The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-09

heavy freight traffic This road, which Ia largely
owned IN Boston, like many new railroads, cost
more to build than was estimated, and Is tempo
rarily short OF funds, bus those hest qualified TO
speak of It's prospects confidently predict tnat
the help to be afforded by funding It's coupons
VIII put 1t on its feet, as 1t is completed ana IN
operation, with good business and good manage
ment Its maln line extends from Louisville,
KY, to Mount Vernon, Ill, 1877 miles, where IL
connects with the ST. Louis division of the Louis
vile & Nashville system. thus giving very
direct route from Louisville to st. LOUIS. The
Evansville division extends from Evansville
Ind, to Jasper. tiftyfve miles, crossing the main
line at Huntlngburg, and the Rockport branch
vile, and runs eighteen miles to Rockport' on
the OHIO river.
ABILITY AT LAST RECOGNIZED.
On Thursday last, "Dave" Edwards, Southern
passenger agent of the Bee Line system. head
quarters Cincinnati, was offered the position of
general passenger agent of the Chicago, st.
Louis & Pitts5urg railroad, and the Journal has
the best of authority for stating that he will ac
cept the position. Mr.. Edwards is well known
both East and West as passen-
ger man, and his amiabe ways
make for HIM friends wherever his lot is cast
and as a passenger man he has few, If any su.
perlOrs He catches on TO any new tricks OF
competition readily, and has a faculty for getting
business few men possess. He was for some
years on the Indianapolis 81 ST. Louis, and Later
on the Delaware & Hudson Canal road, and for
some two years past has held his present posi-
tion with the Bee Line, which now loses one or
It's best men.
RAIL vs. WATER ROUTES.
But few years ago. on or about the LIST of
April, railway arrangements of the east and
west lines began to be anxious and to inquire
how soon navigation would open, as they then
expected business would drop off and rates tum-
Bile; but the time has now arrived when little
notice is taken by railroad men of the opening
of navigation. The rapid increase of trunk
%, I'd
has tendency. in late years, to detract largely
from the importance of the shipping interest of
the great lakes, more especially in the gran-car-
rying trade. IL has been demonstrated that rail
roads can fix through rates on eastward and
westward-bound bulk and package freight which
vessels cannot shade and earn living. Yet
while the railroad lines have increased in num-
Der and importance, the tonnage of the great
lakes has swelled in relative proportions. This
has been due not so much to the growth OF the
grain trade as to the rapid development OF the
iron aid coal interests OF the Northwest. ONO
and Pennsylvania are now exchanging coal for
iron ore ton for ton, with the region bordering
on Lakes Michigan and Superior, and to make
this exchange with as little expense as posi-
bic the vessel interest becomes an Indispensable
factor.
THE FUTURE OF THE WABASH.
Meeting ex-railrOad man who is well posted
in the affairs of the Wabash, st. Louis g. Pacific
road, tine reporter of the Journal questioned him
to the talked-ot consolidation by lease of the
Wabash with Jay Gould's Southwestern lines.
and he spoke very confidently regards the
matter giving several good reasons for his be
lief, Ons OF the most important ones being the
large purchase of stock jay Gould and his friends
have been making OF late. He admitted that the
Wabash track and equipments had been allowed
to deterioate the last few months but this had
been done as a blind tomake holders OF the COM
mon and preferred stock behave that the road
could but tumble into the hands of receiver.
This lease with the increase Of business which
would accrue to the Wabash company, would
probably have a very marked effect upon the
price of Wabash common stock. II the wabash
lease should be made and wabash in stead OF re-
ceiving per cent of the southwestern business,
should receive 10 per cent, it would not be DIM
cult to what Mr.. Gould foresaw when his
purchases of Wabash common were made, We're
the consolidation or leasing scheme carried out
there would be $500 miles of road IN one sys-
tenn 1t is understood that the lease will DE mod
eled after that of the Missouri, Kansas d Texas
to the Missouri Pacific; that is, upon the basis OF
the net earnings of the lessee road prior TO the
payment of the fixed charges.
FREIGHT BUSINESS.
The train records show still further decrease
in car movements, although in loaded cars the
falling off is not so marked in the total move
ment Freight men seem to be of the opinion
that the bottom is reached, and that while there
is to be great boom in business, with
spring-like weather traffic will be heavier rather
than lighter. Travelling freight agents report
considerable wheat and large quantity of corn
and oats yet to come forward, and corn is in
much better condition to move than two months
ago, and there is as well large amount Of cot
ton to come North, which for ten days past has
been coming forward quite freely. seventy-hve
per cent of the corn passing over INDIANAPOLIS
lines comes from the Northwest. Southern
fruits and vegetables are forming quite an i'm
portant item in business from the South. West
bound traffic has improved somewhat In the last
few days, vet 1t is not heavy at the
corresponding period, 1882, Shipments of
farming implements westward are unusually
large. The north and south roads are hauling
a good deal of lumber otherwise their traffic is
lighter than usual atths season. Local business
is good, and most roads heavier than at the
CORES pOnding period last year. Below is given
the number of cars received and forwarded NJ
this point in the week ending Saturday, April 7,
at 10 NJ, as compared with that of the week pre-
cediug:
Name of Road, Mar. 81 April II Inc. Dec.
s.,@ =