The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-28

N.Y., oSz miles; chesapeake IL Ohio, Louisville
to Newport News, Va, 654 miles. Total miles
already completed, 3,400 miles.
IN A DILEMMA.
The Board of Trade for some time past has
been strongly impressed with the idea that
the railroads centering and running through
here were discriminating against Indianapolis
In freight rates, and some six weeks ago in.
structed the railroad comInittee of the Board OF
trade to employ competent person to see what
grounds there were for such a belief.
This committee appointed their rate
adjuster Mr.. Peck. He seems not to have given
satisfaction, and Saturday last the railroad com
mlttee in effect asked Mr.. Peck to step TO one
side, and appointed Court Holiday TO his posi-
tlon. MI Peck questioned their authority, and
asserted the rights of the great American citizen
TO appeal to a higher tribunal, the forty govern
ors OF the Board of Trade
CUTTING DOWN TELEGRAPH EXPENSES.
For some years past railroad officials, many of
them, have been using what may be termed a
cipher alphabet when telegraphing confidential
messages, and while it has proved a valuable
method of sending information by telegraph, it
has as well been an economical measure Now
the general Western manager of several promi-
nent fastfreight lines proposes to carry the sys-
TEN still further and name every car on their
lines, and in telegraphing use such name in
place OF initials and numbers, there being 5000
by the ordinary method of sending
messages IL would require eighteen words
TO- to os send the following telegram: Car No.
indianapolis road left for New York last night
Under the cipher system six words would cover
the message, follows: Surprising the car to be
named Jacob" the message would read
Jacob" left for New York yesterday. But were
there thirty cars to be reported the system would
De shown to be the more valuable, as the car
Initials and numbers could be given IN thirty
words, as follows Jacob, Jasper, Jester, James,
Martin, Morris, Mark, and SO on, left for New
YORK last night. The so-called cipher system is
Kept in a little book, and is alphabetically ar
ranged. Each officer and agent Will have one
and in a moment can refer to this book and learn
the name of car bearing certain initial and
number The confusion that often follows tele-
graphing series OF numbers which are not
punctuated VIII be avoided, the telegraph ex-
pense largely reduced, and the method of keep
ing track of cars made easy matter as com
pared with the present mode. The scheme, which
promises TO be success, will be in operation
with these lines IN few days 1t has been la
borious work to name the cars, but will be va
luaole in the end. doubtless
DISCRIMINATION NECESSITY.
President Roberts, of the Pennsylvania railway
system, appeared last week before the Judiciary
committee in defense of the Discrimination sys-
tenn praeticed by railroads. Mr.. Roberts spoke
as practical railroad man, having had twenty
i've years experience, and the points which he
made in favor of discrimination, or rather the
arguments advanced in support of the necessity
which impeled the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Com
pany TO charge the lowest possible rates for long
distances, were such as would appeal TO the
Judgment of an intelligent body of legislators.
There are SO many elements entering into the
question Of discrimination that it has become
one OF the most difficult and perplexing of prob
lens. Grain, cate, coke and coal
form large per cent. of the business
carried by roads OF this country, and that lower
rates be given on these articles for long than be
gwen for short hauls is quite essential, Mr..
PanG nfan ffyhKr
shOnld not be compelled to move the cars OF an
other company, and why it was impracticable to
IIx rates by law He asserted that no railroad in
pennsylvania, or in any other State, could stand
the clamps and letters of fixed rates He took
the ground that discrimination is not only nee
essary but beneficial when properly applied
and suggested that the best method for prevent
ing the principle from being abused or misap-
pied would be railway commission, such as
exists In Massachusetts, This would give ship
pers and others an opportunity to have their
grievances fully heard, and it would be tine duty
OF the commission to suggest legislative rene
dies wherever these were deemed necessary
Mr. Roberts touched upon several other points,
such as discrimination in passenger traffic. He
conteDded that If 1t was illegal to make any ais
examination in freight rates 1t would be equally
so IN respect to passenger charges This being
SO, lnere could be no authority for Issuing com
mutation tickets to daily patrons of the road--to
business men, mechanics, school children and
others. All would have to pay a certain fixed
rate per mile, whether they used the trains
day in the year three hundred days There
would be an end to summer excursions cheap
rates, which are becoming so popular all over the
country, and which are highly beneficial to the
middle classes who are penned up in great cities
all the year round.
MEETING OF c. H. & G. STOCKHOLDERS
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
GIEENsBURG, Feb, PA meeting of the stock
holders of the Columbus, Hope & Greensburg
railroad was held in this city to-day, and the fol-
lowing board of directors was elected: John E.
Robbins, W. W. Hamilton, W A. Moore of
Greensburg; B. B. Jones, Samuel Hese, John D.
Lyle, F. 7. Crnmp, George SchwartzkOpf. of Co.
lumhus: ". II. Aiken, Simeon Stapp, and @. L.
Reed, of Hope: S NJ Birney aud A d. Gall
braith, Bartholomew county. The board organ
lied by the election of John f. Robbins presi-
dent; B. b. Jones, vice president; COrtez Ewing,
secretary, ana W. A. Lucas, treasurer.