The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-08
THE RAILROAD INTERESTS.
The 1. & ST. L. Defended Against the
Charge of Discrimination.
Early Railroad Construction in This State
-Jottings, Squibs and Points of
a Local Nature.
DETERMINATIONS OF THE I. ST. L.

Traffic Manager Skinner Inclined to Treat
indianapolis Shippers Fairly.
O. B. Skinner, general traffic manager of the
bee line system, takes exceptions to the recent
statement in the Journal to the effect that the
indianapolis & st. Louis road, part of the Bee
lime systefn was operated to discriminate against
Indianapolis, and he says if there is any dis
ortmin alton in rates, he Is responsible, not H.
W. Gays, the general freight agent OF the L q
St L. Mr.. Skinner says when the Bee-hne PEG
ipIe took control of the l. St. L. road, It's ousl-
ness was being diverted in all directions. por-
fou of it would 20 east via the C.. l., st. L. d G.
land the B. o.; some of it by
the c., q. & d., and Erie; large per
cent. of it by the p, c. q st. L. Inc Inc
division, came in for small slice. This being the
case, what could the Bee-line people do hut begin
tn load freights into their own cars and those OF
fast-freight lines operating over the Bee-line
road and haul them through Indianapolis. II
mnloaded at Indianapolis, 1t woulG De dlsrlD-
Nlted between the half-doZen eastern lines, and
lin self-defense they had been obliged to make
favorable rate to shippers to points east OF
Indianapolis. Any practical business man would
do the same. He was servant OF the T., y, u
IL I. Railroad Company, and 1t was his duty TO
look for their interests first, and the interests OF
Indianapolis were secondary. He liked Ind1an-
apolis and its business men, and would do all in
his power to build up the interests OF this city,
yet it was not his duty to do 1t at the t ex-
Iense of the road he represented. MIR.
Skinner stated that he noticed the article
in the Journal recently on the matter OF dis
crimination, and in the cases named there was
good ground for complaint, and he at once
gave instructions to make The rates on the ar
tices named such as would be just To Indian
sRpOlis shippers. As regards discriminating
against the Stockyards at indianapolis, there
was nothing in It, The Decline people were In
herested in the prosperity of these yards. and
gave livestock shippers every possible advant-
age they could in rates and facilities for trans
lpOrtation, without disturbing their relations with
cOmpetltOrs. As to resting cattle at this point,
he said large per cent. of their livestock trat1o
gathered at points on their own road, and
had, when reaching Indianapolis, been on
tine road but eight or ten hours,
and even then, stock shipped from
East st. Lonis was run through to Cleveland In
thirty hOnrs aud often quicker, and it seemed TO
him that TO force a shipper to rest his cattle at
this point when his stock, at the worst, would
not he in the ears over thirty hours, two hours
less than the laws of the United States
for transportation of live stock allows, would
be a hardship and drive business TO
their competitors Mr.. Skinner, after lengthy
conversation said doubtless there were rates
which needed REIMBURSEMENT, we're unfair 20 GER
tain shippers, and on his return to Cleveland he
proposed to give the matter thorough InVestl-
GatiOn. Mr. Skinner approved of the suggestion
that he visit Indianapolis and remain here two
three days, get better acquainted with the
business men here, and learn the grievances of
the shippers, and, If possible, meet their views
In the matter of rates.