Railroad News

Railroad Items
(Galesburg's Republican-Register, Saturday, March 26, 1887, submitted by J. Crandell)

--Engine No. 121 is been furnished with a new tank.
--A switch engine of the C. & I. road is in the shop for repairs.
--Thomas Snowball, one of the old veterans of the machine shop, is dangerously ill with lung-fever.
--John T. Bassett spent Monday in Buda. John is again in laughing trim.
--Nels Nelson is a sufferer, a hammer falling from a boiler having inflicted a wound in his head.
--Ask Conductor Tom Moline for what the policeman wanted him at Aurora for. Tom tells that story in pretty good style.
--The large coal chutes in the east yard are being removed. It is the intention to occupy the space taken by them with tracks.
--Aleck Johnson, of the paint shop department, and Joe Linrod, have quit work at the shop and gone to carpentering on their own hook.
--The boys are booming Al. Willsie for the office of City Clerk and are now calling by the great-horned spoon that they're going to vote for him. The plum Al. is looking after is the nomination on the Liberal ticket.
--There is now in course of construction at the shops another locomotive, the boiler part of which is being extended forward so as to form a spark arrester. The new device works like a charm. Five " Q " locomotives are now provided with this arrester.
--As soon as the Inter-state Commerce bill goes into affect, the C. B. and Q. will issue passes to no one but employees. What will be done in regard to newspaper offices is not yet certain, although it is hinted that both sides will hereafter pay for what it gets.
--Carl Vergenius, the magnetic healer, made a tour of the railroad shops Wednesday, and left his card, announcing that he is a candidate for mayor. The card was adorned with a photograph of the learned and handsome gentleman. Carl and Mayor Foote are the only candidates who have yet been at the shops, and the boys say that Carl is ahead.
--A prominent railroad man tells us that since saloons were abolished at the Five Points things go on much more quietly and peacefully in the yards and shops. Men cannot now be seen striking out at all hours of the day for "drinks." They work sober and go home sober. We hear very seldom of those scraps in the yards that formerly were so common.
--"The liberal voters are tired of saloon rule," remarked a shop man. "It has come to a point whether the saloons shall run the city or the city run the saloons. We have heretofore favored license because we deem it the best measure for the regulation of the saloon. We did not expect that aldermen would use it as an argument for multiplying saloons and for placing them in every part of the city, irrespective of the wishes of the citizens."
--Mr. Henry Church is mentioned quite favorably as a candidate for alderman in the Seventh ward. Michael Huston, the present alderman, who saw something remarkably dark in the request of citizens to prohibit saloons from the vicinity of the new railroad depot, will have to do some lively work or Henry will get ahead of him. There would probably not be much disappointment if Mr. Houston should be elected to remain at home. Mr. Church ran last year against Mr. George Kennedy, and was defeated by much less than the usual majority.
--One very interesting feature of this C. B. and Q. shops and yards here is the waterworks system, affording protection against fire and put in at large expense. Mr. Robert Colville, Master Mechanic, was so kind as to show us around the yards, and we're sure that our readers will be interested in learning something about the works. To furnish the needed pressure there are 3 pumps. The largest of these is located in the machine shop proper, has a capacity of 450 gallons a minute and can furnish streams for four hose. It is a new engine and cost six hundred and forty dollars. Trial has been made with it and it throws so powerful a stream that it is all 4 or 5 strong men can do to hold the nozzle of the hose in place. Another pump of somewhat similar make, but smaller, is located in the north round house. This cost about four hundred dollars. In the rail shop is the third. During the past few days Superintendent Dickson has had a force of men busied in putting down water mains through the yard connecting on the one hand with the tanks and water main from the C. B. and Q. reservoir, and on the other hand with these pumps. There is also connection near the freight depot with the city mains. This complex system of mains terminates with thirteen hydrants stationed in various parts of the yards from near the depot to the vicinity of the lumber yard and affording splendid protection to every part. These hydrants are new and of the most improved type. Thus here is a system of works back of which is the C. B. and Q. reservoir, and getting needed protection to an immense amount of property, as well as affording no little amount of protection to the city at large. Connected with this system of waterworks is an electric fire alarm system. There are now thirteen stations at which an alarm can be turned on. In the hose house is an annunciator which shows just where the fire is. The alarm bell is in the machine shop and rings the moment an alarm is turned on. The hose house afford shelter for the hose carts and hose below, while above are accommodations for the firemen. It is a neat, roomy structure. We would like to speak of this system at more length. It is perfect in every particular and suggests great enterprise on the part of the company. Would that the city was as adequately provided for.

