The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-05
WANTS A COAL ROAD
.sIONON NEGOTIATING FOR THE IN
DIANA q ILLINOIS SOUTHERN.
VI. Z. Ingalls, on the Rate
Situation-The New Rockport
Line Unfortunate.

that the Thomas syndicate, which owns the
Louisville, New Albany & Chicago, is fgur-
ing 10 secure control of the Indiana & ILL
nOis Southern. with which the Monon con-
meets at Swift City. Twice recently have
Vice President McDoel and Chief Engineer
Hall, OF the L., n. "A. & c., been over the
road from E~fingham to Swift City, going
over 1t once last week. Should the Monon
secure control of this road it would enable
1t TO reach the Linton and Digger coal
fields. tapping some of the best coal veins
of Illinois. The Indiana & Illinois Southern
is ninety-one miles in length, extending
from Switz City to bingham. The road is
in wrctched physical condition and will
need extensive repairs. The Monon can use
the light rails it is taking UP on the In
dianapolis division, replacing them with a
4 heavier rail in relaying the track of the In
diana & Illinois Southern, and is probably
i the best prepared to take control of the
property OF any line eonnecting with it, 1t
are willing TO turn II over on very reason
able terms. and that within a short time
the deal will probably be effected.
Fortunate in Its Selections.
In passenger circles the Louisville, New
Albany & Chicago is considered one o.
the hardest roads ON which to give satisfac-
tory service in this territory. The general
passenger agent of the line must constant
~ be on the alert. as he has the Big -Four,
the Pennsylvania lines and the Chicago &
Eastern to compete with The Monon has
always been fortunate in securing men for
its general passenger agents who would
fight for every inch Of ground
which they thought the road was
entitled to and the percentage of
passengers it has carried proves this
assertion. VIM. S. Baldwin, E. o. McCor-
mick and James Barker, former general
passenger agents, were of this type, and
frank Reed. the present general passenger
agent, is fully as aggressive as the former
general passenger agents and Is highly
road. One or the Chicago papers, in speak
ing Of Mr.. Reeds ability, says: Frank j.
Resd; general PASSENGER agent OF the
how il is that he is such a hustler. From
newspaper work. he graduated to be city
ticket agent of the company he still serves
and from that position he was promoted to
the one he now holds. Frank has stopped
publishing his earnings. They showed such
steady increases all through the period Of
depression that his competitors were ready
20 swear that he had secret deals with every
scalper in the country and they made such
a fuss about his ears that for peace and
quiet's sake he had to stop telling people
how much he was making for the road. 1t
was able to prove any of the assertions
made concerning secret deals. Mr.. Reed is
perhaps the only general passenger agent
" AOa AALAlIS LA1 ~ VI "'A
able to show a constant increase in earn
9ngs, even when comparisons were made
with the heaviest traffic of the worlds fair
year. He has reason to thank his stars for
The training he received as q newspaper
man"
Question for Railway Employees.
The Journal recently printed some re-
marks by v. T. Malott. who has given a
good deal of attention to the railroad prob
lem, in which he took the ground that none
were more interested in the question of
maintenance Of rates than the employe, as
low rates meant low wages and a general
curtailment Of expenses. For the last
twenty years the margin of profit on trans
portation has steadily declined without APP
parently a single check during the time.
and the extent of the decline. If meas
ured in actual dollars. would be almost in
conceivably large. He then remarked that 81
per cent. Of the total operating expenses
of a road, as shown by actual figures re-
lating to the best managed roads of the
country, goes in wages TO the employees,
and would the railway employee stop to
consider the Importance of the maintenance
of reasonable rates he would be alarmed
over the tendency TO reduce rates for
carrying freightS or passengers below a
basis which left some profit to the road.
Below are given statistics published by an
Eastern financial paper, which show the
proportion of the operating expenses borne
by labor in the case OF ten leading roads
OF the country. fully demonstrating the
correctness Of the position taken by the
business man and ex-railway official above
quoted:
Per Cent.