The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-04-17
NE RUMOR SAYS
DOINGS in RAIL
'LINEMPROVEMENTS
coAsT LINES TAKE THE
cULf m RETTER TRACK AND
LLaD acr n MODERN EQUIPMENT
,r7rER TIME AND SERVICE
: Pacific May Follow Suit but
is.A' ,.,a "shaking" on S. P. Ac-
eOrding to Latest Dope

ofter the REIMBURSEMENT OF
control by the government
w. Taycb / last, prominent railroad
g asde the statement that now 1t
y, - IN i one long, tall hustle for bus
Cor with the establishment OF
ns .ivs competition each road or sys-
roads would have to "go at-
~ the business.
c..,ornment control, according to
.on IN the "know" acted very
y ,..,rabIy for some lines and very un-
s.yorably for others-it was all ow-
i 10 circumstances.
r n.-;,o the federal control quite a
~ IF main lines were very much
wed and practically all the
a,.s.h lines simply went to the DEM
80 bev-wows. The long wet wealth
/. Sslped very much to put the dirt
s.,l..ted roadbeds of the branches to
~ IN and as a natural result there
u - iruumerable freight and a few
.a,oey wrecks. Notwithstanding
" coming Of better weather the con-
ss,,on a. these branches is none OF the
80 d a trip over any of them will
.;Ely demonstrate. However, the
mpanies are making an effort to
~ track and roadbed in better shape
y. r,iekly as possible and things are
sstting better every day.
me Gulf Coast Lines has been I'M
u,oying its track right along, and re-
ssntly i started replacing its old 70
pound steel with 90-pound rail. New
ssIlast has been supplied and today
i said that this system has the
finest track and road bed in the south
Fst schedules are maintained and all
trains are almost invariably operated
IN timeo4that dream Of the real
silroad mans heart. New equipment
the shape cf,new steel passenger
coaches. ordered some time ago, it is
nid. has been received and as soon
a the new and powerful passenger
engines are received the steel coaches
wl be put into service. In this con-
psction it is rumored that there will
be 4 fast through limited train ope-
rated over this line, in conjunction
WITH the Santa Fe, between New Or
leans and California. The schedule
vii be the fastest in the south and
III small stops will literally be high
balled" between New Orleans and
Houston, the running time being cut
down more than an hour between the
mo cities.
The Opeousas division of the Tex.
as and Pacific is in bad shape physi-
Hlly, but much improvement IN the
natter Of new ties is being put in ane
L is said that within the next twelve
months heavy steel win replace The
present light stuff and that the en-.
tire roadbed will be gravelled. from,
Melville to Crowley. Evidently tbs
T& P. is preparing to meet the con
ditions existing with the return o.
competition, and its officials are de
tsrulined that their system shall bt
noslonger the laughing stock Of the
travelling public-their main line az
vel as their branch lines. And tC
this end they propose to pull theil
tracks out Of the mud and get then
on'a more solid foundation so thai
better, faster and safer service car
Be furnished their patrons.
There is nothing rumored about any
vast changes on the Southern Pacific
particular on the Opelousas and Alex
andria branch line. This branch is il
fearful condition, and if any vas
Improvement in its condition has beer
made, it has not come to the notice o.
the travelling public. There never
mas been any gravel ballast placed OF
thus branch, though the heavy traffi,
over it for many years long ago jus
ufied the cost Of this Improvement
Heavy engines pulling long and heav!
freight trains have literally rammeC
ne track down into the mud roadbeC
ana wrecks have been frequent on tn,
lne between Lafayette and Cheney
alle. Wet weather, to be sure, ha
had much to do with this condition
nat II the track had been ballasteC
ans maintained in proper shape thi
would never have happened. So bat
I the condition that it is a wonde
saat the matter has not been called t,
the official attention of the stat,
iallroad commission.