The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-20
LONG-STANDING CLAIM
SHEETS HEIRS ASKING A LARGE
sun FROM THE yANDALIA.
President Roberts OF the Pennsy1-
vanfa on the Relations of Railways
10 the Counfry's business.

About forty-fve years ago William
Elects decided TO the TerT- Haute & IN
cianapoIis Railroad Company the ground
on which the vandalia freight station now
stands. with the understanding that a pas
senger station should be erected and main
tanned there. and whenever vacated for
other purposes the property should revert
10 the Sheets heirs. Later. L. ]. Peck,
president of the Terre Haute & Indianapo-
lis. added a freight depot TO the passenger
station. william Sheets. then living,
brought suit to recover the ground and
was beaten. as In the deed the word pas
senger depot did not appear, although Mr..
Sheets claimed that was the understanding
that it should be used only as a passenger
station when the deed was made. The
yandalia freight depot is Eow much in the
way OF the Union Railway Company car
Tying out its plans as regards the present
station and train sheds. and an effort has
been made TO secure from the heirs a quit
claim deed 10 the ground on which the
freight depot stands. but exorbitant prices
are demanded by each heir ana eacn year
death OF Mrs. Bette sheets Harrison,
whose remains were buried at Crown Hill
i've hsirs-two sons and three daughters
of william sheets. BY the death OF Mrs.
HArrison the number Is increased TO seven,
she leaving three daughters, all of age.
X. T.. Sheets. who was In the city TO at
tend the funeral OF Mrs. Harrison. in con-
ne ITnion RaiISlav Som1anv TO nav and
secure the property more and more COM
plicated matters. as in case or the death
OF either of the two sisters OF the late
Mrs. Harrison there would be a number
OF minor heirs: in one case the youngest
child Is now less than one year old. The
rAnnr of Nr Shnafu'0 FamQFkC unG that
should the Union Railway Company APP
proach the heirs openly and not through
some undermined scheme, the heirs would
dispose OF their interest at what they
deemed a reasonable sum- When pressed
as 10 what he thought would be a rea-
sonable sum. he said he would not sell
his interest for less than 100000. He then
argued, basing the sum OF the other heirs
at his figure. that before the death of Mrs.
chased for $80,00. but now IL would take
100000 to purchase their rights, ,provid-
Ing the Terre Haute & Indianapolis COM
pany broke the provisions of the deed
Hven by William Sheets and wife in the
original contract
Pennsylvania Inspection Party.
President Roberts, of the Pennsylvania
lines. and the several high sofficials OF the
road who accompany him. will reach here
at 1870 this morning from Louisville. and.
after a short stay. viii go 10 St Louis over
the Vandalia. President McKeen and Vice
president Williams, of the Vandalia, will
come over 10 accompany the party west
ward. President Roberts. since leaving Phil
adelphia, has talked quite freely. giving his
views on the relations OF railroads to the
country's business. Naturally. Mr.. Roberts
regards everything from a railroad stand
point. After discussing the financial situa-
ton. he says: 1.-The relations between the
prosperity OF our railroad systems and the
prosperity Of manufactures in general. and
iron manufacturers in particular, are, OF
course, very intimate. The railroads are
enormous purchasers. and any Limitation or
Immediately and severely felt In many
branches of trade"
Mr.. Roberts claims that the prosperity of
the railroads is, in a manner, necessary TO
the prosperity of the country, dwelling
upon the proper managemsnt of the various
properties. He deprecateS the great amount
of fictitious capital put into railroads by the
watering process. He considers the inter-
state law a clog to railroad prosperity, and
calls on Congress for some relief.
He regards the pooling of railroad inter-
ests the best, and, indeed. the just system
of equalizing the business and earnings. He
advocates new laws in that direction, which
he considers a railroad necessity.
In conclusion on this subject, Mr.. Rob-
erts said:
The laws which have been enacted have
been SO hastily prepared, and are so crude.
that the notifications mat ave peen sug-
gested have not received the attention
which the interests involved would seem
20 demand. and il will not be until the pup
lie clearly understands that the prosperity
Of the railroads is vital TO the prosperity
of the country that we can expect q
thoughtful consideration Of the question and
q proper recognition OF the intimate rela-
ton between the shipper and transporter.
This will be finally brought about, however,
will then mutually share in the advantages
eccruirg from such legislation"
Rates Cannot Go Lower.
Tho fanor Of tho ropnarka NJ prOmiuant
railroas officials makes it very evident that
It is no exaggeration to say that freight
rates have reached what may be termed
the minimum OF subsistence. Few people
are aware how important this rate question
s.. Since the building Of roads on a large
scale there has been an unceasing struggle
between the railroads and declining rates,
tn which 1t il evident the railroads have
been worste6. and a railway president is
quoted as saying that IL is now impera-
lively necessary that the railroads take
q united stand On this question OF rates,
once and for all. The question is not one
Of cents. but fractions OF cents. In order
10 show the importance of a fraction of a
cent per ton per mile, below is shown what
an Increase of one-tenth of a cent per ton
per mile would DO Tor some OF the leading
cent per ton per mile on It's last years
earnings would have meant an increase of
e-SSl.42s; with the Louisville. New Albany
& Chicago. an increase OF $262, sol; the ILL
nois Central. an increase OF sf5i2, so: the
Lake Shore. an increase OF 81. AZ, 692: the
Chicago q Alton. an increase OF S4S3, 28
the Missouri Pacific. an increase Of s., CO.
S06;- the Union Pacific. an increase of 81
<94, 16o; the New York Central, an increase
S,S3,l6; the Erie. an increase OF So
b5l, 1851: the Increase for the PENNSYLVANIA
lines would reach 81. 426, 169. Were the rail-
roads to act in concert to secure higher
AID stable rates by the abolition Of sense
less competition and conduct their business
In Al open-handed. fair manner, treating
all shippers alike IL would be infinitely
preferable TO the present system of pay
Ing rebates and undetermined rate making.
The Antf-Psss Agreement.
The feeling among the Western roads
which have agreed TO the anti-pass propo.
Fition is one OF some doubt as TO whether
the plan win be found to be practicable
Al the time the lines OF the Western
Freight Association tried to put in force
the same plan IL was upset by the refusa
Of the Atehison to withdraw all the annua
passes which Ii had already issued, al
though the road agreed that 1t would issue
no more III the other roads which Were
seeking TO drag 1t into the agreement would
agree 10 keep their free transportation on
OF the hands OF the shippers At the yer,