The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-19
DiHerentiaI Ralns.

That the Chicago & Eastern Illinois agreed to
the abolishing of differential rates in the Chica-
go & Ohio River pool is evident by a telegram
said to have been sent to President Stevens, Bos-
ton, Mass, by one of the officials who attended the
meeting, which in effect was that the new pool on
passenger business abolishes differentiais and
gives compensation in increased percentages.
The Chicago g Eastern Illinois gets 49, per cent.
instead Of 10 on freight business, and II per
cent. instead of 10 on passenger, %surrendering a
passenger differential of S. between Cincinnati
and Chicago and seventy-fve cents between In
dianapolis and Chicago. AS heretofore
stated it is the l., B. & w. which is
the stickler for differential rates,
and why it is surprises disinterested parties.
The Chicago and Ohio River pool makes its set
Elements in money; the more the pool earns the
larger the sum which each road will draw from
the pot" If the l., B. & w. and the c. & E.
III. are allowed a differential rate, there is just
that amount less goes into the pool treasury. If
these roads carry over their per cents. they
would be obliged to pay in full tariff rates.
Then, again, should there be q reimbursement of
per cents, j. is not, by agreement of the pool
members, to be made on the business the roads
now carry. The fact is that in a
revenue pool differential rates are all
wrong. There are now four roads between
Indianapolis and Chicago. If the l., e. So W. is
to have a diferential rate, why should not the
L., n. A. & c. (Air-linel2 1t is a new road, has
just come out from under a cloud, is the shortest
line, and the officers justly claim that the Air
line is as much entitled to a diferential rate as
is the l., B. 81 w. Then, again, the l., B.. q w.
runs an elegant through sleeping-car and reclin-
ing-chair car between Indianapolis proper and
Chicago at a reduced rate for such comfort to
passengers. and has the advantage of two of its
competitors in the matter of the local sleeping
coach and chair-car, and over its three Compel
itors in the matter of rates for such accommo-
datiOns.
President King Assuming the Aggressive.
President King, of the Erie system, now pro-
poses to develop its coal interests. When Peter
II. Watson was president he bought 10, 900 acres
of anthracite coal lands, and put up breakers and
other expensive plant, with the intention of max
ing the Erie a coal road. Before this could be
done Watson went out and Jewett came in.
There was a chance for q deal In the Jewett
board of directory the presidents of the other
coal companies were included. They made a con-
tract with the Erie company to take all its mines
and plant, and work them, paying the Erie a
| royalty on each ton of coal mined. OF course,
the object of this was obvious. The mines were
worked just enough to keep the road supplied
with coal, but none went on the market. The
contract was illegal, and one of the first moves
Of President John King was to send adrift the
Erie coal agent, who was in the game, and setall
the plant in order about the Erie mines, in prep
aration for working them to their full capacity.
About the middle of next month, it is said, Erie
will be ready to enter the market as a seller Of
coal. There are no presidents of rival companies
in the present board of directors. Erie wants
money, and il it can put on the market between
two and three million tons a year, and sell the
coal at 81 per ton, it is estimated that it can
make a profit Of fifty cents per ton.