The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-18
INJURING RAILROADS
STEAM LINES SUFFERING FROM COM
PETITION WITH TROLLEY ROADS.
Electric Cars Taking n Large Portion
of the Suburban Business-Debs
Travelling on IN Hallway Pass

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the Big Four lines. but who for the last
two years has been travelling as an ad-
vance agent of a theatrical company, was
In the city on Monday. He still takes a
good deal of interest in railroad matters,
and In conversation said that the most
serious thing the passenger departments
OF the railways had now TO contend with
was the trolley systems. which promised TO
make serious inroads into their short travel
and suburban business. He cited Allen
town. Pa, where there is a group of five
large cities all connected by trolley roads
and carrying people at one-third the rates
which the steam roads nave been charging
on short travel, and not taking much more
time than do the steam lines. when it is
considered that, eight times out OF ten,
the trolley line takes the passengers to the
door OF the place at which he wishes 10
stop. On inquiry. ne found that the Lehigh
VALLEY. the philadelphia & Reading and
competition very much in their passenger
earnings. Another instance he cited was
between St. Paul and Minneapolis. Be
tween those cities are four tracks of steam
roads. and in years past the travel be-
tween the two points has been large and
yielded a large revenue 10 the steam roads.
Now there are several trolley lines. The
steam roads make the run q few minutes
quicker, but charge three times as much,
di4 Anc advantages DGIWtEl the TWO, vi
thihSs considered, were quite equal, yet
he was told by a railway official of one of
the ST Paul steam lines that 1T would cut
into their revenue between those two points
at least 2OO,OO a year. Just at present,
Mr.. Martin says. the electric trolley lines
are making the most serious inroads on
passenger earnings of Pennsylvania and
New England roads, but there is no tell
Ing where this competition will end. In
lSJ the first important electric line was
constructed, and little more was done for
five years, but in the last three years
rapid strides have been made. To-day
there are at least 1900 miles of electric
railways in the country, over which are run
at least 1000 electric cars, and il is evil
dent that electric lines nave come to stay.
No Free Transportation.
The conference Of the executive officers
of the Western and Southwestern road
lines. which began at st. Louis Wednesday,
got down TO business in earnest yesterday.
President Marvin Hughitt, of the Chicago
< Northwestern road. arrived in time to
preside ever the morning session. When
adjournment was taken for lunch it was
announced that 1t had been agreed to adopt
a uniform rate of 6 mills per car mile on
all freight cars. loaded and empty, except
tank and refrigerator cars. the rates on
these to be left 10 the discretion of indiyid-
ual roads, because OF the numerous ex-
listing contracts for rates. 1t was also
agreed to pay no mileage whatever on live
O1AsA NaAof CllLCl lOdQCu UT tIIlDly.
There was also passed a resolution to issue
no free transportation whatever during the
remainder OF the year; This resolution
will go into effect next Monday. When the
question came up of abolishing free trans
portation on and after Jan. L, or restrict
Ing 1t TO a great extent, il was referred TO
a special COMMITTEES, composed of Vice
President Harris, of the Burlington; Vice
President and General Manager Purdy, of
the Missouri, Kansas e. Texas; Chairman
Midge!ey, of the Western Freight Asso-
c%iatton; General Manager Frey, of the
Santa Fe. and Vice President Ripley. of
will consider the pass question in
all its bearings, from the point of view OF
both freight and passenger traffic Depart
ments, and its report is awaited with much
Ainterest.
southwestern Rates.
At the meeting of the Southwestern
Traffic Association in st. Louis yesterday
a resolution was adopted providing for rates
by the way OF Lake Charles to Texas and
Mexican points as a maximum and COM
bination of locals from point of origin by
way OF Galveston, the rail lines to ascer-
tain ocean rates from Lake Charles to
points on the Texas & Mexican Gulf Coast,
and to so adjust their rates from point of
origin to Lake Charles as to make the same
through tariffs as prevail via Galveston.
An agreement was reached providing for
the application of weights on packing
house products in less than carload lots.
- ~ 1dl lcnlc III
stead of the Western Association weights.
as heretofore provided. Wire and nail
rates were made to apply on hay bale ties,
and Glass A~rates on school desks and fur
niture In carloads. The rates on roofing
felt, roofing cement, granite and tar pre-
pared was reduced from Glass Il to Glass
c, and provision was made for the applica-
ton or Class ID rate on seeds in mixed car
loads. A rate OF fourth-class was estab-
lished on mixed carloads OF fish. turtles
and oysters in carloads, minimum weight
10000, from Rockport, Corpus Christi and
Galveston TO st. Louis and defined terri
tories.
Excess of Baggage Rates.
The lines of the Central Traffic Associa-
ton have come to an understanding with
the Western roads regarding the rates to
be charged pm excess baggage. the question
having been a stumbling block for the two
associations for some time past. At the
time low rates were put in on account of
the worlds fair traffic, the Central Traffic
lines took the low rates on baggage OF the
Western roads as a basis for The compu-
tation OF the through rates. This was all
right as long as the worlds fair was in
Operation, but the Eastern roads have
kept basing on the low rates from that
time to this. despite the protests of the
Western lines, VINO were anxious that the
old rates of II cents, which obtained before
the fair, and which was used by both as
sociatiOns, should be used again. This the
Eastern lines refused TO do, as they claimed
that Western lines had the low rates. in
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been finally bridged over by the Central
Iraric Association lines getting out two
rate sheets, one To be used for the regular
standard rates and one for the specially
reduced rates. After this time the rate on
excess baggage will remain the same, no
matter whether the passenger rates are
reduced or not.
Monthly Relief Bulletin.
r. f. Smith, superintendent of the Penn
s~ylvania voluntary relief department, yes
terday sent out the bulletin for Septem-
be-. which shows that in that month he
disbursed $3.50 in death benefits from ac-
c!dents and s.. 100 on deaths from natural
causes, representing fourteen deaths. He
paid out $.,6S9.5O in accident benefits to
burg; sickness benefits, $6,lf1.90, TO 49
members, making the total disbursement
of the month $l9,OS7.40, and 16 members
or their representatives received benefits.
In the ~sixty-three months the association
has existed il disbursed on deaths from
accidents $l23,966.69. representing 1879 men,
bers: on deaths from natural causes. $i2.-
626. representing 5S members: in accident
benefits, 500, 40s. 10. representing 1882 per-
sons; In sickness benefits, $Ss6, 5i1.A, repre-
senting S2.4i3 members; total disbursements
since organized, N,153.513.0i. representing
52,562 members who have Received benefits.
a Southern Hallway Scheme.
1t is reported on authority deemed thor
oughly reliable that the southern Railway
Company, having failed to gain control of
the Cincinnati Southern. is seeking a West
ern outlet through st. Louis. 1t is said
negotiations are quietly going on looking to
the purchase by the Southern of the Padu-