The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-19
INGALLS, LET'S HIS Ak FALL
Superintendent Peck a Victim of the
Big Four's Retrenchment Policy.
General Manager Ramsey to Be Located at In
dianapOIis-Uther Changes TO Be Made
"A Fight Travellers Will Enjoy.

Some days ago mention was made that
President Ingalls's first move in q retrench-
ment policy was the doing away with the
position of general traffic manager and APP
pointing Oscar Murray, who had held the
position. second vice. president, and
really his assistant. In this connection 1t
was said that before New Years Q number
of changes in the official roster might be
looked for, and on Saturday Nj. E. ingalls,
announced the resignation of Z. A. Peck
as general superintendent and that his
duties would be looked after by Joseph
Ramsey, jr.. general manager. who Will ar
rive here this morning OF a special car
from Cincinnati to take charge of matters.
indianapolis to be his headquarters. Tn
ability of Mr.. Ramsey no one will question.
and his coming into contact more closely
with indianapolis railroad officials will be
looked upon with favor. Dir. Peck. who re-
tires, in his resignation two weeks ago,
but &c was not accepted until Saturday on
account OF the possible tr0uble with tho
telegraphers. This trouble. however, bad
nothing TO do with his resignation. Mr..
Peck began bis railroad career at the bots
tom round of the ladder nearly thirty years
ago, on the Bee-line. going from brakeman
TO conductor. to t~rainmaster, then to divla'
lon superintendent. and, on the retirement
pr Robert Blee. he was made general super
lntendent of the Big Four system. and has
been considered q very competent man for
Duch position.
The retrenchment policy will not stop
with the dong away with the position OF
general superintendent. IL is under
snt of transportation, Will be relieved
and his duties looked after by the
division superintendent and CHER
train-dispatehers. 1t Is evident that
President Ingalls, is determined In his re-
t~renchment policy, as he goes still further.
and on the first of January the livestock
department will be abolished, relieving A.:
d. Stewart. general livestock agent. and
the agents at Indianapolis. Cincinnati and
st. Louis From one of the officials Is
learned that no effort will be made by the
company TO secure livestock traffic. but
the several hundred Hicks livestock cars
she company owns Will De utilized IN the
local stock traffic. In which event Indian
apolis is likely TO profit, as 1t has been the
policy of General Stock agent Stewart to
Gun all stock through Indianapolis. not
even resting it here. indianapolis has be-
come too important q market TO- be thus
treated. and tho local business which will
naturally drift to the Big Four will doubt
less yield more net revenue than under the
present order of things.
As heretofore, whenever President In
gals has made any changes, the rumor is
revived that any man who ever worked for
the ole Bee-line is to be dismissed. This
rumOr was spoken of to one close TO Mr.. In
gals. and he said that there was not the
slightest foundation for it. Mr.. Ingalls,
was aiming at retrenchmeDt, and the ques-
ton whether the person affe oted ever
worked for the Bee-line or had worked all
his life for the Big F0ur cuts no figure in
the changes which have been or may be
made. So far as the livestock department.
Is concerned IL so happens that when the
Decline was consolidated with the Big
-Four 1t was a great through livestock
route. and consequently was manned by
Decline men. and in the abolishinG of this
department they lose their positions. To
say that there was O good deal of commo-
ton in the transportation and traffic de-
partment of the Big Four at this point on
learning of the changes above announced
Is no exaggeration.
Heavy Falling Of In Freight Business.
The train records show that in the week
ending Dec. II the smallest nu mber Of
loaded cars was received and forwarded at
Indianapolis of any week since the last
week Of June. There were 1,524 fewer
loaded cars handled han In the week end
ing Dec. 10. 1866 fewer loaded cars than in
the week of the maximum movement of the
year and, IN fact, In the history of Indian
apoiIs lines. The east end of the Chicago
division of the Big Four and the Indianap-
oils division of the Pennsylvania lines are
the only roads which are well mp to an
average movement. In east-bound tonnage
there Is q marked decrease shown, il being
the highest business in many months.
Not In many years have the ts of
grain eastward been as light, aud coupled
with this there il q falling Off In shipments
of export flour, which has been a big
item for some months past. There is more
cotton going forward than in December
last year, and shipments of miscellaneous
freights. such as desks. lounges, slaves,
heading. dimension stuff and veneering,
but the increase in miscellaneous freights
does not offset the heavy movement of
grain in December last year. West-bound
the tonnage Is heavier than in December,
1891. and In fact the heaviest ever
known at this season of the year,
and this remark will apply to both high
and low-class freights. The shipments of
dry goods. fancy notions. and in ower class
frelghts. coal and coke, are In heavier ton
mage than last year. Local traffic. for the
first time in months, is below the average.
This Is attributable to bad country roads.
She light movement of grain and che
scarcity of hogs. the shipments in here of
the latter being GO per cent. lighter than in
the first half OF December last year. Then.
the receipts of building material, as winter
approaches. tell of sharply. In the way of
produc more Ia now being handle here
than in any previous year, but in the
grand total of business produce is but q
small per cent. of the freigbts handled. Be-
low Ia given the number of loaded cars re-
ceived and forwarded at this point for the
corresponding week of the preceding two