The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-30
The Illinois commissioners.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill, Dec. 29-The Illinois
Board Of Railroad and Warehouse Commission
ers met this morning. Quite number of rail
road men were present to protest against any
reduction in rates. The c. g. A., the o. & NJ,
the Cairo Short-lne, the Vandalia line, the
Wabash, and the st. Louis, Alton & Terre
Haute, especially, entered strenuous objections
to any reduction. The railroad side of the ques-
ton was presented by Mr. Dye of the Vandalia
Mr.. Smith, of the Wabash Mr.. Tracy, of the
o. 6 NJ; Mr. Ripley, of the Burlington; Mr..
Cappell of the Alton, and Mr. French. of the
Louisville g. Nashville. The burden of their re-
marks was to the effect that railroads could not
stand further reduction in freight rates, as if
they were compelled to reduce they would have
to cut down the wages of their employees The
Wabash representative declared that his road
could not think of changing its rates, unless to
increase them. The matter of fixed rates was
informally discussed, and it was the unanimous
opinion that fixed rates should not be reduced
below the amount necessary to pay interest on
bonds, keeping up Of repairs and all actual nee
essary expenses.
Mr. Chappell, of the Alton road said in 1874
the Alton earned on Illinois business alone two
cents per ton per mile, while for nine months of
1884 the earnings on the same class of business
had been little over one cent Labor to-day is
from % to 80 per cent. higher than in 1874, and
in the face of this fact freight is carried at much
lower rates This reduction of rates they
had been enabled to make not by
the business they had in the State, but because
of the immense business in other States through
which they had extended their lines. He desired
to enter an earnest protest against any reduc-
ton, alleging that if further reductions from
present rates made, the railroads of the
State would be thrown into bankruptcy or into
receivers hands.
At the afternoon session Senator-elect A. J.
'Streeter appeared in behalf of the farming class
At the risk of being laughed at said Streeter
by the railroad men present, he would
building an average mile of railroad in
Illinois. These figures Id been obtained
from contractors who made it business
to do such work, and who, he believed, were
fully competent to know and judge. He had
taken the outside instead of inside figures, and
the total amounted to 81, 337, leaving So 663 for
incidentals to bring the sum up to SIC, 900 per
mile This includes fencing the track stations,
bridges, etc. He declared the people were
willing to pay the railroads reasonable
rates for transportation, such rates as will
enable them TO pay reasonable dividends on the
money invested. He said that if the railroads
them. The people did not want to cripple the
railroads but they did want justice. Roads in
the East are carrying passengers and freight for
much less than the Illineis roads.
Mr. Chappell said it was true, but they could
afford to do so, as the volume of business was
much greater and the expense not proportionate
ly as great
Mr. Smith, Of the Wabash, declared that two
cents per mile for passengers i'll the East was as
much as six cents would be in Illinois. From
Buffalo to New York, on the New York Central,
it was almost one continuous village.
Mr. Ripley, of the Burlington, averred that
his road could not exist on its Illinois earnings
that what it lost in Illinois was made up in
other States.
After considerable discussion, Chairman
Brainerd of the Commission, expressed the dis
appointment of the board that the shipping in
terests were not represented except by letters,
and declared the consideration of the pending
question adjourned.