The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-02

cided that it was all right to do, as 1t did not
relate to transportation, but to an accommOda-
ton volunteered by the company, apart from
their duty common carriers, for the benefit of
passengers For furnishing these the managers
deserve commentator.
The latest idea in car construction is that sug.
gested by woman. 1t is "to fit up COACH
says the Boston Journal, "with different heights
of seats, having, say, ona-half the space OF the
coach clear; cover the floor with inexpensive
rugs where tired babies may roll and stretch
their limbs as on the home carpets" Patent not
yet applied for.
The Tennessee railroad bill practically puts
the railroads of the State under the control of
comm ssioners without the consent of stockhold-
ers. ItprOvides for the appointment of three
until January l, 1885. Their successors are to
be elected by the people at the November cleo
ton of 1884, and every two years thereafter.
THEIR BUSINESS IMPROVING.
In chat with Cincinnati, Hamilton & Day
ton Off cial it learned that while General
Manager Waite was not satifed with the bust
ness the Indianapolis division was doing, the
line for March would really make a better show
ing of net earnings than in any corresponding
month since the road was operated. There was
slight increase in freight earnings and
marked increase in passenger business. Local
traffic has improved somewhat, but through
Western connections the increase has been most
perceptIble. The Indiana, Bloomington West
orn has proven their most valuable connection,
and could be made a still more important con-
nection were the business worked UP, and were
the l., B. & W., which haul through coach to
Cincinnati to brace up a little on time. The l.,
cago, Burlington Il Quincy connection. This had
indirectly affected unfavoraby their through
business, but with good weather and good track
THE trouble would be over and the through chair
car could but become popular.
RAILROADS NOT THIEVES.
At a meeting held in Boston last week which
was attended by large number of capitalists
who are interested in railroads, Charles Francis
Adams jr. gave them quite q sensible talk in
which he took strong grounds in favor OF
railway consolidation. portion of his talk
is published below and will be read with inter
est by Western men, majority of whom look
upon the consolidation of roads as being any
thing but advantageous to shippers or the
railroad centers like Indianapolis. MIR. Adams
says: "The old idea in regard to the COM
munity and it's railroads was that the railroads
were to be regarded as in the nature of thieves,
and when they fell out, honest men might nope
to come by their dues.
''The whole tendency of late has been in an
other direction. IL has become recognized that
the business Of a railroad company is TO serve
the public, and not to fight another railroad COM
pany. 1t has become recognized that in order to
serve the public well corporations must be large
and prosperous. Small companies cannot afford
the equipment the facilities which modern
railroad business requires. So far as the public
is concerned, the tendency, both of feeling and
legislation in respect TO railroad development is
well defined. That tendency is to look upon a
Fallrodu WdT as upon any JULIET WILL anu upVu u
railroad peace as upon any other peace"
The war is a wasteful, unct rtaln, semi-barbar-
GUS means OF reaching a desired result. In place
of it u system of regulation and arbitration s
being rapidly develoned The railroad compa-
MES are allowed to grow and assume such forms
may be made convenient by the needs of the
work they have to do. Never was our railroad
service so good, so uniform so generally regard
fu of the just rights of the public it is at this
time. 1t will unquestionably be more SO in the
future than it is now.
FREIGHT BUSINESS
The train records show a still further decrease
in car movement over Indianapolis lines. East
bound shipments down to a minimum, little
grain being forwarded. There is q fair move
ment of flour and provisions for export, and the
p, c. & st. L. has heen favored through heavy
runs of cotton and stock, and but for this would
IN axe no better showing proportionately than
it's competitors West-bound traffic is good for
the season of the year, but not as heavy as in
February aud the early part of March. This is
no surprise, however, TO freight men, but the
grain movement eastward is disappointing to
them, a lively movement had been anticipated
in the latter part of March, With north and
rates are we'll maintained. Local traffic is quite
satisfactory, bnb would doubtless be much
heavier the weather of a less winter-like
character. Below is given the number of cars
received and forwarded at this point in the
week ending March 81 at IL NJ, compared
with the preceding week:
o.