The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-18

Bloomington, Seneca, Hannibal, etc. Numer-
ous schemes have been suggested, but none has
thus far appeared to be of character to suit
all interests. The Chicago Times says The
latest idea in this respect is to establish an in
terror pool to cover all business not already cor
rallied, which pool will assume jurisdiction when
the freight has passed beyond the line of Chica-
go 81 Alton, from Chicago to Louisi-
ana, Mo. Examination Of the map will
show that the line of demarkation has several
features in its favor not the least of which is
the fact that no line in either of the Western or
CARNATIONS is effected except the Wabash. All
suggestions which have previously been made
contemplated the extension of the authority OF
the Central Traffic Association to the Mississippi
river over this traffic. thus involving the Chicago
& Northwestern the St Paul, the Rock Island,
the Burlington, and the Alton. The obligations
of these lines to the Western Freight and South
western associations is alone reason why they
should view with marked disapproval any efforts
of these routes to shade the tariff mas rebounded
to the advantage of the Western roads in many
instances, and has permitted the movement of
business which the pool rates would have pro-
hibited The new plan, as before stated does
not contemplate the inclusion of the Western
roads other than the Wabash and hence on the
theory that the opposition of one line is less for
midable than that Of half dozen. it lis possible
that it may be consummated. There will be,
however, q number of nice points to adjust and
dispose Of as for instance the rates to be pooled,
which will need all of the skill of the commits
sioners to regulate, to say nothing of the ailot-
ment of percentages"
The Present Service Cannot Be Much Inn
proved Upon.
The tendency to throw the old express com
panies off of some of the leading lines of railway
because they will not turn over all the profits to
the railroad companies is an unfavorable
omen, says an old business man. Nc
one will claim that the express com
panies are a monopoly, or are exor.
bitant in their charges, ard no one will for a mo-
ment believe that, by increasing the number Of
express companies, rates are to be reduced, as
the more transferring Of packages of money OF
freights there is from one company to another
the more the charges will be increased. This is
not the most Objectionable feature of Tom Dick
and Harry going into the express business Re-
sponsibility, safety and dispatch are really
the most useful features of the
express service The old companies have tried
and true men. and whenever party forwards a
package of value he feels that the company is
responsible for its safe delivery, and should
there chance to be dishonest messenger, or loss
by carelessness, the. company will refund, to a
cent, the value of the package lost, without
lengthy correspondence or litigation, but should
the railroads do their own express business,s and
there is tendency in that direction. there would
De as much correspondence as there is over q
lost piece of freight, and in case of the loss of
package of money it would be difficult to fix the
loss on either of the companies whose hands ii
passed through, and it is evident the party for
warding the money could get it only, if at ALL by
extended litigation.