The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-23

mond & Danville system, which is steadily
growing in Importance. The management has
for some time directed it's efforts toward getting
the financial condition of the property into good
shape, and 1t is expected the stockholders will
soon begin to reap the fruits thereof. What
will be done with the Richmond u West
Point Terminal it is difficult to say, there being
much difference of opinion among those inter-
ested in the property. 1t is known that recent
ly a large block of the stock was disposed OF
for inside account, but for what purpose has not
transpired. Another road which already runs
through a very prosperous section OF Georgia is
the Marietta g. North Georgia. The road ex-
tends from Marietta, where it connects with the
Western 81 Atlantic railroad. northerly about
l2O miles, to Murphy, in Cherokee county. North
Carolina, where it will connect with the Western
North Carolina railroad. Ninety-two miles OF
the road are already built and in operation, and
the remainder is nearly ready for the super
structure, and will be completed at at early
date. A feature of the enterprise is its small
bonded debt per mile. only 81. 900, which makes
it a very easy matter to earn fixed charges. The
Georgia Pacific, with it's extensions, is another
line that is opening up q territory rich IN min
eral resources, more especially coal and iron.
Other roads and traffic arrangements are pro-
jected at the South, which will add materially to
the value of railway property in that section.
Cease Paying Tribute to Chicago.
The joint agent of the roads running east
out of Chicago refuses to give the tonnage
to the press. However, 1t seems rather absurd
for the roads to undertake to hide their
shipments, as they will all leak out Unques-
tionably the Chicago reads feel sore over the
l~ightness of east-bound shipments. and over the
fact that one-fourth of the grain shipped from
Chicago last week was by the Illinois Central,
which Is working its Kankakee line with the
Chesapeake g Ohio via the Newport News
route and Baltimore q Ohio. Every day makes
it more apparent that Chicago Is becoming q less
important grain point, and that the Board OF
Trade of Chicago and the railway managers are
considerably exercised about the matter cannot
be denied. The Philadelphia Inquirer. In COM
menting on this matter, says: "The freights
sent east from Chicago have long been regarded
az q gauge of the current volume OF grain
and produce business, and recently q remarka-
BILE falling off in this traffic. az compared
with last year has caused a good deal of pneasi-
ness. In the middle Of the spring season, when
the trade ought to be increasing from week to
week, it has shown a decided decline. Why this
should be so has remained q good deal OF q mys-
terry, but the figures came along worse and
worse, and could not be disputed. All sorts OF
theories have been advanced to account for the
decline, and the bad state of the grain and pro-
vision traffic has been freely used as an argu-
ment to aid in depressing the share market.
The facts Of the matter appear to be that the
grain and provision trade is not falling of, ex-
cept in Chicago. The east-bound shipments ara
coming forward, but they are not coming
through the Lake City. Chicago is losing the
trade which she has done SO much to democrat
ize and embarass by unconscionable gambling.
New railroad combinations and new traffic ar
rangements have gone into effect this spring ny
which the products of the far West are brought
through to the COAST without paying tribute to
the elevators ard the wheat pit on the way. 1t
freight transit through Chicago is enlarged by
a strike. it will be found that the receipts at tide
water are less affected than would have been
deemed possible a year ago."