The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-28
MAINTAINING RATES
THE T.. ST. l.. & h. c. ADHERING TO
THE TARIFF ON FREIGHTs.
Changes ON the l.. r. & w. Lines
Machinery RevoIutionizfng Con-
struction-AnnuaI Reports.

The st. Louis Republic devotes nearly a
half column to berating the Toledo. St.
Louis & Kansas City management for so
cutting east-bound rates as to carry more
Of the business than its competitors think
the road entitled to. 1t carrying q per cent.
of the east-bound business from St. Louis
last week, when, in former years, 10 per
cent. was it's maximum. r. b. f. Peirce,
receiver of the road. says the statement OF
the Republic to the effect that this bust
ness is carried at cut rates is incorrect. the
r.. St. L. e. K. c. getting better rates than
does any Of its competitors. The Republic
says the Toledo. st. Louis & Kansas City is
not bound by any agreement, but is free
lance. To this Receiver PIERCE says he has
never been asked that the road join the
Joint Traffic Association agreement, and,
although not member of that or any other
association. the road is ready to live up 10
any OF the agreements aid do all in its
power to effect a strict maintenance of
rates. Competitors OF the Toledo, st. Louis
& Kansas City, he says, seem to have over
looked the fact that the road Is not the
weak line OF a few years ago. Its track is
In good condition. its power frst-elass: and d
the road Is now able to get all the cars II
can load and Is able to move business as
economically as can any east-bound line
out of st. Louis. The disturbance COM
petitors are making because the road has
had two or three weeks good business out
OF st. Louis is instigated, he says. by jeal-
ousy. but he can prove the assertion, If
necessary, that the road CT which he Is re-
ce.ver Is getting better rates on every pound
Of freight ii hauls east than either of its
competitors.
Western Roads I'm Good Condition.
The London Statst contains a lengthy ar
ticle, written by an expert, who represented
Eastern and foreign capitalists. and who In
a quiet manner has been inspecting many
of the Western roads TO learn the exact
condition of things. He writes that he
found the trunk lines in the Central Traffic
Association territory In the West and
Northwest in better shape than at any
time in years, Notwithstanding the heavy
traffic many Of the roads Of late have been
moving. He says the roadbeds are much
nearer the standard Of Eastern trunk lines
than ever before. The motive power Is In
good condition. but on a number OF roads
more power Is needed. The passenger
equipments are in as good condition as
have ever seen them. To the casual OBJ
server the freight cars are not in good or
der Their appearance is certainly not
pleasing. but took special pains, at good
many points, not only to make inquiries OF
managing men about them. but to person
ally inspect the running gear, or trucks,
under the cars. which are the essential and
most expensive portion OF the car, and
found them, in every case where inspected
and IL was the general report and fair
supposition as to the balance, that they
were I'm perfect order for doing business
without any unusual expenditure, or. indeed
any expediture beyond the ordinary repairs
which come every season. The carpenter
work and the paint on some of the cars
are what probably mislead a good many
people, these having been neglected for a
considerable time, but this would be very
small element in putting the cars into good
condition, and they are, even as they stand
in shape to do business economically. From
this personal observation, and from con-
ferences with a good many employees from
whom / have always obtained correct in
formationJ, as we'll as managing men, my
conclusion is that the roads have not got
TO expend in the future unusually large
amounts OF money from their increased
earnings to put them in good condition.
Annual Reports.