The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-10
TIMELY SUGGESTION
A BOARD OF ARBITRATORS TO SET
TIE RATE WARS PROPOSED.
The Political Campaign Causes u
Great Demand for Coaches to Han
die the Passenger Business.

die the Passenger Business.
A number of freight officials, a day
two ago, were discussing the rate situation
when one of their number who is anxious
to keep his job. feeling that the way mat
tiers were now drifting meant further re-
trenchment, said that with each year rate
wars seem to be on the increase. and to-
day in no section of the country, except
N that controlled by the Joint Traffic Asso-
citation, is there exemption from rate wars,
all of which seem to be based on petty jeal-
ousies between the traffic managers of the
respective lines. In the end the security
holders will bear the brunt of the battle,
and the question is asked by a large
curity holder if it would not be d good idea
to establish a national board of arbitration,
With power 20 curb the carrying cut of the
programmes of these jealous traffic man
ayers, who cause not only general Gemoral-
ization of rates in their own territories,
but which spreads to roads not directly in
terested. This board of arbitration would be
of great benefit to the security holders.
The freight-rate war now being carried on
by the Southern States Freight Association
involves twenty-five railroad and steamship
other roads. and this fight is made to meet
the cut of the Seaboard Airline. 1t is
plain that had there been a national board
of arbitrators they would soon have settled
the matter or shown who of the traffic
managers was in fault for It's continuance.
The directors then could have acted on a
just basis. In the Northwest the move
ment of grain and live stock has been the
heaviest in the history of the roads, but
rates have been cut SO unprecedentedly
that there has been no profit to the roads
in carrying it. Now it is announced that
the tranScontinental lines are the eve
Of another rate war, just as the season ar
riVeS when they can get business and carry
it at fair profit could they maintain even
the present low rates. AT present all ten
denotes, except in the Joint Traffic ASSocia-
tiCn territory, are to a further reduction i'll
both passenger and freight rates, which
means q further carrying out of the re-
trenchment policy and the cutting down of
the value of railway securities The enor-
nous losses which railroad rate wars en-
tail upon the participants therein are Well
illustrated in the case of the Southern Pa
cific. In 1872 the rate per ton per mile
was 1855 cents, in 1882 it was 2.06 cents. in
1886 Sc cents, in 1895 /. 26 cents. Mea nwhile
the ton mile per mile of road has increased
from 164, 522 to 306, 95S, while the net earnings
Per mile have shrunk quite uniformly from
1874 in 1872 to $2,29l in 1885.
Annual Meetings and Reports.
At the annual meeting of the stockhold-
ers of the Wabash held at the general
headquarters in ST. Louis yesterday, all the
directors were reelected for the ensuing
year.
The reports of President Ashley and
Vice President and General Manager Ram
say were read The report of the former
has already been made public. That of
General Manager Ramsay goes into details
- oofQ IL,
revenue from traffic, there is an increase
of $321,57 in operating expenses. and an in
crease of $o25 l2S in net earnings from the
traffic. The entire increase in expenses has
been due to the improvement of the prop
critics, and the cost of moving and handling
traffic has been less than for 1885, although
there was an increase in tons carried one
mile of III, 1O9, 155 tons, and the passengers
carried one mile 19494,150 The cost of
train service, including train men, engi-
neers, hremen, fuel and supplies for loco
motives, etc, with an increase of III, 12C
miles Q.53 per cent? in train mileage,
shows a decrease of SOC. 1852.
AT the annual meeting of the Toledo
Peoria & Western at Peoria yesterday,
John e. Davidson, of Pittsburg. and W. w.
directors. The annual report shows that
the gross earnings were 81, 269 and the
net earnings $780, and that there has
been an Increase of $57031 in the former
and OF $49, 695 in the latter
The Firemen's brotherhood.
The grand officers of the Brotherhood OF
Locomotive Ffremen will leave Peoria to-
day for Galveston to attend the biennial
convention of the order. 1t is stated that
Grand Secretary and Treasurer Arnold has
prepared interesting report giving the
history of the order and its present condi-
ton as to membership and finances. The
financial report will show that there was
on July l. the beginning of the fiscal year
of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen
paid out of the general fund, which includes
the printing of the magazine and lodge
supplies among the principal factors in this
fund. as well the salaries, the sum of
Sal 900. From its beneficiary fund the
ter amount was paid to the widows and
heirs of 295 of its members and to AS Of its
members who were declared totally and
permanently disabled from labor Since
Aug. 10, 1894, there have been forty-nine new
lodges organized. There are now upward
of $4,000 members in the organization Its
members are permitted to carry insurance
in the amounts of $500, 81 900 or 81 1900 but
no member may carry more than the last
named amount. The records show that
there are 20,076 carrying 81 500 certificates
S44 carrying $1,000 certificates and .047 car
| ton promises to be one of the most impor-
tant and at the same time enthusiastic
conventions that the organization has ever
held.
Passenger Equipment in Demand.
AS the political campaign wakes warmer
There Is dIl increasing demand Ter pdSSen-
ger cars to carry the politicians from one
roint TO another. Just now the Ohio roads
are pressed for equipment in that direction
end to accommodate the business requires 4
good deal of transfer of cars. At one coun-
ty seat half dozen will be wanted at an
other three OF four, nd in some c1ses sew
eral trains, as with the Pennsylvania and
the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne 81 Chicago re-
Gently, and passenger men say they have
II, Yer known campaign when the CCmaU.C
fer coaches was so varied ar numerous as
this year. Where the more prominent po
| litical speakers appear larger crowds are
gathered than ever before known, and the
reads have made such rates that many TAKE
| advantage of them. 1t is estimated thai
| the Ohio. Indiana and Illinois roads have
| already carried 600 persons who han
| teen to some one of the numerous gather
| ingS in the States named Next to the
| Ohio, Indiana and Illinois roads those o.
| New York have profited largely through
| the political campaign business, and Penn
! syivania is not far behind. Next month
| passenger men express the opinion thi:
| class of travel will be even heavier than fol
| the last twenty days. State and county
| fairs are helping to swell the passenger
| business.
No More Commissions.
The roads of the Western Passenger As
/ sociation have agreed TO Withdraw all their