The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-04-01
AFFAIRS OF THE RAILWAYS
Western Traffic Association Rulings Af-
fecting Several Chicago Lines.
Lake and Rail Rates Agreed 0n-B. & O. En-
Joined from Using the Illinois Central
Traeks-Thrifty Railroad Employees.

Chairman A. F. Walker, of the board of
commi ssioners of the Western Traffic Asso-
yesterday. The most important Is in COM
pllance with q request of the Chicago, Bur-
lington & Quincy that the through tariffs
of the Rock Island and the Atchison. To-
peka & Santa Fe roads in connection with
the Chicago. st. Louis & Pittsburg rail-
road from Chicago to points on and west of
the Mississippi river be cancelled. A num-
Der of important industries Of Chicago are
adjacent to the Panhandle tracks, which
form a semi-circle around the southern di-
vision Of the city in gaining an entrance TO
the Union Depot. In order to secure the
west-bound business from these factories
the Atchison and the Rock Island have
made through-rate arrangements with the
Panhandle whereby the latter road. by re-
ceiving the shipments and turning them over
60 those lines at their crossings. is allowed
is per cent. of the through rate to the Mis-
souri, river. This Is considerably more
than the Panhandle would receive If their
switching charges were allowed, and its
interest lies, therefore, IN turning over all
such business TO the Atchison and the Rock
Island when destined to points reached by
disadvantage of the Burlington. the Chi
cago 81 Alton, the Chicago * Northwestern
and the Chicago. Milwaukee IL st. Paul.
which have no through-rate arrangements
with the Panhandle on such business. and
the demand is made under Article - of the
bylaws of the ASSOCIATION that these joint
tariffs ne cancelled. The commissioners
find that under the agreement O privilege
OF the association and denied to others
under substantially similar circumstances
and conditions.
Another decision Is on the application of
the Chicago. Burlington & Northern road
for permission to establish rate of 20 cents
per 100 pounds on harvesting machinery
from Minneapolis and ST. Paul to Chicago.
The board concluded that the desired
change Is inexpedient and should not be
made.
Favor Reduction In Grain Rates.
Freight men on w estern lines are strongly
in favor of reduction In east-boun grain
rates. that they may secure some of the
grain yet to 60 forward before lake navigs-
tion opens. The trunk lines are not SO
much interested, as they get a good share
of the business even when shipped by
water to Buffalo. A recent article in the
Financial Chronicle shows the ton mileage
on the lakes for 1890 TO have been 15,3lS.-
$4,000. The aggregate ton mileage of the
railroads of the United States for the same
year was IS, 727. 223, 146, 80 that the ton mile
age carried on the lakes was equal to 22i2
per cent. OF the ton mileage of the railroads.
81 course. this lake tonnage Is not all grain,
but IL forms an important part of IL, espe-
cially in the spring aud early Lmmer. The
Chronicle gives the following interesting
figures regarding the increase in business
on the lakes. While it may not be proper
a n
crease in business of the railroads, 1t shows
n remarkable increase in business on the
lakes. There were In 1890 2, 055 vessels, with
= net tonnage of 500 $50 TONS against 1897
vessels, with q net tonnage of GAGS tons,
il 1886. With less than 3 per cent In the
number IF vessels, the tonnage has in
creased over 80 per cent, while the value
of the vessels has increased almost 90 per
cent The gain is mainly in vessels. there
now being 10 of these, against 81 in 1886.
Then there were six of steel, with an aggre-
gate tonnage of 6.459 tons, and valued at
$694 900, while now there are 6S steel vessels,
aggregating 90. 457 tons. and costing sl1, 9e4, :
500.
Making Thrifty Railroad Men.
A few years ago it was an exception for
railroad man to own home, but this is
no longer the case. This change has been
largely brought about by the organization
of building and loan associations. Indian
apolis. it is stated. was the first prominent
railroad point where strictly railroad
mems building and loan ASSOCIATION was
organized: now they are springing up all
over the country. and engineers. fremen,
conductors aud brakenen, as well as nu-
merous men employed in shops. Offices. and
even on tracks, are members This is bring
ing about thrift and prosperity which
has hitherto been unknown in railroad cir
cles. The average railroad man receives q
salary which enables him TO lay by q few
dollars in q building association without
seriously feeling IL. each month. and the
better class of railroad men. on the roads.
IN the Offices, and. in fact from the engine
wiper mp to the general superintendent,
are becoming members of such associations
IN numbers which will be surprise If the
matter Is Investigated. The indianapolis
association has loaned. since it COM
menced operations, two years ago, 1000,
and now has Sl25. 600 out on first mortgages.
1t has enabled 162 railroad men to build
homes which they are paying for in such a
manner as TO hardly miss the sum from the
wages Of each month.
Lake and Rail Rates.
Representatives of the Missouri-river
lines met, yesterday, at Chicago, to fix q
schedule of proportional rates on traffic IN
connection with the lake lines between
WcsteIu poiuts anu the seaDOaIu. III was
decided that. for east-boun business, the
following proportions should be exacted on
the traffic originating at or east of the Mis-
sour river: First class. y cents; second.
62i2; third, As; fourth. 35l2: fifth, 80; sixth,
II. These are practically the same rates In
effect last year, the Western roads aiming
10 receive the same revenue from the haul
TO Chicago that they would if the shipments
were entirely by rail to the seaboard. On
west-bound business from seaboard points
they decided TO exact their full rates on the
basis of IS cents first class from Chicago 70
the Missouri river. From Chicago to the
Mississippi river on lake and rail traffic
the rates will be: First class, 81 cents; Sec
ond. q: third. p; fourth, 10; fifth, Is
sixth. TO-
General Sturm's Mexican Road.
The Mexico. Cuernavaca 4 Pacific Rail
way Company was incorporated. at Den
yer. yesterday. with q capital of s.. 900. 0OO
The line will run from the City OF Mexico
to Crernavaca and the coast through q
very fertile region, for a distance of So
.milea The incorporstors ars Gen. Herman
sturm. George Fitch. Charles Wheeler
Andrew b. Heath aud Philip Fang The
officers are: George Fritch. president; Gen
Sturm. yice-president and general manager
Chas. Wheeler. secretary: A. Il. Heath
treasurer, and Mai. John l.. Butman, Of
Saratoga, n. Y, superintendent of construc
ton General Sturm has been granted
concession by the Mexican government FOL
the construction of the road, which give,
him the right of way aud exempts the com