The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-09
$1,000 A MONTH NOT ENOUGH
Chairman Walker Nay Retire from the
Western Traffic Association.
Possibility that the Advisory Board May Let
the Present Salary Of S25, 900 Tear Re-
main-Mors Freight Cars Needed.

Chairman Walker and Commissioner
Midgley, of the Western Traffic Associa-
ton. are both in New York. where they
will remain until after the meeting of the
ADVISOR board, to be held in that city next
Tuesday. Mr.. Walker is especially inter-
ested in the forthcoming meeting. His
contract with the presidents of the Western
roads, whereby be was to receive salary
of $4,000 year expires this month. When
the new agreement was adopted a year ago
IL provided for the election of SIX commits
sioners, fixing the salary of the chairman
at $4,000, and that of the other five at
$4,000 each per annum. Furthermore, 1t
provided that commissioners should be
chosen for one year only. and that an
election must be held at the first quarterly
meeting Of each year. It appears. there
fore, that the most important business be-
fore the advisory board at its meeting next
week viii be the election of the commits
sioners Even if Chairman Walker Is re-
elected, his salary. by terms of the presi-
dents agreement. will be less than half
what it has heretofore been, and there is a
question as to whether he will accept it.
According to general report he has good
q
which desires his services as general counsel
of the company, and there is little doubt
that such position would be more lucra-
tive, and fully as much to his liking.
S9t tSs stsr is s1Ssssf dssIos w tSs
chairmanship at the salary fixed for that
Office. Although it was decided that the
yalary of the other five commissioners should
be but $4,000 each, 1t viii be remembered
that Commissioner Faithorn. as chairman
of the Southwestern Railway System
Steamship Association, has q contract with
that organization by which he received
s15,U00 per annum and will continue to do
80 for some years to come. Commissioners
Midgley. whether by contract or not, is
allowed S12. 500 By the Western Freight As
sociation. Ii these two men are retained.
and certainly Mr.. Falthorn must be, in
order to keep his organization In the West
ern Traffic ASSOCIATION, Chairman Walker
cannot accept q reelection at $4,000 q year
without being placed In the position OF re-
ceiving lower salary than two of his
subordinares
This matter is just now causing some
speculation in Western railroad circles.
Mr.. Walker is popular with the presidents
of the roads. and it is generally predicted
that they will solve the problem by allow
ing him q much higher salary than that
provided by the agreement 1t Is even be-
lieved In some quarters that the S25,OOO
contract will be renewed. If necessary. to
keep Mr.. Walker at the head of the asso-
citation. No doubt Is expressed of the re-
election of Midaley. Finley. FaIthorn and
Winning. Whether James Smith will be
retained rs chirman of the Transmissouri
Association Is supposed TO depend some
what on the strength of the Gould inhu-
ence.
Collisions Becoming Too Frequent.
The Railroad Gazette, In It's last issue,
makes its monthly report of accidents oc-
curing on American railways for Novem-
har and this sratams amt ahaua th OF dnripo
the month there were 226 accidents in
which sixty persons were killed and S07 in
jured. it being the worst record shown in
any month for years The worst feature of
the statement 10 that 112 of these accidents
resulted from collisions. A superintendent
yesterday, in speaking of this. said that
something must be done to check the reck-
less manner of railroading which is now
seemingly on the increase. The business in
Novem Der was heavy, and more trains were
run than ordinarily, but this 10 no excuse,
as the more trains the greater the care
should be In moving them; at any rate,
there 10 no reason for such number of col
llsions in thirty days. and il shows q reck-
lessness somewhere which should be
verely punished. few good examples in
this direction would do much to check this
haphazard way of railroading. The fault
for accidents OF this character lies some
where. and 1T Is the duty of the general
managers and general superlntendents to
investigate and see that the train dispatch
punished when such accidents are the re-
suits OF their carelessness, IS is the case
ninety-nine times out of hundred.
Charges Against the Alton.
A meeting Of the general passenger
agents Of the Transmlssouri Association
has been called to consider charges of rate
manipulation against the Chicago & Alton
road. The charges are made by Chairman
Smythe himself, who says that the Alton,
by selling its orders in Denver to passen-
gers going to St Louis and Chicago. effects
o reduction in the rate east of Kansas
City. 1t does not seem to be o. any con-
sequence to Mr.. Smith that the al
legged reduction is in territory over which
farths1 and .nsassss to the NE lines fOss
IN his association that the only way to
properly punish the Alton is to take It's
tickets of sale In other words be proposes
q boz colt against the Alton by the roads
west of thes Missouri river. General
Passenger Agent Charlton has written
scathing letter to. Chairman Smy the. advis-
ing him to look after the roads IN his own
association which ore Just now accusing
one another of cutting rates between Dom
Yer and Chicago. It is not believed that
any attempt will be made by the interested
roads to boycott the Alton as suggested by
Mr. Smytbo since such undertaking
could scarcely fail to preclpitate rulnous
rate war.
Not Enough Freight Cars.
Ii Is q common remark of railroad officials
who should be better posted that there are
asufficient number of freight cars to move
all the business if they were moved as
promptly az they should be. This is not
true. and statistics recently prepared will
demonstrate il. Then. the car-service asso-
Citations have brought about as prompt q
movement OF cars as could well be accom-
plished. Still all roads are unable to
furnish cars. Statistics Just published
show that In the period from 1882 to 1888
the tonnage increased ITO per cent. aud the
freight equipment but - per cent. Since
1855 larger cars have been built and the
capacity increased in that direction as we'll
ss IN number of cars. yet late reports show
that the tonnage since 1855 has increased 81
per cent. while the carrying capacity has
been increased but IL per cent. The fore
going statements can be relied on as cor
rect. and go to prove that the number of
cars on the through lines of this country
can yet be largely increased without over
reaching IN this direction.
That Monon Wreck
General Manager McDoel. of the Monon
railroad. says that the New Albany CORE
spondent of the Journal was misinformed
as to the extent of the injuries received by
the uAsseuQera IN thu wracE sf :. craalr