Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 March 1887 — THE RAILWAYS. [ARTICLE]

THE RAILWAYS.

A GOOD many railway manager® have come to the conclusion that it is practicable to heat passenger coaches with steam from the locomotive. This plan has been introduced on several small railroads in the East, and is in successful operation on the elevated roads of New York city. The experiment has proved so satisfactory that the New York Central has ordered a train to be titled with the necessary apparatus, and will probably adopt the system on all its trains, western railway officials are investigating the subject with a good deal of care, ami appear to be quite confident that a safe and adequate substitute—either steam heating or something else—can bo found for the car stove. If the recent railroad accidents, whose horrors were multiplied ten-fold by this infernal engine of destruction, shall result in its disappearance the frghtful sacrifice; of life they involved will not have befn in vain. The railway managers have informed tho Committee of arrangements for the G. A. R. National Encampment, to be held at St. Louis next September, that the interstate commerce bill will prevent the granting of reduced rates. Senator Cullom writes that the bill is not prohibitory in cases of this kind. A meeting held in Chicago by the general managers of the West rn railways resulted in the passage of a resolution that the tariffs be corrected and the metl ods of doing business be revised to conform to the requirements of the interstate commerce law. The statement of the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company for the year shows the gross earnings were 58,000,039, an increase of 5FG7.470 over those of the previous year; operating expenses, ?4,(>50,955,. an increase of 510.507; net earnings, ?,3,40'.',084, an increase-of $25,663, The Directors of the Boston and Maine, the Lowell, and the Fitchburg Railroads are considering plans for. a union depot in Haymarket Square, Boston, to cost $5,000.000. There are to be sixteen tracks ttnd robin for 200 coaches.