The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-19
RAILROAD "REMINISCENCES.
Cutting Freight Rates in Early Days-How
w. N jackson Took Fares at Madison.

| A few days since the railroad reporter of the
journal was in company with two three
elderly gentlemen who were interested in the
J construction and operation of the Madison IL In
dianapohs road in its early history, and among
other things the subject of rates when the road
was first opened for business, compared with
those of the present time, was brought up, and
one of the gentlemen, who was then a director
in the road, said that their study TO hold
rates as high they could and not allow of the
wagons cutting under them. When the rate on
molasses from Madison was dropped to 81 per
hundred the management was congratulated
by the merchants then in that business. Now
the rate is fifteen cents per one hundred pounds
from Madison to Indianapolis the same class
of freight, and but 80 cents per 100 pounds
from New Orleans to Indianapolis One of the
gentlemen then showed the reporter wagon
bill OF lading; the goods shipped IN November,
1889, from Milton Stapp & CO., to be forwarded
by wagon from Madison to ]. B. Helm, Indian
apolis, Richard Hayar, teamster. He brought it
through at $1.15 per 100 pounds, cutting the
wagon rates 10 cents per 100 pounds. So it
seems that cutting rates to secure business Is no
new scheme. Mr.. Hayar received S40.7l for
! bringing his load through. Below is republish-
ed all article written for the Business Observer
some time since by one OF the parties
who was of tile number present
when the above conversation took place.
1t doubtless will be read with interest not only
by the railroad men OF that day, but as well by
| railroad men of the resent time, so striking Is
| the comparison in the manner in which business
was then and is now done. The writer says:
Forty years ago Mr.. Vim. N. Jackson, who for
more than quarter OF a century has been the
! secretary OF the Union Depot Company mt Indl-
annapolis was secretary of the Madison Il Ind-
| annapolis railroad and resided at Madison. At
that time the road was not completed far
| Columbus. 1t mad been begun some Years pre-
| viously by the State, and was well constructed
from the top of the hill back OF Madison to Yer
| non, when the further work was discontinued.
A company afterward took hold of it, and final
| y finished 1t with fiat bar rail To Indianapolis.
1.-The Madison depot was ON the river bank
! fronting the steamboat landing ut the time of
| which speak. 1t was the aim of the manage
| 1nent TO have the cars IN which the passengers
| were hauled up the hill by horses or mules,
| leave for the north at or about 8 O'Clock in the
| morning. Such thing as starting at the minute
was not then Thought or. III all VINO mad In
| tended going had arrived at the depot aud the
| horses were ready few minutes before 6, the
| train started II some VINO had given notice
of his Intention to go had not arrived, they
waited for him in proportion TO his supposed
prominence. They would wait, say five minutes
| for common business man. and so up 10 half an
| hour for j. F. u. Lanier NJ. G. Bright. Jesse ID.
| Bright, Joseph G. Marshall or judge Sullivan.
! Residents of Madison generally notified the
railroad officials the evening before OF their in
! tention of going north the next morning so
that if they should happen to be little tardy.
| they might not be left. Guests at hotels often
| took the same pTecaution to provide against the
contingency of a sleepy cook. Sometimes John
| Lodge, the conductor, would be little late in
| getting his breakfast, or have "a few chores to
do before leaving home in the morning. In such
cases the train would be late in starting. Never
did the trains rnn by schedule as to time until
John Brough became president about 1913.
| There were no railroad tickets IN those days.
| Mr.. Jackson was always in his office in the
| morning TO receive fares, and register the pas
sengers by entering the names on waybill,
was the practice on stage-cOaches. When the
! cars were ready to start this way-blll was handed
| to the CONDUCTOR who. when fairly on the road,
took 1t in his hand and went through the cars,
| asking each passenger his name. If he was
| found registered he was checked of; if not, he
was required to pay his fare and his name
| written on the way-bill by the conductor.
| 'Mr. Jackson, already stated has been the
! secretary OF the Union Depot Company at In
| dianapOlis for over quarter OF a century, and
| has had the passenger department OF that depot
| under his supervision. Under his superintend-
| ence many millions of passengers have procured
| transportation, for which they have paid many
| millions of dollars The number and the sum
! are both so immense that one dare not attempt
| an estimate of them. 1t must seem as a dream
| TO that gentleman now, III view of the immense
| travel passing under his observation, that
| he, for several years, registered the names
| of fully one-haf the passengers travelling
| by railroad west of the Alleghanies, the
only other road in that territory at that time
| being the road between Lexington and Frank
fort, and which did not carry near AS many peO-
pie as did the Madison and Indianapolis rail-
| road. TO think of recording the names of the
persons travelling by rail west Of the Alleghenies
| to-day bewilders one, and yet Mr.. Jackson, who
at one time recorded the names of more than
half of those who Travelled by rail in that terri
| tory, and the writer Of this, who frequently had
| his name thus recorded, were both active bust
ness men at that time and are still deck TO
witness the wonderful changes that arc con-
| stantly going on"