Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1881 — The New Railroad. [ARTICLE]

The New Railroad.

Last Friday we enjoyed a trip to our neighboring city, Rensselaer, and was thus afforded an excellent opportunity to view the railroad work progressing. We fiad heard, too many wild rumors as to what was going on and what was going to go on that we felt especially inclined to take it alj in. The trip satisfied us that all the apprehension about the road stopping at Bradford in the interest of the Louisville and New Albany road is as idle as the merest vaporings could be. All the work that is in progress, and all that has been done this side of Bradford is of the most substantial character. In the first “place the Crossing which is at Bradford ready to be put in is of the very best pattern and make. As this crossing for any other place would be utterly worthless except as old iron, :it is hardly probable that they would have put in one so .extraordinarily substantial unless ft was intended to remain. The standard gauge ties are in nearly four miles this side of Bradford, four ties to the rail, and a force of about men are daily at work pushing on towards Monticello. If it were not the intention to put the track down to stay, one tie at the joints would be quite sufficient. The road bed is widened as the tie* laying proceeds in a more substantial manner than is being done beyond Rensselaer, and ditches are cut to give the bed ample drainage. All this would certainly not be done unless the standard gauge track ip going down to stay. >Ve are in short thoroughly satisfied that the manner in whicn the work is being done would entail an expense, a cash expenditure as great if not greater than the amount which it is alleged the management is after in this city. We say cash expenditure for we know the present management is promptly paying all employees. Mr. F. D. Raymond, the Chicago and Indianapolis Air Line Paymaster, went over the line Friday and we witnessed the payment of the men in full for all services to May 1.

Remaining over night in Rensselaer we were invited Saturday morning by Roadmnster Connors to go out to the front and note the progress. Partaking of an early breakfast we boarded the construction train and after a few minutes, ride reached the end of the traokf nearly eleven .miles beyond Rensselaer and within a little over six miles of the Kankakee. 'Hie grading is substantially done to Lowell and the track, 52 pound steel rail, is going down at the rate of nearly a mile a day. After Mr. Raymond paid the men at the front w® were sent back to Rensselaer in time for the homeward train. All of the men this side of Bradford and beyond Rensselaer were paid on rolls and vouchers in the name of the Chicago and Indianapolis Air Line railway Company and not a man between Bradford and Rensselaer any P*Tr they looking to the L., N. A. A C. R; R. Company for pay. So all things considered we ars satisfied that there is no room, for a scare, as yet, in relation to this end of the line. But why, it may be asked, m the Bradford and Rensselaer division turned over to the New Albany road ? The explanation given is that inasmuch as all ties jpon

moat be shipped over the New Albany road much time and money is saved to the Air Lone by letting the N. A. folks deliver the iron and ties at Rensselaer and take in pay or part pay the entire revenues of that 16 miles of road. Thus giving also the entire time of the Aar Line engine and rolling stock to construction. After a careful view of what is going and what may be semi along ue line we feel that there is no ground for any fears that we will not get the road as promised. A personal examination of what is be-' mg done has fully renewed our faith. —[Delphi Journal.