru, where
the Wallace circus is wintered.
Two pretty parks, located near the
route Of the line, are maintained by
the company. They are Miami Park,
near Huntington, and Boyd Park, near
Peru. at the latter place a summer
theatre and a figure IS" roller coaster
are the principal amusement features.
Aside from the scenic features, the
line tTRverseH a wealthy and thickly-
populated country, which adds to the
revenues of the company. Some Of the
finest stock farms 10 Indiana lie along
the right OF way and the principal
towns along the route, Roanoke, Hunt
lngton, Andrews, LarRro, Wabash,
Peru and Logansport, are all import
ant business points and furnish heavy
traffic.
The Fort Wayne -LoRanspoIt road is
noted among the traction men of the
country for its line system of manage
ment and its high state of efficiency all
around, and the credit for this OF affairs
is due to the untiring efforts OF General
Manager Emmons, uperintendents
Shelton and Hardy. Mr.. Shelton, " ho
went from here less than two years
ago, was an experienced steam and
Ill
he has more than sustained his rt pu-
tation, introducing many improve
ments in the interurban system OF the
company.
Mr.. hardy, who has oharze of the
line from Fort Wayne 10 LoQansport.
including the Wabash and Peru city
lines. went from the Union Traction
20. TO accept place as dispatcher for
the Fort Wayne q Wabash Valley Co.,
and his promotion was earned by hard
work and ability.
Under favorable and unfavorable cir
cumstanoes, through heavy showers,
with wet rails aud with an ordinary
local car, officials of the company made
run from Fort Wayne TO Peru and
return, on Monday. for the purpose of
irving out the new limited schedule
TO Indianapolis, making the trip down
IN y minutes under the schedule time,
making the return trip, including all
stops, IN l3 minutes less than the
schedule time and breaking some troll
ley road records.
Inc trial run was made by Mr..
shelton, superintendent of transpor Ia
tion OF the company, and Mr. Hardy.
superintendent OF the oompany's in.
terurban system between Fort Wayne
and Logansport.
MotoFman Thompson was the proud
est employe Of the company, alter he
had completed his run, having made
one OF the most notable trims in the
history Of interuTban roads. On the
run be made an average Of 40 lO-ll
miles an hour, clipped many a mile
under the minute mark, and covered
at least one mile in % seconds.
The car left Fort Wayne at 9. 20 a.
m, arriving at Peru at 1888. Return
ing, the car left Peru at u. 40. arriving
at Fort Wayne at l.27. On the return
trip, however, all the. stops required
by the schedule we're made, the actual
running time being one hour and 81
minutes. The run to Feru ocoupyine
one hour and 80 minutes, including
stops for orders on the schedule, was
beaten by 20 minutes. The return
trip, including the stops, beat the
schedule by l3 minutes.
In computing the result Of the run
II should he stated thar the cars are
reduced to a sIeed of u miles an hour
Tor distance OF one mile each in
Huntington and Wabash and alvo