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C. B. & Q. Improvements
(Galesburg's Republican-Register, Saturday, April 16, 1887, submitted by J. Crandell)

     We ask Mr. C. F. Resseguie, Illinois Superintendent of C. B. and Q. about the rumors to the effect that the company is about to build a second main line from here to Quincy in order to be in a position to compete actively with the A. T. and Santa Fe for the trade of the southwest. His reply was that a double track is not contemplated. The rumor he thinks arose from the fact that the company is taking steps to put in long sidetracks at Bushnell and Macomb, these being the principal points for the meeting of freight trains. It is true that the Quincy line is doing a much increased freight business, there now being brought over that line freight from the St. Joe, Atkinson, Leavenworth and points south of St. Joe on the K. C. that heretofore have reached Chicago by another route.
     Mr. Resseguie informed us that the plans for some decided changes in the company's line in the northeast part of the city are now in course of preparation. It will be recalled that an arrangement was affected whereby the new railroad was to pass beneath the C. B. and Q. tracks at the vicinity of the stone bridge near the Shelton waterworks. It was at first thought that the C. B. and Q. tracks would have to be elevated but from 7 to 9 feet, but is now discovered that the grade must be raised as much as 13 feet. The intention is to remove the stone bridge and substitute therefore a span or trestle bridge, the space beneath which is much longer and larger than that of the present bridge. While this elevating of the track will enable the locomotives of the new road to pass under the "Q" tracks, it will also be of benefit to the " Q, " because it will lessen very materially the grade between this city and Center Point, which is one of the worst grades on the whole line. This will be a saving to the rolling stock generally. The arrangement is one that is of the advantage to both roads. Of course to raise the grade 13 feet makes an immense amount of filling in from both directions for a long distance necessary. Mr. Resseguie thought that the company would be ready to begin work in about 2 weeks.
     The new C. B. and Q. is putting down a third track between Aurora and Mendota and several other points. When completed the road will have a triple track extending nearly from Chicago to Aurora. The road having most tracks in the state and probably in this country is the Illinois Central, which is said to have 6 tracks.
     The Elmwood Messenger has the following: "The railroad company is remodeling a number of coal chutes here, down at the depot, making them larger. There is no grounds for the reports that any removal from Galesburg to Elmwood is contemplated. If the company wishes to remove any of the shops from the burg to this point we would heartily applaud the proceeding. It was reported such a removal was possible, but we fear there is nothing in it."

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Railroad Notes
(Galesburg's Republican-Register, Saturday, April 23, 1887, submitted by J. Crandell)  

--Peter Peterson, one of the coach shop men, is reported ill with rheumatism.
--The Shop Boys professed disappointment over some of the appointments on police force.
--Messrs. Colville and Way spent Tuesday in Peoria on business relating to their departments.
--Eddie McCune, son of the engineer, accidently shot himself through the thumb Tuesday while fooling with a revolver.
--Miss Mary H. Bassett, the sprightly daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Bassett, was 18 years old Wednesday. She was agreeably surprised and receiving from friends and relatives a number of choice presents.
--Will Peterson, one of the Galesburg accomplished telegraphers is finishing a course of telegraphy and office work, under Station Agent Love, who was thoroughly competent to finish him up in the first-class manner. -Knox Republican
--D. L. Peterson says that the Acme Milling Company has just ordered from Wright and Adams, Quincy, a 12X24 automatic cut off steam engine to cost in the neighborhood of $1,000. This new engine will be ready in five or six weeks. The mill is now running 18 hours a day.
--M. J. Morley, who went from here the other day to accept a position as a fireman on No. 116, has returned. It seems that the engine mentioned was the victim of a head-end collision the evening before he was to take it, which leaves him out of the job. Mr. Aspin, who lives here, was engineer on the fated locomotive, but was, so far as can be learned, unharmed.
--Mr. Thomas Hopkins, of the machine shops, informs us that his wife and he had been commissioned to organize here a lodge of honor, a branch auxiliary to the A. O. U. W., and designed especially for the ladies. It is the intention to organize this lodge during the coming session of the Grand Lodge. It will be an attractive feature, and it is hoped that the A. O. U. W. ladies will give it hearty support.

