The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-07
AFFAIRS OF THE RAILWAYS.

Statistics Regarding Last Years Traffic
The State Bureau of Statistics has received
and tabulated returns from all the railroads.
operating wholly IN part in Indiana. showing
the measure of business transacted during the
year just closed The tabulates1 statement show
the following totals: Number of passengers
carried, "a $685. 1885, tons of freight carried. 80,
al, 824; receipts from passenger department.,
Including express. baggage, mail, etc., y. oOo'-
522; receipts from freight department Sol.o1o,
648 operating expenses, S62, 5o3. 619; excess OF
receipts over expenses, S26 ,273,29l. making an
average profit TO each of the thirfy-tWo ROADS
reporting Of 1921, GAO. A careful AVERAGE OF tne
daily wages paid to the several classes or en-
ployes shows that engineers receive the nignest
and section hands the lowest wages, the former
being s. 80 and the latter SLlz per day. Com-
menting upon the returns, the Chief OF the
Bureau says
1T is matter OF surprise and should be matter
of concern to the travelling public that telegraph
operators are paid the third lowest class OF
wages among railroad employees. the average for
the thirty two roads reporting being only 81 40
per day. The station agent, TO whose duties
there rarely attaches fraver responsi pity
receives an average of Sl.75 per day, while he
upon whose skill the lives Of the travelling pub
lie may be said be largely dependent receives
but 81 As per day. This is probably due to the
fact that biography IL easily learned in youth,
and that boys enter the depots. especially in the
country. for the purpose or learning II, and
while still young are given employment by the
companies and often placed il important posi-
lions On this account the competition for po-
sitions becomes sharp and wages are reduced TO
a very low figure"
The total number of employees and the average
daily wages Of each class are thus given: Engi-
neers 3, 1885, average wages So 50; firemen, g. 14l,
wages, 81 SO; passenger conductors, $50, wages,
% %; freight conductors, 1,409, wages. 81. 20;
passenger brakemen, ]. COB. wages. 81 So; freight
brakemen, 2.2l8. wages, $1.8l; machinists. 219,
wages. 81. IL; watchmen and switchmen. 3. $50.
wages. 81 81; section hands, IL 1884, wages, 81 u;
station agents. 22l1, wages. 81 %; telegraph OPP
orators, i, 933, wages. 81. 45. With respect TO
number OF persons killed and injured on the sew
eral roads during the year, the reports show
rather remarkable condition. the per cent OF
those kilicd and injured by their own careless
ness being largely in excess of the number killed
and inJuredsby causes beyond their own control,
presumably the fault of the road reporting. The
figures are as follows: Number killed by their
own carelessness, 1872 injured by their own care
lessnass. 455; number killed from canses beyond
their own control. Is, injured from causes be-
yond their own control. 274
The Western and Northwestern Freight War.
CHICAGO Feb. 6.-The cutting was to-day
again fast and furious in Western freight rates.
Lumber, at the very outset in the morning, was
reduced, Chicago to Kansas City, from 13tc to
10c 100 pounds. and to Council Bluffs and
Omaha from Ice to lie, all lines meeting the
new rates. The Missouri Pacific reduced live
stock rates, per car load. Kansas City to ST.
Louis, from D AZ OU TO $0U. Inc CllcagO lines
followed with a similar reduction to Chicago
of from $50 to $47.50 The Chicago & Alton put
in 10c grain rate to Chicago from Kansas
City. and &c to St Louis. The Burlington a.
Northern made the reduction from ST. Paul to
Chicago the same the Milwaukee and the st.
Paul's reduction, Chicago to St. Paul, is a cut
of % per cent. The Omaha and Council Bluffs
lines pulled down the rate hog products
Chicago from Is to BE, a total decrease of 12c
since Friday last. The Minnesota 81 North
western cut the rates to Des Moines, and the
Rock Island issued tariff making the rates
first class, 35c; second, 30c; third, 24c; fourth.
100; fifth, 14c. The old rates were:
First class. &c; second, 53c; third, 35c; fourth,
25c; fifth, 18c. Up to tonight the grain rates
from Council Bluffs and western Iowa had not
been disturbed, but officials are of the opinion
that they cannot be held up any great length of
time. To make things additionally lively. the
Milwaukee 81 ST. Paul this evening slashed
once more at the class rates, cutting them down
just cents all around. The new rates apply to
Council Bluffs. Omaha. Kansas City and south
western Missouri river points, and First
class, 345c second, 25c; third, 23c; fourth, Ice;
fifth, 14c. The break came too late for the
other lines TO meet it till morning.
w. b. Cutting Buys Florida Road.
JACKSONVILLE. Fla, Feb 6-The Florida
Central g. Western railroad. the western divi-
sion of the Florida Railway and NAVIGATION
Company's road from Jacksonville via Tallahas-