The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-11
IRON HIGHWAYS.
A Question That Is Likely TO Puzzle
the st. Louis Pool Managers,
But the Narrow-Gsuge Will Eventu-
ally Become a Member OF the
East-Bound PooI-Other
Items Of the Rail.

The Northwestern roads are experiencing
a genuine boom in business, and the only
question Is hoS u get cars aud locomotives
TO move it.
The Bee Line stockholders meet to cleo
new Board of Directors on March II. The
report that Vanderbilt will attempt to ring
IN three more Vanderbilt n4en is denied.
An important meeting of the Western
Association OF General Passenger and So ct
Agents will be held in Louisville. The s.
eral Indianapolis roads will be represented
Commencing to-day, mail matter on the
LOgansport extension of the Vsndaia Line
will he weighed for thirty working days, to
ascertain its amount as basis OF payment.
The attention of the proper authorities of
the Vsndalia, it is said, was recently called
to the rule adopted over a year ago, which
provides that no one who is not over twenty
one years OF age shall be employed in the
operating department of that road. The re-
suit was the discharge Of a number of min.
ors holding positions as brakemen and fire.
men. The company employees number OF
Toys IN its shops and Offices, but the rule in
10 way applies to them.
With the sharp increase in freight traffic
both east and west-bound the old complaint
is heard that passenger trains are delayed on
side tracks to let long freight trains by. Tne
fact is that nearly all railway managements
have been short sighted in the matter OF side
tracks. There are not enough of them.
Neither are they long enough. Where there
Is no double track on al important roads
long sidings should be put In every few
miles sidings which wO1ld mold the freight
trains at least and clear the main track. In
building these side tracks the railroads could
IL - ~
part OF their main line, and which are now
generally sold for old iron when taken up.
Without the least exsggeration, the rail.
roads this winter have suffered more loss
AID inconvenience by the intense cold
weather and snow than in the ten years
past. 1t was the same old story yesterday.
snow blocksdes being reported on nearly al
of the indianapolis roads Toe Union De
pot was as quiet as graveyard or nearly so.
and it is said that fewer trains arrived aud
departed than on any day in two years Ga
the Louisville, New Albany aud Chicago,
between Monon and the last named point,
Just twenty-one freight trains are blockaied
Two passenger trains are snow-bound on the
O., J., st. l. and Q. north OF Lafayette, aud
the unfortunate passengers have been fur
nished provisions by the company. TIE
track is clear between Indianapolis and La
feyette bat there is plenty of the beautiful
north OF that point The WebasS and l.
B. and W. trains were all off yesterday. aud
III fact trains on all or the western roads are
coming in behind time.
THAT NARROw-GAUeE ROAD.
A question that is likely to puzzle the
members of the st. Louis Pool when it comes
before them, and which will undou btsdly
have to be taken under consideration before
long, is the proposition of the Toledo Mar.
row-gauge to join the east-bound pool. The
Nsrr0w-gsuge is at present in position TO do
the other roads great desl of injury. It is
perfectly Independent of them under the
recent decision of the Court at Toledo, as
the Michigan Central is ssriotIy enjoined
from exercising any discrimination against
1t or refusing its freight. Is il, therefore, in
a splendid position to demOralizs rates in
osse it is refused admission to the pool.
On the other hand Its competitors, the
present members of the pool, allege that,
With q strict maintenance OF rates under the
pooling arrangement, the NarTow-gauge
would not be able ia command any business
az all, because OF the transfer at Toledo aud
the necessary delay. IL, then. it is admit ed
to the pool, il wouls haul not q pound OF
freight at the tariff rites. To give it g chs=ce
to carry its percentage, therefore, il would
have TO be allowed to reduce rates uuder the
supervision of he joint agent. This plan,
however, woula have an extremely democrat
iziDg tendeasy. AS soon as it hsd hauled
its CUUta of freight its rates would be ad-
vsnced, aud the quoting of different rate
for Tuesday and Wednesday would be likely
to cause some trouble between Tuesdays and
Wednesdays shipper. The other roads, too
would have constantly before them the
temptation TO meet the Narrow gauge rate
when it was down, and the result would
probably be almost as demorRlizing as 1.-THE
road was shut eur Of the pool entirely. Be-
tween the two difficulties the members of
the pool are going to have hard time in
making choice.