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New Railroad Jottings.
(Galesburg's Republican-Register, Saturday, April 30, 1887, submitted by J. Crandell)

     The contract for grading from Section 61 to 65, inclusive, has been sublet to Gere & Williams, a well-known railroad firm of Syracuse, New York. Mr. Gere has been in the city several days. The contract begins two miles east of Spoon River, next to the McCaughry contract, and runs east. The firm contemplates beginning work at once.
     The firm of McArthur brothers, who have the contract for grading from Section 85 west of the city to Monica, have opened a headquarters in the front rooms of the second story of Pete Nelson's new building, corner of Main and seminary streets. Mr. Clarke has charge of the office.
     One of the contractors remarks that they are ready to begin work. They're waiting on the securing of the right of way. Cars with implements and supplies are now on the way here from St. Paul.
     It is estimated that there are now as many as 400 teams busied on the grading between Section 85 and four miles west of Cameron.
     R. P. Lutes, of Indianapolis, Indiana, and of the firm of Taylor, Burnett & Co., bridge contractors, of St. Louis, was in the city this week. Mr. Lewis has the contract for constructing all the bridges and trestles of this C. S. Fe and C. road between Fort Madison and Streator. A reporter had a short interview with the gentleman at the Union Hotel. Mr. Lutes stated that he had a force of 150 minutes and 8 drivers now at work on it trestle over this C. B. and Q. tracks at Cameron, which would be over 3,000 feet in length. In this city there would be about 400 feet of bridge work to construct. All bridges, crossings and trestles that were now being built were simply for temporary purposes and were wholly of wooden material. It was the intention of the railroad company to replace them eventually with iron. He had no written contract as to when his work should be completed, but he expected to have it all finished by the first of October, provided the grading was not delayed. Mr. Lucas is a fine appearing, business-like man, and has been engaged in this business over twenty years. He has had a hand in constructing many of the largest and most difficult bridges in the West. Mr. Lutes will soon make his headquarters at this city.

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Railroad Budget.
(Galesburg's Republican-Register, Saturday, May 14, 1887, submitted by J. Crandell)

--Five new Class A engine tanks are being built in the boiler shops.
--Will Remier and Ed. Opels are reported as on the sick list.
--James Stockey is still laid up at home with a badly sprained ankle.
--Locomotive 85 is out of the paint shop and get ready for business.
--One of the steam shovels to be used in grading east of the city is here.
--Lewis Green injured his arm so badly on Tuesday that he is unable to work.
--The pay car came in Thursday and left some sixty thousand dollars to be distributed generally.
--Mrs. Mary Ingstrom and daughter Miss Emma have gone to Chicago to visit friends.
--There was a pleasant party on Wednesday evening at the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Ehn.
--Sunday Mrs. William Woodson and children will go to Chicago, and will spend two weeks there visiting.
--Conductor James L. Richardson is having a hard time of it now days on the score of health, but thinks that he is improving.
--One of the recent newcomers in the machine shop is Will Alexander, son of engineer Alexander, and a worthy young man.
--The boilermakers have just got through giving Engine 151 boiler a thorough overhauling, including the putting in of a new fire box.
--The carmakers have received orders to strip thirty more coal cars, transforming them into flat cars. Twenty-five have already thus been changed.
--Mrs. Henry Rehm, Mrs. George Best and Mrs. George Stofft, the good wives of three of the best engineers on the "Q," are having a picnic today in Peoria.
--Mr. George Egans was presented recently with some fine Bohemian tomato(?) plants. We have an idea that the yield will be oats. The gift is said to be made by an engineer.
--Mr. C. A. Smith, who has been spending some time in Red Oak, Iowa, has returned. It is said that his going there to get rid of the rheumatism was a "fib," and that the strong attraction was his best girl.
--William Kiernan informs us that not a foot of the right of way for the new railroad has been obtained between the western city limits and the West Knox County line. He did not say just where the trouble lies.
--The two streetcars been made in the shops are nearly completed. They are made in such a way that they can be used either as passenger cars or as freight cars, the top being removable. It is said that they may be largely used in conveying brick from the works east of the city.
--The sleeper "Claudius" is again ready for the road. This was taken into the shops several weeks ago with one end all stove in, the result of a wreck. The car as repaired and remodeled shows up as handsome as any sleeper on the road.
--The railroad men here are taking great interest in the brake tests at Burlington. A good many, especially of the engineers, expect to attend these experiments, which continued during three weeks. Much that is practical and valuable is thus learned.
--Mr. William Hahn has returned from a pleasant trip to Chicago, Detroit and other northern cities. He saw the games between the Chicago and Pittsburgh baseball nines, and thinks the latter club the superior. He says that the Pittsburgh men in running bases, run one-half the distance and slide the other half.

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