The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-19
AFFAIRS OF THE RAILWAYS.


Personal and Local.
The upper limit for freight car capacity is
still open for discussion. Ten years ago ten tons
was the maximum; now that is baby load.
The opinion of railway men concerning the
disputed question of rates in the transconti-
mental fight Is that there lie no immediate pros
pect of settlement Of the existing difficulties.
Harry Wetsell, general agent of the Vandalia
ut this point, gives notice that the road is again
open to receive emigrant and household goods,
In fact. freight of all classes for Southwestern
points.
Stock Of the G. l., ST. L. & c. has advanced
ten points in the last twenty days. and is stiit
moving on to par. After June this road Will de-
clare a per cent per annum dividend. raging
property.
fer3av. twenty freight trains were run east over
the c. l., ST L. q G.. Passenger well as
freight crews, with their engines, were yester-
day pressed into freight service. which is seldom
heavier than now over the big Four"
Philadelphia & Reading railroad junior bond
cd issues are lower on account of the persistent
delay of Mr.. Gowen in advancing his plan for
showing how the shareholders of the road can
keep both the penny and the cake. 1t is feared
that Mr. Gowen himself has lost faith in the sue
cess of his scheme.
Extensive improvements are in progress on
Che western division of the c.. /. st. l.. 81 y.
Bstween Indianapolis and Lafayette all the
fifty -six- pound steel rail is being re-
placed with steel weighing sixty seven pounds
10 the yard. Between Lafayette and Kankakee
che road bed is being heavily graveled.
The sleeping coach now running between In
dianapo.is and Washington, over the c., l.. st
l. & c. and the Baltimore & Ohio, is not meet
ing with the patronage the railway manage
xnents had reason to expect For years every
1sw weeks these roads were urged to put on
a1mmA >oahan and hay have haan pfny i0O a
Dee l, and as yet are non-paying enterprises.
The FIVE Western roads, last week, brought in
Sl9I loaded cars against g 518 in the week end
ang April 10. and against 8, 166 the corresponding
week. 1885. From this it will be seen that there
Was heavier in bound movement last week
Ehnn either the proceeding or the corresponding
wsek, 1885. The c., L, ST. L. and c. broughtin
che largest number of loaded cars of any West
egn road.
Last year the trunk-line pool went TO pieces
Nay and rates fell to and 10 cents per hun
dred, continuing during most of the summer.
aBer received during the same time last year
their earnings will therefore exceed those of a
year ago. Prospects are now good that the
reads will get as much If not more to do this
than last season.
While John R. Elder, president of the Shell
Beach ycad, was in New Orleans, the gauge of
this road was changed from five feet in width
70 standard gauge. By the bye, the Shell Beach
zead is to be extended sixty miles down the
river TO Fort St Philip and Fort jackson. j. B.
Harper and an engineers corps are now locating
the extension, which will pass through very
productive country.
A mortgage for $40, 600 900 was given last
week by Francis Herman, president of the ST.
Louis, Kansas City d Colorado Railroad Com
pany, to II. V. Hazard, president of the Ameri
can Loan and Trust Company of New York city.
The proposed road is to run from st. Louis via
Kansas City to Denver. Col, with several
branches In Kansas, altogether to be some 200
miles in length. This is the road in which Harry
Drew, N. K. Elliott and other well-known people
IRE interested. and for which enterprise A. M.
Billings of Chicago. has been making temporary
1oans
The general manager will doubtless step on
the resolution passed by the Central Passenger
Gemmlttee to turn the tickets OF any road to the
wall which refuses to sign the passenger agree
ment It partakes entirely too much Of the boy
eott to be American in character, and will make
abe road boycotted one of the most popular IN
4hs country. Take the l., B. & W., for instance.
Were this road boycotted it could open an Office
IN nearly every town in Ohio. right in the terri
tory of its competitors, and cut rates on West
ern business so vciously that ell the lines would
Be glad to call quits.
Commissioner George H Daniels, of the Cen
4ra1 Passenger Committee has issued circular
calling special attention to the bylaw referring
% the excursion business, which shall be con-
Quoted on the following conditions: Any repre-
sentative desiring to run an excursion shall be
slowed to do so after agreeing with his competi
tors to rates for specially conducted or special
train excursions, except that tickets for such
cursions shall be limited to specified trains each
way, and good for one day only. Excursions run
without the authority of the commissioner as
herein provided, shall subject the offending line
50 fine of not less than $780,
Below is shown the east bound car movement
over the FIVE leading lines in the week ending
April IL, as compared with the week ending
April 10, and as compared with the number of
loaded cars forwarded in the corresponding
week, 1885: