Jasper County Democrat, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1902 — Railroad Facilities. [ARTICLE]

Railroad Facilities.

The Belt railway is a little over fouT miles in length and extends from Oolitic to Bedford, where It connects with three railroads, giving the quarries oik llne amplo shipping facilities. The railway is controlled by the Bedford quarries company and enables It to make prompt delivery of Its output to any point In the Cnlted States or Canada. One of the principal railroads with which It connects Is the Southern Indiana. Like the Belt, this road Is controlled by the owners of the quarries. This splendid little road is a monument to the ability, energy and financial worth of its proprietors. It Is the result of the acquisition by the present owners of the old Evansville & Richmond railway, which had been a failure. The line has been rebuilt. extended, new rails laid, grades reduced. cuts filled or spanned by modem steel bridges and the roadbed ballasted with crushed stone from the quarries until It Is one of ihe finest In the state. Six trains ere run dally between Terre Haute and Seymour. The entire qulpment of the road is strictly modem and in keeping with a first-class line. Recently the company’s shops at Bedford were completed. AH are massive stone structures and include a ten-stall engine lfouse, machine shop, carpenter shop, paint shop, store room, hiseksmith shop and office. An electric light plant Is being Installed, which will furnish light and power for all these buildings. At Terre Haute, the northern terminus of the road, several fine buildings. all stone, have been constructed. The Southern Indiana rallwav was built principally to develop and encourage the oolitic limestone and coal industries of southern Indiana, and Its purpose is being admirably fulfilled. It owns nesrlv two thousand, cars that are always available for the quarry-men and coal producers Jocsted on the line. What the rosd has done for the section of our state where It now runs it will do for that part of Sullivan county, through which a branch is now being built, to tap a part of Indiana’s great coal belt that has heretofore been handicapped by tho lack of facilities for marketing the products of Its mines. More than a dozen new mines have been opened along the branch. With further extensions the Southern Indiana will soon become "the stone and coal road of Indiana.” Tills railroad has rendered accessible a health resort that is destined to become noted throughout the country. The waters of Indiana Bprings In Martin * county, twenty miles north of Bedford, have long been noted for their medicinal properties, and for eighty years people have sought them. Until the construction of the Southern Indiana the springs could only be reached by long stage Journeys. Parties largely Interested in the Southern Indiana own the stock of the Indiana Springs hotel company, which proposes the erection of a fine modem fireproof hotel, constructed of Bedford stone. The springs are situated in a very picturesque part Of the state, being surrounded by many miles of hilly woodlands, with greams well stocked with black bass and other fish. The location of the springs makes them accessible by fast trains from Indianapolis. Chicago. St. Louts. Cincinnati and Louisville. The enterprise, push and ability back of these successful Industries are worthy of the admiration of the entire Hoosler state.