The Indianapolis journal., 1896-02-08
MANAGERS WILL ACT
RAILWAY PRESIDENTS ARE ALIVE
TO THE PRESENT SITUATION.
Preparing to Defeat Action of Ship
pers-The Future OF the Indiana,
Decatur & Western.

With freight men and shippers the ques-
tion most discussed the last few days is
whether the trunk lines will resist the at
tacks OF shippers who are intent on break
ing up, IL possible. the Joint Traffic Asso-
ciation. or whether they will meet the cut
rates OF roads outside OF control of the
association Relief has been looked for by
some OF the shippers from the tight grasp
the roads seem TO have by one of the diff
ferential lines. in feet, IL was stated on
Tuesday that one OF these lines had made
concessions. but investigation proved it
untrue. AS compared with New York
Philadelphia has a differential of cents on
grain In its favor. Baltimore cents and
Newport News cents. but should either
line manipulate rate the board of man
ayers of the Joint Traffic Association has
power 60 withdraw that differential. In
commenting on the present situation an
official OF an important trunk line said:
The railroad presidents were fully alive
to the situation which has developed be-
fore the trunk line agreement was signed
They. expected some such action as is
now being taken by the shippers, and made
their preparations TO defeat IT. This action
by the shippers Is one OF the very best
arguments they could furnish us in favor
OF a pooling law. Furthermore. the presi-
dents expect a still more forcible demon
straticn on the part of the shippers and
packers in the near future. They expect
them to throw all their business over some
weak line, such as the Erie. for instance
in an endeavor TO create the impression
that the line selected is cutting rates.
can say now that any such demonstration
Will be futile. such discrimination, under
the new agreement, can easily be equtably
adjusted among the railroads so that none
will suffer. The cut rates do not increase
the tonnage They simply give to certain
roads large amount OF tonnage which it
cases at a direct ioEs. And the situation
had become 20 unsatisfactory that stock
holds : wanted a change. The new traffic
PROMISE by the operating officials of the
various roads. Ii was the result of the
capital interested in these roads becoming
dissatisfied and ordering the operating Off
GERS to agree to a plan OF action. That
plan Is row in operation. and operating
officers themselves would not dare to make
secret cuts"
Purchased ns an Investment.
A gentleman who keeps well informed as
to railroad deals stated yesterday that the
Woodford syndicate purchased the Indiana,
Decatur 4 Western only as an investment,
being satisfied IL would. I'm the near future.
become a more valuable property. This
gentleman claims to have seen letter in
which one OF the three capitalists Of the
syndicate which purchased the road, name
ly. Nessrz. woodford. Shoemaker and Tay-
vestment. expecting that Indirectly il would
be OF benefit to the Cincinnati, Hamilton &
Dayton. In which road they are direc-
tors The gentleman further stated that he
knew that already officials Of a Western
road have been negotiating to the terms
on which they could get the road. proposing
TO build link which would connect their
road with the Indiana, Decatur K Western
But few roads have been subjected TO as
many r1mored changes as has this. and IL
Il ever becomes settled as to what the road
was built for and into whose hands IL Will
finally drop and be operated TO advantage
IL Will be q relief not only TO the employees
on the line. but also TO the business public
The tactics the Woodford syndicate has
been practtcing on the Queen & Crescent
give color 70 the foregoing statement. every
day king IL more apparent that the
Wo01<o<o syndicate secured it's hold OF
certain Dtocks and securities TO place Il In
poa t1on 20 give the Cincinnati. Hamilton
= q ycon some advantage In It's connec-
<1on with The Queen < Crescent. and still