The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-06
MR.. INGALLS, PLEASED
HE THINKS THE RAILWAYS WILL
SOON ENJOY PROSPERITY.
f. f. Cost Appointed General Freight
Presidents and Managers.

PRESIDENTS anu managers.
NJ L. Ingalls,, president OF the Big Four
and the Chesapeake & Ohio, yesterday ex-
pressed himself as hlghiy pleased with the
railroad situation at the present time. He
says that in his career of twenty-five years
as railway official he has never seen the
conditions, as a whole, so favorable to rail-
road interests, and that prosperity with the
railroads means prosperity over the coun-
try generally. There was a healthy volume
Of business moving. which is carried at low
rates. but they are better now than at any
time in the last five years. owing to the
fact that they are now maintained The
physical condition Of railroad properties is,
he thinks, at a much higher standard than
at any previous time, and never were the
roads, so far as power is concerned, in bet
1906 miles OF main track in as good condi-
ton as that of the Big Four. and the rail-
ways of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois are,
taken as whole, up TO high standard,
comparing favorably with the roads in 9TH
er States. A better class Of men is en-
ployed on the railways than in any former
period, and at no time have they been more
cOntented. They are busy and making good
wages, and there has never been time in
the history OF the country when railroad
man could buy so much with dollar as
now, not only in the way of food, but in
coming s1ii rents , and many others of the ne
he said, would 60 into effect and IL would
not only help the raiIroads, but the ship
pers, because 1t would lead TO a perfect
maintenance OF rates and prevent discrimi-
nation in favor OF any shipper 1t would
throw some men out of positions but, with
the training q majority OF them have. they
can ill positions In other lines of business
which Will make them desirable employees.
The presidents and general managers OF
the Central Traffic Association lines met in
Chicago yesterday, and considered several
important matters, the chief OF which was
the relation which the Central Traffic Asso-
citation is hereafter to bear toward the new
association recently formed in the East, and
which il to cover the territory now covered
by the Central Traffic and Trunk Line as
sociations. There was a wide diversity Of
opinion on the matter, several being in ia
vor of letting the traffic association pass
out of existence, while others maintained
that 1t should be continued for the purpose
of looking after local business in the terri
tory over which 1t has lately had jurisdic-
ton. The matter was finally referred to
committees, which are TO report as early
as possible. II was also decided that all
freight rates must be maintained in the
association territory after next Monday. All
cut rates after that day.
A meeting OF the executive committee of
Of o. ,ne re1rganiled Mesdern PASSENGER ana
Chicago yesterday for the purpose of ap-
portioning the expenses between the two
ASSOCIATIONS and settling various matters of
detail in connection with the financial de-
partments. The increase of salary for
Chairman Caldwell, which was decided on
some time ago, was granted unanimously.
A meeting of the advisory committee OF
the em:grant clearing house was held in
fair being the. only thing considered. 1t
was decided that the committee of the
Western roads which is to lay the clear
cifc shall leave for New York on next Sun
day. The proposition TO be submitted to
the Southern Pacific has not, however, been
finally drawn up and the lines will meet
again to-day TO finish 1T.
Must Remain Five Years.
Much discussion has resulted over an al
legged defect in the presidents agreement
as to the time the railroad companies en-
tering the agreement are binding their re-
spective roads to continue as members. "a
false impression" said one of the presi-
dents, sis prevalent regarding the mat
ter, to the effect that we are to depend for
our existence on the mere individual pleas
ure OF each road. The last article OF the
agreement distinctly specifies that we shall
after that period any company may with
draw il Ii SO desires. OF course, IL would
be poor policy on our part TO make a con-
tract of such magnitude without distinctly
providing that IL shall be maintained for
the given period of time. Every interested
president understands full we'll the clause
relating 10 the organization's existence,
and Il Is waste of time to imagine that
any company will refuse to give the meas
ure a fair trial. We consider that five years
is fair period of testing the agreement.
u,I off thQf In ofc for. |, ,
period IL will be renewed, and there will
have been no Withdrawals. l fully appre-
ciate that Article is of the agreement pro-
vides for a retirement OF members, but
they will forfeit their deposits. unless
unanimous consent is given by other mem
bers. As this agreement was formulated to
endure for the allotted time. and as the
| interested lines are unanimously in favor OF
| bestowing upon IL fair trial. / think you
VIII find that Withdrawals Will not occur,
and that all speculation to that end is
| consequently idle
The interchangeable Mileage.
The interchange of mileage has become
so general and the travel on that class OF
tickets so heavy that there is a strong
undercurrent in favor OF making two cents
a mile the rate on all classes of tickets,
and the agitation among business men has
become so pronounced that some
OF the shrewder OF the general
passenger agents see that it was a
| great mistake in carrying interchange
of mileage so far. They admit the wisdom
OF the Lake Erie & Western in avoiding ali
such arrangements, this being about the
only line which has not fallen into what
some passenger men call a two-cent-a-mile
| snare. On more than one OF the Indian
| apoiis roads 20 per cent. OF the travel is
carried mileage books, in some cases
by persons who have a right to this class
! of transporta ton, and in many others
| where the traveller uses a borrowed mile
| age book or on one secured from a scalper
| it being well understood that the ticket
| scalper of the present day exists largely on
| handling mileage books The greatest cause
| for alarm OF the more far-seeing general
passe niger agents is that its use is becom-
| ing so general that the legislative bodies
| OF the different States will be very likely
| TO take the matter up. and the outcome viii
| be that two cents a mile win be the legal
| fare in Indiana Ohio and Illinois. as X Is in
| these States where the use OF the mileage
| book is so largely predominant The mile.
| age books OF some OF the roads in this ter
| ritory are sood over twenty-five thirty
1 roads.