The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-29
Views of a Veteran RaiIroader.

'Srhe meetings held of late" said a we'll bal
anced railroad man, docking TO the bringing
about of restoration of rates and thereafter their
maintenance, give evidence that railroad presi-
dents and managers have at last become con
vineed that they have got to give this matter
more attention and not turn it over entirely to
their general freight agents and their soliciting
agents, all of whom show disposition to work
for tonnage, regardless of revenue The fact is ,
said he, 'the railroads have got practically to
wipe out the old tariff and pools and begin anew
Make the basis of rates 30 per cent higher
than now and establish pools on such basis that
the chief inducement will be for freight man to
work for revenue not tonnage. Pools. he thought,
properly operated were beneficial, but in their
construction every inducement for a freight
man to cut rates should be guarded against
Starting out with the proposition that rate-cut-
ting will never absolutely cease, let there be
basis of rates established which will pay a road
something for carrying the business should there
be some deviation from tariff rates Possibly
grain. when there is lake competition, will not
bear higher than 20 cents per 100 rate, Chicago
to the seaboard. yet there are a hundred miscel-
lnneous articles which the water rates do not
eompete for as business. There are provisions,
cotton, tobacco, etc, all of which will bear a
higher rate than such property is now
carried on. This will help make up tho
loss on the lower grain tariff
There Is not a merchant in the country who
does not sell articles at a very small profit in
fact at figures leaving no margin yet in higher
prices on other articles lie makes the shortage
on the low-priced article. TO illustrate: The
lakes cannot compete successfully for the pro-
vision carrying trade; now make the basic of
rate on these articles 80 cents per 100 pounds.
Chicago to New York. and from other CONNER
eial ceTiters in the usual proportion then if some
Of these fellows, who seem to live only by cut
ting rates bid under 2 or even 3 cents, per 100
pounds, those roads carrying the business will
get something for so doing The same thing
you'd be practieed in the grain carrying traffic
when navigation is closed. Then every
local points on their respective lines to the near
est commercial center Freight shipped from
bingham on tile Vandala sltould not take
through rate until 1t reaches Terre Haute if IL
does before it reaches Indianapolis The same
should be true of freight shipped from
Paris or other points on the /. d. St
L. Freight shipped from Mnncie on the Bee
line should not take a through rate until
1t REACHES Cleveland: from Knightstown, on
the O.. St l. & r., at Pittsburg OF course
Ia make matters harmonious the local rate
should be so adjusted that a cross or parallel
ROAD conld not come In aud cut a rate. However,
but little OF this is done Under the present de-
moralizeu condition. Under an arbitrary local
rate the lake competition In the gtaincarrying
trade could, as well, he easily met Ii a party
ut station In Central Illinois wishes to shin
grain via Chicago. and the lake, make an arbi-
frary rate from such station to Chicago as will
make such rate, and the lake rate fhe Same ne if
the grain had been shipped via Indianapolis all
rail Ii is evident that some plan must lie de-
rived by which the reads shal! get more money
for carrying property. Probably il is not uniting
Ans naiter too strong to say that the Bee line
abe l., b. 81 W., the G., H. a. l. wonld to day be
rs veil off had they not Carried one pound of the