The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-16

that the Nickel,piate was to be the entering
Wedge has been exploded, and Commissioner
Moore Wednesday, telegraphed east, as regards.
the report that the Erie was cutting rates out of
Chicago, that tins was an utter impoEsibl1Jy, as
the company is stin dependent upon the Wander
bilt lines and the Grand Trunk for a Chicago
outlet, and these parties would necessarily he
informed. lie says tile rates are strictly main
tained by all lines.
A FORTUNE IN 1T.
If some one of the thousand or more inventors
of car-couplers would turn their attention to
and perfect a device for heating and lighting
passenger coaches so that in no case could there
be danger from fire they would greatly benefit
humanity ana reap a fortune therefrom. When
sleeping cars take fire and burn while running
smoothly along the track, the perils Of railway
travel seem to have a new accession. Such an
event, however, may prove to be a blessing In
disguise. The terrible disasters which have re-
suited in the burning OF wrecked cars have not
yet aroused the railway companies to the neces-
sity Of perfecting a system of lighting and heat
ing their trains which will prevent suoh horrors.
Perhaps the new hazard shown TO exist by the
burning OF a sleeping-car on the Pennsylvania
railroad may arouse them to the necessity of a
safer system. The practicabfity of lighting
through trains by electricity and heating them
by steam or hot air from the engine is certainly
a proper matter for experiment, and the event
of Monday night on the road above named midi
Gates the necessity for prompt action in the
matter.
A NEW C~oMBINATIoN.
New life has been instllled into the fast-freight
line to be known as the Traders Dispatch,
which, 1t was thought, passed out OF existence
when the Nickel-plate was made a Vanderbilt in
terest. But IL now comes to the front well
backed, and will be In full operation by April 1,
the Erie and Nickel plate forming the combina-
ton. The contract has been signed for the Erie
by George R. Blanchard, vlcepresident, and for
the New York, Chicago u st. Louis, by william
X. Vanderbilt. -Four thousand cars will be put
into the service at the outset, an officer OF the
Erie said, and more will be added as needed.
The time ana rates will be the same as by other
lines. The main points beside New York and
Chicago, from which freights will be taken, will
be Boston, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Indianapolis
and st. Louis. Among the other roads which
viii participate in the arrangement will be the
LehIgh Valley, the New York d New England.
the FitehDurg, the Boston, Hoosac Tunnel &
western, the Delaware & Hudson Canal Cornpa-
ny's roads, and the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Day
ment between tina Erie and Nickel plate, but, as
yet, the Nickel-plate has put on no through pas
sanger trains.
PROGRESS OF THE FIGHT.
The fight on west-bound passenger business
between the Plttsburg, Cincinnati g. st.
Louis and the Indiana, Bloomington
& Western roads continues, and rates
at Columbus and other points in Ohio
are being cut 80 to $15. In fact, the lowest ex-
oursiOn rates are being given. The Pittsburg,
Cincinnati & st. Louis passenger men allege that
the Indiana, Bloomington & Western opened the
f~ght-while claiming to sell excursion tickets
but TWO days in the month. they were selling at
on the other hand, the Indiana,
Bloomington 81 Western passenger men
state that they have strictly lived up to rates,
except on the two days of each month, until
they learned that the p, C. & st. L. we're cutting
rates at every point east Of Richmond where the
two roads come into competition. General Pas
senger Agent Bronson, at the last meeting of
the general Western passenger agents, strongly
opposed the continuance of these semi-monthly
eXcursiOns TO the West, believing that IL would
tend to a Generalization of rates. The Lake
Erie q western people, in connection with the
Chicago 81 Alton, have become tired of looking
on, and have sailed in now, and are cutting rates
deeper than either of the first-naned roads, aud
the war is becoming interesting.
THE PENNSYLVANIA COMPANY THE REAL PUR-
|. CHASER.
Some weeks since it was stated in the Journal,
on information from a high official source, that
the Pennsylvania Company seriously contem-
plated the building of q branch from Edwards
port, or the indianapolis 81 Vincennes road, or
from some point IN the immediate vicinity, to
Washington, on the Ohio & Mississippi road.
While said official stated the principal object
of such a move to be that they might run
through some of the best coal mines in the State,
the tone of his remarks was of such a character
as to indicate that the branch would be built
more especially that it might become the Indian
dpOlls outlet OF OOlOuel GefNeN straight Line,
and the Journal, on hints made, stated that the
Pennsylvania Company had parties negotiating
with Colonel Hervey to secure his interest in
the Indianapolis e. Evansville Straight
Line, and make it an Evansville outlet of the
Indianapolis d Vincennes road, and parties who
are on the inside now believe this to be about the
programme and that the Ma~ckey-COllett direc-
tory elected Tuesday Is simply a blind, and that
at the annual election of the Straight Line in
May the hand Uf the Pennsylvania Company will
become visible. The Evansville Tribune says
regarding the sale: "Thls board is said 20 be but
a skeleton to play fgurehead until the May cleo
tion, for the purpose of giving the eastern syn.
dictate time to perfect their plans. The bonds
which were held by Mr.. y. S. Babcoek, jr, are
now In the hands of other eastern capitalists
who intend to build the road as soon as arrange
ments can be perfected. 1t is claimed by inter
ested parties that the e. 4 /. II. did not own a
dollars interest in the road, but the presump-
tiOn Is that the Straight Line is now owned by
individuals. But of course it is to the advan-
tage of the interested parties to keep their bust
ness TO themselves, and the public will have TO
wait for developments"
Real Estate Transfers.