The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-24

wat Ia ID. 10 tne prtsult1b
and general traffic manager. has been offered ali
important position the Erlanger system. and
has intimatod to friends that he will probably
accept it,
STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.
railroad man, who is close observer Of
the movement of prominent railroad meu, ex-
presses the opinion that the election of Henry
Willard, John ". Ellis and Frederick Billings as
directors of the New York. West Shore & Buffalo
railway Is more significant than would appear
on the surface These gentlemen are also direct
0rs, and the most enterprlsing directors, in the
northern Pacific road, and II is possible that
they have in view the scheme for a new and
separate transcontinental road, which will begin
at New York aud end at Puget Sound. There
are roads enough from Chicago to Duluth or to
Minneapolis to give them the 500-mile counec-
ton there.
CHAT WITH GROWING FREIoHT MAN.
At the Union Depot yesterday the railroad re-
porter OF the Journal met prominent freight
man who had missed his train. The official hav-
ing plenty of time, it was thought he would not
be adverse to talk, and he answered the several
Questions propounded by the reporter in such a
manner as to make the conversation one in
which readers OF the railroad department of the
Journal would be interested. In answer to the
first question, swell. Nr. -, cannot you
give me an item or two which will ba OF interest
to the readers OF the Journals railroad column.
lie shrugged his shoulders aud snubDed the re-
porter as follows:
No, sir, / cannot; there is nothing new;
besides, the Journal already has too much to say
about railroads and their management.
Reporter-What ale the prospects for winter
businessl
Official-There ia no business of moment,
and the little thers is Ia "moukeyed" to DEATH
Reporter-How do you account for the dearth
In the fright movement The Agricultural
Bureau reports immense crops OF grain that must
naturally seek the seaboard.
Ohictal-ln the first place, there is nothing
I
careful, competent men over the four principal
corn-growiDg States, aud their reports are any
thing but encouraging as to quantity, and what
there's OF it is in such wretched condition that
lt will not grade. The weather has been very
unfav0ra6le for putting corn In shipping oondi-
tion. We may soon reasonably look for the
mild weather we usually get In January and
February, which will put the roads IN such con-
dtion that the farmers cannot move the crop to
the railroads. and II warm weather strikes the
crop IN anything like It's present condition 1t will
DO ruined.
Reporrer--I do not fully grasp the meaning OF
'nonkey business" as applied to the freight
carrying trade. Is not the east-bound pool a
suoeessl
Ofiicial-The principle of "pools." az applied
to railroad interests, will undoubtedly prove
blessing to railroads and the shippers at some
future period. The spirit of the agels toward
"pOOls," but there are many general freight
agents who have been so long "scalpng" rates
that it has become second nature to them. They
think it q smart thing to beat the "p0Ol," and
not infrequently braR OF 50 doing. But these
demoIahzers are having their measures taken,
and the next general cutting you will see will be
the cutting off OF their heads
Reporter-But how abOnt the ''monkey bust
ness?'
Otlical-Pm not going to tell tales out of school
to hart the interest represent, and would not
say word II thought keeping still would be
of any benefit 1t is an open secret with we'll
posted railroad men and bright shippers
that the pool has not been, nor lie it DOW being
maintained. Take St. Louis, for instance. Why.
should the railroads transport grain frem st.
LOUIS via indianapolis and Cincinnati for the
same money they would get out OF the business
ny delivering to Eastern roads at indiana polisl
The reason is plain. The rates from Cincinnati
are about Two cents per hundred pounds less
than from Indianapolis, which enables them 10
cut the ST. Louis rate just the amount Of the diff
ference.
Reporter-what is the meaning of the large
amount OF grain moving to Toledo, Cleveland,
Sandusky and Baffalol 10 cannot be on account
OF lake and canal transportation, for the water
tenths of tho grain shipped TO these points dur
ing the season Of navigation never saw the water
but was sent forward by rail.
Offica!-The meaning Is that roads west of
the points named have charged less than
their proportion of the through rate. An
other point is the undertaking in
1000 TO 10000 pounds per ear. Some of the
roads have scales and weigh all cars, but tie ma
jority of the roads either do not have accessible
track scales, or do not use them OF course this
is snly done on business for intel ior points, as
grain is weighed at all the seaboards.
Reporter-Then, judge, The "monkeyv only
. Oitieial-Nonsense. There are many other ar
teles on which the same thing Is done. Take
tobacco and lumber. knew OF large shipments
of each of these articles made to New York
"lighterage Free" for which threa cents per nun
dred pounds is deducted for expense of "Iight-
erng" In New York harhOr that Is never put on
Fighter" 1t takes oae great stretch or imag-
inatiOn to make up your mind as to what be-
comes OF the three cents per hundred pounds. as
the eonsignees are perfectly satisfied with the
arrangement.
Reporier-How do you regard Mr Finlq
Otficial-As perfectly conscientious. fair and
the brightest intellect in the railroad business.
Being frank and honorable. he IL not at all sus-
pici0us, and looks for the same characteristics
IN men who hold responsible positions in the
railroad service.
Reporter-Oue more question. please Are not
all those underhand things done by soliciting
agenrs2
otfcial-The agreement to do these Things may
be made between solicitors and eonsignors aud
o0nslgnees, but You may rest assured no agent
In these days does anything OF the kind without
ample authority.
Thanking the official for his courtesy, the re-
AR uuifh