Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 February 1903 — THE RAILROADS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE RAILROADS

It is understood that favorable action has been taken by the Pittsburg council regarding the entry of the Wabash into that city. Six thousand freight and switch engine drivers on the Erie Railroad, between Jersey City and Chicago, threatened to strike if their wages are not increased. Reductions in the freight rate on wag ons and agricultural implements to the southwest from Louisville nnd St. Louis have been equalized by the Louisville and Nashville and the Illinois Central lines. Shipments of flour, grain and provisions from Chicago and Chicago Junction points last week show a decline in grain and provisions as compared with the previous week, but an increase in ths amount of flour. It is estimated that there were built in the United States during 1902 6,000 miles of railroads, the greatest amount for any year since 1890. The largest stretches were 570 miles in Oklahoma and 500 miles in Texas. The New York Central has introduced a very artistic series of menus which will certainly add to the attractiveness of the meals en route. They are real works of art. A copy is given to each lady patron of tlie dining cars. The route of the Cincinnati and Louisville Railroad will be along tlie Ohio river from Cincinnati to Mudison, ind., and will then deflect toward tlie table lands in order to nvoid the river hills. The line 'will be built within a year. A statement prepared by the Interstate commerce commission shows that during tho three months ended Sept. 80, 1902, there were 263 persons killed and 2,013 injured in train accidents. Other kinds of accidents, including those sustained by employes while at work and by passengers in getting on or off the cars, etc., bring the total number of casualties up 1 to 12,007, the killed numbering 845 and the injured 11,162. The total number of collisions nnd derailments was 2,448, of which 1,444 were collisions nnd 1,014 | derailments, of which 51 collisions and 02 derailments affected passenger trains. The damage to cars, engines and roadway by these accidents amounted to $2,108,500. It is announced that tho Lake Shore is now handling between 13,000 nnd 14,000 freight cars a day and that during tho first ten days of February It handled 8,500 more loaded freight cars a day than during the corresponding period of last year. The success of tlie agent of the Grand Trunk who was sent to England to eocure the transfer of tho Canadian Northern is said to have been all that was expected. By the conclusion of the negotiations the Grand Trunk acquire* the Northern lines and rights, and undoubtedly will Invade Canadian Pacific territory.