The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-29
DOWN TO NOTHING
Passenger Rates from Chicago to Louis
Vile Slashed TO s1.50 One Way.
The Mackey Lines Determined to Lead in the
Ruinous War-Western Roads Take
Steps to Protect Themselves.

and Ohio River Trafnc ASSOCIATION nave
taken another tumble. The Chicago
q Eastern Illinois has forced the fighting
by announcing a rate of Sl.50 from Louis
Vile TO Chicago. This IS supposed to indi-
cate that the wal is nearly over. and that
the next move will be in the direction of q
restoration of peace"
A dispatch from Louisville says: Ii the
Louisville Chicago passenger rate war
keeps mp the public will soon be able to go
to Chicago fornothing. To-day the Mackey
shines announced q rate Of S1.50, via Prince
ton, to take effect Tuesday morning. The
$3.50 rate made by the Monon and Pennsyl-
vania lines goes into effect at the same
time. The Monon will also begin to sell
~round-trip tickets for $3.50.
A belief prevails among local passenger
men that the rate war in the Chicago and
Ohio-river Traffic Association territory,
within the next fofty-eight hours. Will
grow more interesting, and 1t Is predicted
that before the week closes o traveller will
be able to go TO Chicago. Louisville or Cln-
clnnati at much lower rates than those now
prevailing; in fact. a dollar rate to either
point named need not be q surprise. The
recent reduction made by the Pennsylvanla
lines, which takes effect to-day. has aroused
not only the Monon. but the CINCINNATI.
Hamilton IL Dayton. as the latter well un-
derstands that the limit in cut rates has
been reached without affecting their bust
o oinnati D'"S ". Il. MeDosl. general
manager of the Monon. is quoted as
saying to Mr.. Barker. general passenger
agent: go as low as does the Pennsyl-
yania.n adding that in the third week of
November the passenger earnings OF the
Monon were $1,000 ahead of the same week
of 1891. This was evidence that the Monon
was not the loser In the fight. and. as said
before, the Pennsylania lines are not losing
anything, IS when full rates were IN force
ir carried practically no business between
Louisville and Chicago and Cincinnati and
Chicago. The passenger earnings OF the
Big Four, which Is drawn into the hight
through its relations with the other roads,
is showing as good earnings as last year.
but they, being unbiased, look on coolly
and ask the question. how much larger
full rates had been in vogue be-
tween Cincinnati and Chicago. Doubt
less the Big Four is the greatest
sufferer in this association line war. but 1t
into the war and on which rates are main
tanned, that it Is difficult to estimate the
damage to it's business.
District ger Agent Drummer. of the
Pennsylvania lines, announced last even
ing that he had received instructions to
make the round-trip rates. commencing
with to-day, So from Indianapolis TO Chi
cago and return. a cut of 81 on the late re-
duetion.
From kilograms which passed over the
wires yesterday it is evident that the pres
idents of the roads In the Chicago and
Ohio River Traffic Association q
come an order from the presidents to the
general passenger agents to restore rates on
Dec. 8, it Will not be q surprise.
Effort to Stop Rate-Cutting.
dispatch from Chicago says that action
-aaEan ~ n xooaftpn thoro uoa~Io-
by the roads in the Western Passenger
Association that'is calculated to hasten to
o settlement the rate troubles in the terri
tory east and southeast of Chicago. A
meeting was held to consider the situation
rs affected by the cheap tickets sold from
points in Ohio. Indiana and other points
to lower Missouri river points. based upon
cut rates to Chicago and St Louis. and
which. with extended limits, are beginning
to food the Chicago and st. Louis markets
to the detriment of the ticket sales of the
local lines. The Chicago Il Alton was pres
emit and participated In the discussion.
Some one suggested that the Eastern roads
be notified that all ines leading westward
from Chicago. Peoria, Bloomington and St.
Louis will require their full proportion on
all tickets sold through the gateways to
Missouri river points or TO ST. Paul and
beyond. and will not participate in the
wal on rates growing out OF differences be-
tween Eastern roads. General Passenger
Agent Charlton. of the Alton. was in favor
of going even further than this. He said
the business received from Eastern con-
Meeting lines was of such small conse-
quence as compared with the local business
originating at Chicago and st. Louis that
to protect themselves it was time for the
Western roads to take action. His COM
pany, he declared, was willing that Chair
man ftald vafl ahAnld ha anfhnrizpd tn mn
tify all Eastern connections that might be
involved In local differences. creating rate
wars In their territory, that during the
term of such disturbances they should sus-
pend the ticket sales over all Western
roads from Chicago. St Louis and Bloom
iDgton, and that such tickets must remain
OFT sale until rates should be restored to
their normal coddit,on and agreed standard
limits. In Mr.. Charlton's opinion this was
the only way to preserve the rates from
Chicago, ST. Louis and other large business
eenters in which the Western lines were
interested.
Charlron's proposition. but his views were
concurred In by all present. 1t was de-
cided, however, that it would hardly be
generous TO serve q notice of that kind on
their competitors without previous warn
ing A resolution was. therefore, adopted
IDstructlng the chairman 10 advise all
lines in Ohio and other States affected by
the Ohio river rate war, that the lines west
Peoria Will require full proportions of reg
ular standard rates on through business,
and should this action fail to secure them
immediate protection they will request the
withdrawal from sale of all tickets reading
over their lines until such time as the pres
ent troubles are settled.
---
improvements on the @. & O.
So large a per cent. of the officials en-
ployed on the Chesapeake * Ohio were
once in the employ of tho Wabash or the
Big Four. that the development of this
property becomes of interest In this section.
II. Frazier, chief engineer. writes: w
now operate fifty-six miles OF double track
and have nineteen more graded. We con-
template laying forty-five miles additional
second track in 1898. Interlocking plants
are located at Cincinnati. Newport. Day.
ton. Clifton Forge, Anderson. Wolf Greek,
Stock Yards. Lowell. gton. Va, Cald-
well. Backbone. Dunlap. Roekland. New
port News and CovlDgton, Ky. The South
side road will probably be extended from
Fayette TO Hawks Nest in the spring. The
Gauley branch will be opened about Feb. l.
Tue Keeney- creek branch will be open In
about sixty days. Track has been laid
on the sixteen-mile extension of the kinni-
conniek branch and Is now open 10 bust
ness TO Carter. which is the end of the line.
The new piers at Newport News have been
completed and are being occupied. The
PASSENGER station Is q three story build