The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-16
President McKeen's Annual Report.


The thirty sixth annual report of VIM. r. Nc
Keen, president of the Terre Haute & Indianap-
oils Railroad Company, was made public on Sat
urday, and so many points of interest are COW
cred relating to the depression in railway traffic
and reasons therefore, that considerable space is
given to the very complete report The earnings
of the Z. II. & l., proper, show q decrease of
$170.3 01 40 and the EXPENSES decrease of $685.
W997, showing decrease in net earnings of $751;,
sS2l. 43 that of the fiscal year of 1883 This
decrease is attributable to the general depression
Of business of every kind. by which the road
has been affected in common with all other rail
roads, and which is fully explained in detail in
the report of the general superintendent.
The earnings of the st. Louis, Vandalia e.
Terre Haute Railroad Company were 81 400 307 :
53, being a decrease of $210, GAG SO over that Of
the fiscal year Of 1883. The expenses were ST.
Ia 764 IS, being a decrease of $I91 3O2 At, show
ing decrease in net earnings of $40, 344 06.
This road being now entirely laid with steel rails
it was net necessary this year to purchase as
mSch steel as in the preceding years. This, with
strict economy in all departments. is the of
the large decrease In expenses.
The earnings of the TerrcsHaute e Logansport
Railroad Company were $342, l04. 49, being an in
crease Of 28 1872 "a over that of the fiscal year of
1883. The expenses were 1910, OF. S. showing
decrease of $}6 6l465, leaving only So 076 81 net
earnings. The cause of the large expense shown
In operating this road is due to the fact that all
betterments are charged expenses as also all
additions to equipment The road has now been
extended to South Bend, distance of sixty six
miles, making the length of the entire line 1872
miles.
IT, H. &I. DIVISION.
On the L. I'll. & /. division, as shown by
the report of Joseph Hill, general superintend-
emit, the volume of foreign freight
traffic carried exceeded that of the
local traffic 23,s7 tons. OF the whole
tonnage carried 49. l3 per cent was local, and
SO 81 per cent foreign. In the previous year the
local exceeded the foreign tonnage 20, 002 tons.
The falling off in local tonnage of ID as per cent
and Of 3 81 in local ton mileage. was in q great
measure due to strike of coal miners in the
Clay county district during the months of
March, April and May. The earnings
from the transportation of coal during
those three months fell off $40, 289 "a
The rates received were decreased as follows
Local, g. 46 per cent; foreign Z. So per cent. av-
erage, 8.44 per cent. The cost of doing the bust
ness was I96 cents per ton per mile, leaving as
net earnings .l78 cents per ton per mile de-
crease of 900, OF SO. 80 per cent. decrease of
$l4, It's. 50, or 100 per cent, made in the
motive power expenses. Five new heavy loco
motives were purchased, at cost of s42 500 and
one switching engine built at the shops.
ST. L.. V. & T. H. DIVISION.
Joseph Hill, general superintendent in speak
ing of the earnings of the leased lines says of
the st. Lonis, yandalia & Terre Haute division:
The falling off in the revenue received from tho
transportation of freight was divided nearly
equally between the local and through business,
and was caused by smaller amount of freight
carried a shorter distance, at less rate than
during the previous year. The same causes
given in the report of the IT. H. Sc I.division
for the decrease in the freight traffic viz: The
general business depression. the closing down OF
iron mills and furnaces at St Louis, and the
Door grain crop along the line. apply with the
same force to this division. The revenue re-
ceived from passengers was nearly the same as
in the previous year The number of local pas
sengers was increased 2.08 per cent. while the
local passen ger mileage fell of 2 % per cent,
and the revenue decreased 81 So II, or ]. So per
cent This is explained by the greater number
of passengers carried shorter trips than
the average, to attend political meet
ings during the presidential campaign.
The ballasting of this division was
with broken stones, l20 100 with gravel.
There was $2i 2l5 IS expended on bridges of
thus division, and the entire track is now laid
with steel rails from Indianapolis to Terre
Haute.
TIL. 6 L. DIVISION.
On this division the volume of local tonnage
was decreased 331 per cent. and the local ton
mileage increased 1l.sI per cent. The foreign
Freight tonnage was increased % SO per cent
and the foreign ton mileage 1919 per cent 1t
viii be seen from this that the average haul per
ton was much longer than in the previous year.
The increase In the total ton mileage was partly
cffget by decrease Of s. p per cent. in the rate
per ton per mile received on local freight, and
of Ills per cent on foreign freight An in
crease Of To- % per cent in the number of
passengers carried one mile was provided for by
an increase of 1917 per cent. In the mileage of
ever, was only &c per cent. owing to decrease
Of G.47 per cent in the average rate. During
the year IS. 138. D2 was expended on this division
an lengGhenng sidings 10 accommodate the in
pressing business. There IL now la what