Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1879 — RAILROAD NOTES. [ARTICLE]

RAILROAD NOTES.

Work on the Narrow Gauge—A Trip to Bradford. Delphi Times, The progress of tracklayers on the narrow gauge has been delayed somewhat by the storm of last week, but they have steadity though slowly advanced. To-iay they will penetrate the bowels of Mt.Pisgah. at Pittsburg, and the work will be concluded, so far as possible previous to the completion of the bridge across the Wabash. A large force of men are at work on the bridge, and nothing preventing, it will now progress rapidly toward completion. The Wabash, however, is a very uncertain stream, and it is impossible xo tell what obstacles they may have to contend with. Gregg & Bulger yesterday made a shipment of 125 barrels of flour over the road at a material saving in tho matter of freight. The question of a switch at Pittsburg is one which agitates the good people of that borough and perplexes the management not a little. The grade of the road is fifty feet or more above the level of the town, and just how to get down without involving too much expense is a conundrum for the engineer to solve It is now proposed to place the switch head just above the tannery, and skirt the brow of the hill to the west, making a steep descent, but one which takes the oniy advantage of the provisions of nature presented. A tank has been placed at the Bragunier farm, one mile from Pittsburg. The establishment of a station at Goslee’s awaits the necessary formalities. The station will undoubtedly be located, but there are some formulas yet necessary before it is done. Nothing has been heard from the Postoffice Department regarding the establishment of a postoffice at that point, but there can scarcely be a reasonable doubt that the numerously signed petition will be favorably considered.

The regular mail and express train will commence running from Pitts burg to Rensselaer on Monday, the train leaving Pittsburg at 3.30 p. m., aud connecting with trains on the State Line at Montieelio and on the L. N, A. & C., at Bradfoid. The train flora Rensselaer will arrive at Pittsburg at 8.30 a. m., and when the road is completed to this city, will connect with the 8.45 train west and the 9.13 east on the Wabash. It will, from present appearance, require about six weeks to complete the bridge across the Wabash. But never mind! We will enjoy that great jubilee yet! A correspondent sends the following account of a trip over the line to Bradford:

Delphi, Ind., July 16, 1879. To the Editor of the Tlmest The General Manager of the t, D. &C. railroad, i. e. Col. Yeoman, called me from my usual avocation on yesterday morning for a trip of pleasure and profit to the road and myself. At eight o’clock, a. m., the sturdy engine, “Rowland Hughes.” gave forth her challenge to the echoes of the hills and valleys which furnish a background to the first mile of the road just west of the treacherous Wabash liver; and then amid the “pish,” “whish,” and clang of the bell, all famfliar sounds to the employe of the railroad, we moved steadily and slowly through the defile, and once on top of the grade, she began to show a clean heel and a merry clatter as we sped over the track. No incident marred our progress until near the Tippecanoe river bridge, where a slight wash-out had been caused by the recent copious deluge, a messen ger from the planet Jupiter, so our sage scientists would have us believe; but, the scientists to the contrary notwithstanding, willing hands blade short work of unloading two carloads of gravel. Then awavwe went again and over the “A Brace Bridge,” which so securely spans the beautiful Tippecanoe river, and with a shrill “hallo” the Rowland sounded the challenge to the sixty feet grade and bade the tax-fighters take notice that she ttill breathed forth the vapory notes in Kindly tones and wished for the time to come when they, like true, honest men, would hand over the lucre w* ich furnished the sinews for railroads. Although the law withheld for the timo the performance of the paying deed, yet patience, perseverance and the nerve of the General Manager will see them tread to the music of the union, etc. A short stop at Montieelio; then, like the famed Arab steed of old, the ’’Rowland” breathed two shrill notes of alarm and away we sped as if blessed with life, and desiring to show our Delphi friends that narrow gauge engines were made for both draSjt and speed. In a short while the thriving town of Bradford loomed up in the distance and nearing the crossing of the L. N. A. & C. railroad, Supt. Millikan, by a skillful hand at the lever, made a “running switch,” passing our three flats to the right while the ‘ Hughes” remained on the main track. Soon the regular passenger train of the road from Rensselaer an ived and our volunteers having loaded two cars with iron rails and other supplies, the engine sounded her bell and whistle, aud out of the town, homeward bound we sped. No incidents of moment oe curred on our journey, and at three p. m. we a ighted again at the ravine near Pittsburg, weary, warm, yet withal well pleased and cont nt with the privilege gained, and satisfied that;the road-bed will need but slight further work to render it perfect and safe. Altisonant. THE DELPHI AND INDIANAPOLIS. The corps of surveyors on this line are inaidng slow progress. There is all the difference in the world between a preliminary survey and a locating survey. In the latter the progress is necessarily slow. On yesterday the corps had reached Pickard’s Mills, a point at the junction of the threo counties of Hamilton, Tipt'bn and Clinton, and about thirty-three miles this side of Indianapolis. After they strike the old Michigan Road, in the vicinity of Michigan town, the progress will bo more rapid, and the boys may confidently be expected home in three weeks.

The health of the eorp® ha&rrot been the best. When a short distanee out the'whole gang, with the exception of the engineer and ax man were badly poisoned by vines, so that they were compelled to lay by for four days. !Now, however, they have afl recover ed, and are pushing this wtjy as fast as the exigencies of the case will permit.