The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-03
THE RAILWAYS In 1895
Both Local and Through business
Traffic Exceeds 1894 In Volume.

The Official train records of the fifteen
roads centering at indianapolis show that
in the year ending Dec. 81, 1896, there were
received and forwarded at this city a total
Of 1,2i7, 10 cars. s72,7S3 being loaded. an in
crease in loaded car movement of 81, COO over
the year 1894. Only in the years 1891 and
1893 was the loaded car movement as heavy
as in 1886. In the first six months of 1895,
451OC6 loaded cars were handled at this
point; in the last half OF the year, 515,7H
loaded cars, consequently had the business
OF the first half OF 1895 been as heavy as
from July to Dec 81. the loaded car move
ment would have far exceeded any former
year.
In looking over the years statement It
will be seen that in November and December
the loaded car movement was the heaviest,
and in February the lightest of any month
Further, 1t will be seen that only in Au-
gust, September and October. 1892, was the
loaded car movement as heavy in Indianap-
oils as in November and December, 1895.
In the former period the grain movement
of indianapolis was at its zenith. A re-
view OF the business of 1895 shows an in
creased movement in export freights in the
lines of flour, cerealine products and provi-
sions, most Of the increase being in the last
six months of the year. The shipments of
live stock and dressed meats eastward ex-
ceeded those of any former year, as shown
by the records of the Big Four Decline d.
vision) and the Panhandle. The through
shipments of cotton were not as heavy as
in 1894. The shipments of produce from In
dianapolis were larger than in 1894. West
bound tonnage exceeded that OF 1894 con-
siderably, especially in the lower class
III ship
ments of iron structural work, ilway sup
plies, hard coal and coke were 60 per cent.
heavier in the last six months of 1895 than
the corresponding period of 1894 The ship
ments of heavy groceries were quite heavy,
and in the higher class freights the ton
mage compared favorably with any former
year. denoting more prosperity among man
ufacturers and wholesale houses than was
the case in 1894. Local business the entire
year was highly satisfactory, and in fact
the local business had more to do with the
increased loaded car movement of the year
than did through business. The large
amount of building required stone and iron
structural work, and the street improve
ments called for large quantities of stone,
ment and the increased coal traffic OF the
fall months largely increased the volume
Of local business To say that the roads
locally have experienced one OF their best
years is no exaggeration.
The Big Four proper handled at this point
in the year 1893 the largest number OF
loaded cars OF any year In its history, and
the Panhandle indianapolis division) did
more locally than in any year in its his
tory. The Vandalia kept UP well with its
usual average, handling an average of 1900
cars per week through the YEAR,. The Gin
cinnati, Hamilton & Dayton worked at a
disadvantage all the year, feeling more Sc
pot and the obstruction to reaching its own
property which the viaduct enforces. yet
shows an increase in business. The Monon
did the best business of it's history, so far
as it's Indianapolis division is concerned.
Through it's connection with the Cincinnati.
Hamilton & Dayton and its local business,
it handled at this city an average of 522
loaded cars per week. The Indiana, Deca-
tur & Western, the first eight months OF the
year. made an unfavorable exhibit, but in
the fail months did the largest business in
its history. The Peoria & Eastern did
big business In the months of July, August,
months Of the year barely held its own
Still, in the aggregate, " was good year
for the p. & E. The Lake Erie West
when it is considered that it has no con-
nection TO turn over business to 1t, but
must depend entirely on local business at
Indianapolis an average OF fifty cars per
day. It's inbound business was not as
heavy as in 1894. The Panhandle qndianap-
oils divsion) and the Indianapolis & Vim
cennes, OF the Pennsylvania lines, had one
OF their best years, but with the Louisville
and Chicago divisions the exhibit was not
so favorable as in some other years. There
was hardly a week that the Indianapolis &
Vincennes did not handle more loaded cars
at this point than did the Louisville or the
Chicago divisions, when usually the reverse
is the case. The coal traffic helped the L.
a. V. out largely, and the Panhandle On
dianapols divison) handled more grain, live
stock. perishable freights. cotton and trans
continental freights than in any year OF
the divisions history.
All the roads. when conditions are con-
sidered, have done a business which the
freight representatives have reason to be
proud of. There is one feature of the bust
ness of 1896 which is worthy of mention.
Local freight rates have been better MAIN
tanned than in any year of the last fifteen
a statement which is not exaggerated.
Below is given the loaded-car movement
at Indianapolis, by months, for the year
1895 and the movement for the correspond
ing months of four preceding years: