The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-04
THE RAILWAYS IN 1893
Business Was Below 1892 and the
Highest in Several Years.
Local and Through Traffic Shows a
Heavy Falling Of-The Passenger
Business Below Expectations.

The train records OF the fifteen I~ndianapo-
lis lines show that in the year ending Dec.
81, 1893, there were received and forwarded
at indianapolis 1867 loaded cars, against
1.05O,2 200 in 1892, a decrease of 1866 loaded
cars in 1893. This is the highest years bust
ness since 1889. 1t should be borne in mind,
however, that the business of 1892 was pine
nomenal and largely in excess OF any form
er year. In looking over the comparative
statement il will be seen that in but one
month of 1893 were there as many loaded
cars handled as in the corresponding month
of 1892. The average movement of loaded
cars for the year was 17,416 per week,
against %, 100 in 1892; the average movement
of empty cars fell slightly below the aver
age of years past.
a review of the business of the
year shows a falling off in ex-
port tonnage of about 30 per cent.
due to the much lighter shipments of wheat.
There was a slight increase in shipments
Of flour and cotton and a falling off i'm ship
mentS of live stock. In manufactured ar
ticies, in the first half of the year, the eX-
port business far exceeded that of 1892, es-
pecially in the way of carriages, stationary
engines and cabinet ware; the shipments of
grain, -four and provisions to New York and
New England points fell off sharply, about
- per cent. The shipments of cotton over
Indianapolis lines for New England and
export were about 30 per cent. in excess of
1SyZ- An examination of the comparative
statements shows that the roads, the first
five months of 1898, came much nearer car
rying the volume of business of 1892 than
in the last seven months. In the months of
August and September the Indianapolis lines
handled at this point 53.201 fewer loaded
cars than In August and September, 1892.
In west-bound tonnage a decrease of fully so
per cent. IS shown in the w class
freight, such as nails, glass. iron structural
work, and coal and coke. In the higher
class fFpightS a decrease of about IL DER
cent. Is shown, and this in the fall traffic.
Local as we'll as through business suffered
by the depression of the last eight months
of 1893. Up to May most Of the manufac-
tories located here turned out and shipped
as many goods as in 1882, but in that month
shipments began 10 fall OIL, and edch month
20 the close of the year 1893 showed further
falling off in local traffic, until, in Decem-
Der, it reached the lowest tonnage Of any
month IN the last fourteen years. At this
time building stopped in the city and all
over the State, and from this ~SOurce-hand-
ling building material-the roads derived but
little revenue. The improvements of the
streets helped two of the roads. The first
ten months of 1893 the shipments of live
stock fell considerably below those of 1892,
but in November and December the business
OF this character exceeded that of 1892 in the
same months.
1t would be difficult to single out any
road which did not suffer more or less
through the depression in business of last
year. The Vandalia and the indianapolis
& VincenneS came nearer than any other
the Peoria x Eastern and the Louisville
division of the Pennsylvs mia lines suffered
the most severely, the latter not having
carried so light q business in any year OF
fifteen years past. The Vandalia was for
tunate. 1t has brought north immense
quantities of tropical fruits into this sec
tion, has had a better livestock business
than any of its competitors, and has moved
eastward large quantities of cotton The
Big Four lines would probably have made
a better showing had not the company,
from May 1 to Nov. 1, turned it's attention
more TO carrying the worlds fair business
than to freight traffic. Tn Lake Erie &
Western, the first half of the year, held its
own but in the last half suffered in its
through business more seriously than in
Its local business, but, so far as the In
~dianapoliS division is concerned, did not
suffer TO the extent which some more pre-
tentiouS roads did. The Indianapolis, De-
catur & Western makes q bad exhibit for
the year. partly on account of failure of
crops on its line. The Cincinnati, Hamilton
d. Dayton, the first five months of the ear,
fell only a few hundred loaded ears be-
hind 1892. but the remaining months of the
year dropped behind prOportionately with
its competitors. So far as local freight
rates are concerned they were well main
tanned through the year, but in shading and
rebates through rates were not so we'll
held.
Below is given the movement OF loaded
cars received and forwarded at this pNlnt
by months for the year 1898 and the move
nent of the corresponding months or Jour
preceding years: