Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1902 — RAILROADS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RAILROADS

The other night Lloyd Roberts and Miss Blanche Gilimnn of Pleasant Hill, 111., were married on a Chicago and AJ ton train.

It is reported from St. I.ouis that the Frisco Railroad system is negotiating a deal with the Grand Trunk, which, if successful, will extend the Frisco system from Canada to Mexico. Scarcity of railroad laborers continues In Chicago. Within Abe last few weeks railroads having terminals here have imported 3,000 men from the West, but the demand is for many more. The Santa Fe has made arrangements to sell to the Northern Pacific its three enormous Decnpod engines, the largest In the world. The engines did not prove satisfactory for mountain service. The fastest long-distance trains in the world are run over the New York Central and Lake Shore, between New York and Chicago. Their averago speed Is about a mlla a minute for the entire distance. Articles of Incorporation of the Calumet and Southeastern Railway, with principal office In Chicago, have been filed. It is proposed to construct a railroad from a point on the Calumet river at Chicago to the Ohio river. The New York Central Railroad is making a fight to prevent trolley roads from paralleling its line between Rochester and Syracuse. It is claimed that as there already are three roads between the two places, the public has no need of a fourth.

Land seekers’ cheap rates from 10-.va, South Dakota and adjacent territory to North Dakota, Minnesota and the Northwest have been discontinued, but they will be resumed in February. In the meantime there Is a semi-monthly hoino•eekers’ rate which enables those who go to look for new homes to travel on cheap fares. The New York Central Increased the wages of 15,000 men In Its employ by from Bto 13 per cent. The increase adds nearly $1,000.000 a year to the payroll of the company. Three reasons are given fbr the policy of the rond: The increased cost of living, the wish of the management to equalize the wages in all parts of the system and the company’s desire to recognize faithful and efficient service.

Incoming grain shipments at Chicago last week were larger than in any similar period since 1808. The St. Paul brought In the largest proportion, Its share being 19 per cent of the whole amount received. The Northwestern followed with 10 per cent, the Illinois Central and Rock Island each had 11 per cent and ths Burlington 7 per cent. The Santa Fe brought in 5 per cent and the Eastern Illinois and Great Western each had 4 per Cent and the Wabash 2 per cent. Carrying at one place sixteen railroad tracks that occupy a width of 200 feet a big sand embankment built by Chicago railroads in accordance with tbo order of thp City Council la slowly but surely creeping toward the western limits and the part 'completed now stands as a monument to modern engineering skill. Two and a half million dollars will be ths cost of ths slsvation over which two such great railway systems as the Chicago and Alton and the Atchison, Topeka nnd Santa Fe will for years to come roll a wealth <of traffic In and out of Chicago's big business center.