The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-11-03
NO. sc.
From the south Rend Register.
The New Railroad P0llcys y -

and the lessons Of economy which it incul-
Gates are often, in the end, Of the highest
value. The retrenchment which il compels,
in associated as well as personal expenses.
would not probably be considered or prac-
tiscd if the halcyon days of prosperity cont
tinued. But when the dark cloud Of gloom
and disaster lowers upon us, the prglent
man takes in sail, guards every weak point,
and endeavors to trim ship, so as to ride
out the gale in safety. A. ~, >
Heretofore nearly all the great leading
Rail Roads in, the country, intoxicated by
prosperity and increasing receipts, apd ami
mated by spirit of rivalvy,. haze, besides
indulging in q system Of debt creating and
financering, that in cooler moments looks
reckless, entered upon competition with
each other, as to which ono could run tue
fastest and the largest number of trains up
on their respectiyo routes. Thus not only
were the number of their officers and en-
ployces unnecessarily increased; thels tiack
rapidly dctcriorated by the increased wear
and tear, compelling large repairing force
to be constantly at work, but their machi-,
merry and cars suffered also in the safiic &C.
celerated ratio. Particularly, between
Chicago and New York was this unwiso
oomp,tition exhibited, and tho tSo iival
routes, the one via the Michigan Central.
through Canada, and tho other via tho
Michigan Southern and Lake Shore, boSame
a gigantic race-course over which Locomo-,
tives laundering at "Lightning speed," un.
der the highest pressure of steau, each
route determined to land his passengers al
New York, first. Flaming haudCills an
nouncing that, or the other route, would
reach tho City ten minutes the quickest;
and as the speed increased, the operating
expenses kept step with it, until at last q
stockholders Of the Michigan Southern by
the fact that two thirds of its entire receipts
are swallowed up in expenses, leaving its
Eighteen Million Of, doilass OF Mortgage
Bonds, Stock and Debt, to bo provided for
out of the fraction that remains. p.
The crash came at last, and not a mo-.
ment too soon; for it has compelled the in
auguration of the new rolicyr which goes
into operation this week. The most diff.
cult and unpleasant part Of all has been
the lessening of the force employed on tho
Road,and the l24 to 20 per cent reduction
in pay which its necessities compel. At
points like La Porte and Adrian, where tho
reduction in number has been very large, il
has been severe blow; but the Superin-
tendents who have performed this duty,
have, we doubt not, striven to. discriminate
as judiciously as possible. Many Of tho
workmen had foreseen, since the Road had
become pecuniarly embarrassed, that this ro-
duction was inevitable; and all, who
new of the tide of disaster that was sweep.
ing over the land, could appreciate that in
the ork-shops of New York and New
England it was far worse than here, and
the stockholders of the Road suffered moro
than themselves.
But the easiest part Of the new policy
was the reformation in tho time tables, and
here tho improvement bad been radical and
thorough. No more shall we hear. Of the
photographic Express" racing over the $50
miles from Chicago to Toledo in hours
and 81 minutes! No more shall flaming
advertisements announce that betwep Elk
hart and Toledo, Six Passenger trains
shall run each way daily! But kefesftey,
three passenger trains each way are to DO
the business and TO run through stopping
at nearly every station, at soberer rate Of
speed, the very fastest consuming within
10 minutes Of ten hours for the transt.--
This will reduce expenses materially, both
by decreasing the bills for wood, salaries,
wear and tear of machinery, and Of track
DC, &C., and by slackcning the rate of
speed Other economics bnye aaso boon
,,xt, 1f ,al, hoy
speak, but, as a sample, we would state
that as the freight trains have but little
business at airy Of the stations on the lake
shore between Laporte and Chicaga they
are to deliver wood for them hcrcafte. n
stead of using special wood train for that
purpose.
Tho Free Pass system had also cFSp1an-
ped so greatly as to Operate ecriouslv
against the revenues Of all the Rail Roads
in this region. And this too has been ma
terially revised. After the first of January
next, no general passes afe 70 be issued.
besides those to persons. in the employ Of
Roads, except to Editors along their linc.,
This single exception is made because, in.
the building of all these Roads, this class
of citizens. have given much valuable, ,anS
unpaid assistance to tlem through ihei,
papers; and arc generally &iiling, by rotic.
ing changes in time tables, tho Cohncctiong
which the roads makes DC, DC, to give o.
fair quid pro quo for this courtesy. Aftci
tho first of next month, no iEiys tssscS arc
to be given, exc4id fof strictly charitablo
purposes, or to atock drovcrs, who haye nc.
companied their stock TO tho East. :.
With all these reforms, economics, anJ
curtailments, it is evident that tho Mich
igan Southern r.. r., ought TO pay hcrcaf,,
ter. And the only danger of shipwrcck is
in tho largo floating debt, which tho ncv,
Board found pressing heavily ubon It, rcachS
ing in amount to nearly Two Millions OF
dollars. If that can 10 managed, at such
q critical time too as the present, its stock
holders can Justly hope for moro prosper, !
ous Future. But they will doubtless find
that to protect their own ntcrcs.s thew will
be compelled to assist in the word Of fund
ing it into Mortgage Bonds, wEich will bo
n good pccuniary Investment. and also save
their stock from tho hazard Of being sac
rifcod by the creditors Of the Road. Of;