The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-14

Hauling dining cars on express trains as yet
has not been profitable to the companies run
ming them, unless they are of some value as an
advertising medium. Doubtless the Chicago &
Rock Island and the Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy roads have the finest and best operated
dining-car lines in the country, and upon both
roads, it is stated officially, these cars have been
run at a loss peeuniarily to the company, and
general managers are not encouraging this
feature of railroadinR to such an extent as to in
dictate the introduction of dining cars generally,
NJ. E, Ingan takes strong grounds against their
use. He remarked recently that a good roadbed,
clean coaches, polite, accommodating con-
ductors and train men,, and running trains
promptly on schedule time, would draw travel
and better satisfy the travelling public than the
hauling of expensive dining cars which the
wealthy only could patronize.
NO LONGER THEIR PREY.
A prominent attorney who has been connected
with several important railroad cases was yes
terday bemouning the fact that there was so little
railroad litigation now going on. He said that
"bOndholders INSTEAD OF forcing foreclosure sales
in many cases were scaling down the bonded in
debtedness Of roads to about where they could
pay the interest. Presidents and general man.
ayers were settling their troubles by arbitration,
and even the stock coroners had now educated
the farmers along the roads to settling for stock
killed by appFaiSement, the roads paying one
half the appraisenent, and really 1t looked
as II the days that attorneys were to make 70 per
cent. of their living off of railroad companies
had passed." In years passed the sums paid to
continue those fights has been astonishing.
Many lawyers have piled up enormous wealth
from the ntigatinns of the Western roads alone.
And 1t may be remarked that these vast sums
come ultimatelY from the industries of the cOun-
try.
A JUST ~XPLANATIoN.
For some months the matter of charges for
transfer from one depot TO another at this point
has been unfavorably commented upon. Parties
connected with railroad service alleged that
charges were frequently exorbitant, and letters
from managers of fast freight lines were shown
the reporter of the journal wherein the question
was asked II something could not be done to
reduce the transfer chagres at Indianapolis.
This led to inquiry by the reporter as to the
ground for these charges, and the foundation
was such that an article was published some
six weeks ago showing the matter up in an uu-
favorable light. There are three transfer COM
panies, and all were equally blamed in the mat
ter; but it is evident from further investigation
that the Indianapolis Transfer Company should
not nave been included, which, 1t was supposed,
dld NJ Ehe nc transfer iran ds far t business y 5 s for + Dr the
or, the |. Il V. and the Vandalia, but such Is not
the case. The Indianapolis Transfer Company
is owned by Harry Wetsell and Colonel Gran
Perry. A comparison of rates shows that a saw
ing has been effected to the p, {. & st. L. COM
pany on contracted freight, compared with same
months or previous year, OF several hundred
dollars, and the charges on uncontrolled freight
have been reduced Is to 20 per cent.
ANNUAL MEETINGS OF THE GOULD LINES.
ST. LOUIS, March 13.-At the annual meeting
of the Wabash, st. Louis & Pacific railroad COM
pany, to-day, the following directors were elected
to serve three years: Jay Gould, Russell Sage,
A. L. Hopkins, 4. s. Hayes and F. l.. Ames. The
earnings for the year were $685. 51 500; operat-
ing expenses, S11 ,664, 1872; net earnings, So
Is6.93S. Add miscellaneous receipts, 1928, 760,
.-.t~n. ~. 1871 uNe z;~ e. 1000 nz : I
Cos. The total receipts for 1881 were $3,874,-
346. Funded debt, $7O,937, S54; loans and
notes payable, S3,276,O56; sundry securities on
hand, SS,677.6 500.
The annual meeting of the stockholders of the
st. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Company
elected directors as follows: c. p. Huntington,
Leland Stanford, Jay Gould, Russell Sage, Jesse
Seligman, Edward F.. Winslow, James ID. Fish,
William +. Buckley, Horace Porter. A. s. Hatch,
Walter L. Frost, r. s. Hayes, Charles W. Rogers.
The new board will meet at an early day, in New
York, for organization.
The annual meeting of the stockholders of the
st. Louls. Iron Mountain & Southern railroad
was held this morning. The election of directors
for the coming year resulted in no change of the
board, as follows: Jay Gould, r. s. Hayes,
Thomas I. Eckert, L. l.. Ames, Sidney Dillon, H.
G, Marquand, H. Whelan, j. s. Lawrey, j. f.
Terry, Samuel S%helthar, Russell Sage, r, j. Lock
land and r. G. Kerens.
ny, the annual meeting of which was also held
this morning, was identically the same as that
of the st. Louis, Iron Mountain IL Southern rail
way.
The following points are from the annual re-
ports of the Iron Mountain u Southern railway:
Gross earnings for 1882, $7,5S2 208; operating
expenses, including improvements, bettermeDts
and taxes, So, 1888; cost of improvements,
$277,321;3 net earnings, 1857 1928. Miles of
inain track, SS2; increase over 1881, 1853 miles.
The capital stock is $22,s4O.OS5; funded debt,
1888, 500, sol.
The Missouri Pacific annual report summar-
ICES as follows: Gross earnings for 1882, 49,
O94,6lS; operating expedses, including cost of
all improvements and taxes, $4,476. 30; net
! aarniuOa. t&3 .GlS4OS. cost of mDrOyBmenta-
$4O9, 799. Number OF miles of main track
operated. 900; increase over 1881. 205 miles.
The capital stock is $29,93S,90O; funded debt,
1926, $4,000.
The reports of the st. Louis & San Francisco man
ayers make the following showing: Gross earn
ings for 1882, S3, 572, 24O.92; increase over 1881,
S411,717.67; operating expenses, including I'M
proveInents and taxes, 1851. 1885; net earn
ings 81, $50 SOP. 33; Increase, 1892, 036.20. The
ompan owns 725 mites of main track, and it
Ope rates the central division OF the Atlantic IL
Pacific road, from yiulta west ninety-nine miles.
The capital stock is $25, 600, 900, OF which the
company owns 1852, 700.
III VIII be noticed that none of these reports
show whether or not the net earnings were suffi-
Client to meet the fixed charges-interest, rentals,
etc. the omission, with respect TO the Wabash
proper, is a significant one, inasmueh as for
some weeks rumors have been current that they
would fall short by from 5000, 600 to 81 100000
from meeting the charges against the property,
and 1T was rumored that at the annual meeting
these reports would be proved false. For the
other lines 1t Is presumed that the earnings have
been suffi Gent to dispeliany fear that they might
be thrown into the hands of "A recelver.J
THE GENERAL PASSENGER AGENTS.
NEW YORK, March 13.-The semi-annual con-
vention of the National Association of Passen-
ger Agents began here to-day. The attendance
is very large. The session was secret, but it is
learned that the discussions were mainly in re-
gard to uniform styles of tickets, improvements
in the baggage checking system, and matters
connected with the methods of passenger bust
ness. E. P. Wilson acted as president, and after
roll call a number of new members were admit
ted. The report of the general committee on
special cars for theatrical parties was adopted,
as was. also, the recommendation of the com-
mittee on the question of prorating the cost OF
through reversible baggage checks. The COM
mitree appointed TO prepare a form of ticket for