Jasper County Democrat, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1902 — INDIANAPOLIS RECOGNIZED AS THE GREAT RAILWAY CENTER OF THE MIDDLE WEST [ARTICLE]

INDIANAPOLIS RECOGNIZED AS THE GREAT RAILWAY CENTER OF THE MIDDLE WEST

Indiana poll* la becoming recognised aa the chief railroad center of the middle West. Its great distributive resource* have been utilised by all The leading railroads until Its transportaUon facilities are exceptional In their completeness. The early years of Indiana preceded the railroad era, and during those first years the towns that were located on the Ohio river and the lower Wabash had a great advantage over any other settlements In the state. Soon afterward came the canal-bulldlng era, when American enterprise manifested itself all over the country In an endeavor to give convenient outlets for the products of the various sections through the medium of arUflclal waterways, which wars constructed upon a most extensive scale, Indiana especially participating in the extensive canal-build-ing acUvity and constructing the Wabash A Erie canal from Toledo to Evansville, 471 miles, which was the longest In the United States. The Whitewater canal from Lawreneeburg on the Ohio to Hagerstown was also constructed, and tbeee waterways for many years constituted the principal features, apart from the Ohio river. In the transportation facilities of th* state. The canals are sUll in use to a considerable extent, although th* section of the Wabash A Erie canal between Ft. Wayne and Lafayette has not been used for many years and will soon be paralleled with slectrlo railways, the former towpath being utilised as a roadbed. Great Facilities. The transportation faclllUes of Indianapolis have conUnued to Increase unUl at th* present time there are sixteen completed Unas running lnt* the city, connecting in the state with many other llnea which all bring their passengers to Indianapolis's magnificent Union staUon. Over 150 paaaenger trains enter and depart every twenty-four hours, so that the advantages of the city for reaching any point in the country are unsurpassed. The lines that center here radiate like the epokee of a wheel In every direction, and the equipment and service of the various roads represent the very highest quality of convenience, luxury and comfort. The Belt Railroad. It Is proper In this connection to first refer to the Indianapolis Union railway company, commonly known aa th# Belt railroad, because It Is the connecting link for all railroad lines entering the city. This company succeeded In 1883 to the enterprise Inaugurated In 1853 by the Union railway company. It operates fifteen mile# of track, extending entirely around the city, and also owns the splendid Union station. This Is considered one of the finest In the United States, has a train shed 300x660 feet In else, and 1# a handsome three-story brick building, surmounted by a lofty tower. It la a beautiful structure on the Romanesque order of architecture. The business done by this company Is very large and Indicates somewhat the extent of the commerce snd general traffic of Indianapolis. In 1900 the company moved 964.234 care over the Belt. In addition to 61.288 cars of live stock and 47.858 cars switched for private industries In the city. While the official figures are not yet available for 1901, It is understood that they will be at least ft) per cent, higher. The company has twelve heavy switch engines and gives employment to 300 persona. Mr. James McCrea. president of the company, resides at Pittsburg and Is first vice-presl-

dent of the Pennsylvania lines wset ot Pittsburg. Mr. E. F. Osborne, vice-presi-dent, Uvea In Cincinnati and is secretary ot th# Big Four system. Mr. W. T. Cannon. secretary and treasurer. Is a native of Indianapolis and a member of the Columbia, Commercial, Marlon and other clubs He has been identified with th* company for a long time. Mr. C. A. Vlnnedge, auditor, and Mr. A. A. Zion, superintendent. have also both served th# company for many years. Present Railroads. It may be stated In very truth that no capital city In any of th# states Is more advantageously situated with reference to convenience of access by the citizen* of th# stats. There are but few county ■eat* from which it li not possible to reach Indianapolis and return th# same day. In the early years of railroad building In this country there was not much expectation that th# roads would be Important for long distances, and those first projected from Indianapolis confined their operations within th# stats These first railways were not only locally projected but locally named, as will be seen by enumeration of the titles of the first eight railroads built to thla city, which were the Madison A Indianapolis, the Bellefontalne railway, th# Indianapolis A Lafayette, tho Indiana Central, the Indianapolis Initial, the Peru A Indianapolis arid the Indianapolis A Vincennes. Thee* roads, or as much of them as was ever built, are now parts of larger systems and the various lines which enter in the city at the present time are as follows: Ohio. Indiana A Western, from Indianapolis to Peoria. 111,, 212 miles; Indianapolis to Springfield, 0., 149 tulle*. Cincinnati. Hamilton A Dayton, Indianapolis to Cincinnati, 123 miles. Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Loqls A Chicago, Cincinnati to Indianapolis, 110 miles; Indianapolis to .Kankakee, 139 miles; Kankakee to Chicago, fifty-three miles v Lake Erie A Western, Indianapolis to Michigan City. 161 miles. Indianapolis A Vincennes,. Indianapolis to Vincennes. Ind., 117 miles. Chicago. Bt. Louts A Pittsburg. Columbus to Indianapolis. 188 miles; Indianapolis to Chicago, 194 miles Indianapolis. Decatur A Western, Indianapolis to Decatur. 111., 153 miles. Chicago, Indianapolis A Louisville. Indianapolis to Chicago, 183 miles; to Cincinnati, 123 miles; to Michigan City, 154 miles. “Cleveland. Columbus. Cincinnati A Indianapolis, Indiai apolls to Cleveland. 253 miles. _ .. Cincinnati, Wabash A Michigan. Indianapolis to Benton Harbor, Mich.. 201 miles. Jeffersonville. Madison A Indianapolis, to Louisville. Ky., 110 miles. Indianapolis A St. Louis, to St. Louis, *6l miles. Terre Haute A Indianapolis, to St Ixmls, 240 miles. Other roads, notably the Indianapolis Southern and the Illinois Centrnl. are seeking terminal facilities here, and will add largely to this Immense system in both freight and passenger business. No city In the country has a more complete net-worn or roads and few can boast the same amount of mileage. They are the avant courier of an enormous community of commerce that will eventually outstrip the cities of this entire region and make Indianapolis the chief distributing center of the middle West.