The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-24


being no exception, and with this their earnings
began to show up handsomely. Rates were
being maintained. as well, better than at any
time for years, and he could see good reason on
exaggeration to say that, financially and physi
caily, the property was in much better shape
than when he took the general management
Will 1t Lead to Strike?
There is difference Of opinion between the
Brotherhood Of Locomotive Engineers and the
Delaware 6 Hudson Canal Company. The
latter has instituted series of physical exam
nations, alleged tests of color blindness, ETC., to
which the engineers refuse to submit The sup
posed ground for their action is fear that
these actions will be made instrumental in Civ
ing excuse for the discharge of the more active
and aggressive members of the brotherhood. A
reporter of the Pittsburg Despatch interviewed
one of the officers of the brotherhood located at
Pittsburg, and he stated that the order means
more than it shows on its face That company
recently issued an order that all its engineers
should report for an examination of colors. The
brotherhood refused because the men had passed
their examinations. think as these men do,
that this is scheme to get the most prominent
would then be bounced, and the excuse would be
that they had not passed the examination" He
thought the troubles of 1877 had fair chance
of being revived. However. he hoped there
would be no general outbreak. Their organiza-
ton now numbers 49, 600 engineers and is sec
onded by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men, which is much stronger society. Our
organization founded ten years before theirs,
but think they will outnumber us in short
while. / am a member Of BOTH You the
latter admits engineers as well as firemen. In
aims we are one, and believe the future will
see both consolidated for the fremen become
engineers. and of course they retain all mem
hers There are about So, 900 engineers and the
same number of firemen in the United States.
In short time the B. of l.. K. will number at
least 1000 men. If any emergency should
cessitate rapid recruiting the order could be
quickly raised to IS. 900 firemen, and that would
give them the tailhold il case of any united
and open opposition from the railroad companies.
Why, we with 10000 engineers. not in the B. of
L. F., and their 5000 men would make an
army of IS, 900 resolute strikers, which weuld
paralyze travel and business pretty effectually."
Will Not Cut but Will Meet Rates.
Officials of the Pennsylvania road deny pos
itively that their lines cutting rates on east
bound business out of Chicago. They say that
what has been said before in reference to the
Pennsylvania can be repeated. The road will
not lead in cutting rates, but when it finds other
roads cutting it will not bind itself to maintain
please contest for traffic the Pennsylvania is not
one of the roods which will be left 1t has good
business, ample facilities, and it is likely to have
as much business as any road. The road has
shown in the past that it prefers fixed and pay
ing rate to cutting The question of the con
tinuance OF the trunk line pool, which has pre-
cariously existed for the last few months, will
soon come up. The Western roads, or the lines
from Chicago to Pittsburg, Salamanca and
Buffalo, have announced themselves in favor of
twenty cent grain rate, and the trunk lines are
watching the situation in Chicago with some in
terest and curiosity. There is believed to be
very little cutting anything but the grain
rate, and even this is fairly kept up. On west
bound freight the action of the New York Central
has caused good deal of 'looseness" in firstcass
freight, and all the companies are taking what
they can get, without reference TO pool regula-
tons.
Unfavorable Reports Regarding the Bee-Line.
A high up-in- the-ranks railroad official yester-
day received telegram from New York stating
that stock of the Cleveland Columbus, Cincin-
natl g. indianapolis road was very weak, as
report that preliminary steps are being taken to
place the property in the hands of receiver.
Rumors of a similar character have been current
for two three days in Western railroad
circles but could be traced to no reliable source.
That the year 1884 was trying one to the Bee
line people has been admitted, but the friends of
the property have hoped that President Devereux
would be able to steer clear of the courts until
results on railroad operations are more satisfac-
tory.
Alarming Increase of Railway Insolvency
CHICAGO, Ill, April 23.-The Railway Age,
today, publishes a list of twenty railroads that
have been placed in the hands of receivers from
January l to March 81 1885 The total
capital stock and bonds of these corporations ag-
gregate $275. 900. The Age says ..Our
record for 1884 gave the total number of roads
placed in receivers hands as thirty seven, EN-
bracing III, OBS miles of line and $7l5 900 900 of
capital and debt The first quarter of this year
already shows more than onehaf as many
roads, more than 81 per cent of the mileage,
and about 40 per cent. of the total amount of
capital stock involved by the receiverships of the
entire preceding year Should the ratio for the
remaining nine months be the same the record
of the year will probably indicate greater az
gregate Of railway insoivencies than in any pre-
vious year in the history of the country"
The Central Passenger Committee.
CINCINNATI, April 23.-The central passenger
committee has been in session here for the past
three days. perfecting details of its plans. There
was large representation, and it is understood
that all the Chicago lines, except the New York,
Chicago g. ST. Louis road arc to come in if
their competitors do. Among Icing series of
resolutions adopted were the following:
Resolved, That the operation of the penal rule
rarding ratecutting be suspended at all points where
IL is to enforce it of the
concurrence of any line and that the parties inter
ested notify the chairman of such points without de-
law, for the information of the committee.