The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-12
ONE YEARS OPERATIONS
WHAT WAS DONE BY THE RAIL
WAYS OF THIS COUNTRY IN 1896.
Rate War in Prospect Between Ohio.
Indiana and Illinois Coal Roads
Personal and General News.

The reports of sc per cent. of the railroad
companies for the fiscal year ending June
80 are in, and while they show that the
number of miles of railroad track increases
with each year. the growth of the system
has been comparatively slow of late years.
Last year about 5000 miles of main line
We're constructed, bringing the present
mileage up to 1912 miles. While it was
considered a good year for business, the
gross earnings increased over $25, 900 and
the net earnings over $5000,O00, as shown
by the advance sheets of Poor's Manual.
More tons of freight were carried and a
greater mileage made than in the preced-
ing year. On the other hand, fewer pas
sengers were carried than in the previous
year, and passenger and miscellaneous
earnings were smaller PoorS Manual
shows that fifty-nine trunk-line systems
operate 81 per cent. of the railways of the
United States. The results of the year S
business constitute a strong argument in
favor of the wise economy of a single
management for All extensive system of
railroads, the large consolidated roads be-
ing able to carry both passengers and
freight at lower rates than can a short
individual line which has to maintain a
corps OF OlllCl0iS- l1dl II Is IdNOTdDle 10
surety holders is shown in the fact that
the lines which pay dividends. under con-
solicitations. last year paid 1.95 per cent
against 1.59 before the consultations, and
4.S9 per cent. interest on bonds. against
425 per cent. as before the consultations
and the marked decrease in freight rates
shows that the consultations have been of
benefit TO shippers in the lowering of
freight rates.
III n,sn
George Daniels, general passenger agent
of the New York Central lines, as well as
Mr. Boyd, of the Pennsylvania lines, had
an interesting journey over the New York
Central with the Chinese Viceroy. Mr.
Daniels says: He is very observing
man: We met him at Canandagua and
took him to the Falls. had extended in
teryews with him. AS we passed through
Rochester and Buffalo ] explained the va
rious features of each place. He was par
ticularly interested in Buffalo, and when 1
explained that that city was, among other
things, the greatest lumber market in the
world he astonished. He simply
thought the Falls veritable wonder. l
explained to him that the waters of the
great lakes passed over the falls and con-
tinued on to the ocean by the ST. Lawrence
river. and he remarked with great con-
fidence That is the reason why the At
Our system of canals and inland water
ways pleased him immensely. He marveled
Buffalo and being able to pass through a
water artery and reach the great city of
New York for a distance of nearly 500
miles, and he frequently remarked that
this certainly was a great country.
THE Viceroy showed the greatest inter-
est in American railroads. They were his
chief source of constant inquiry. He asked
me every conceivable question about the
New York Central-its various departments,
n INN IJn
even wanted to know what taxes it paid
the State and its yearly dividends He
asked for an explanation of the reason
why our four-track system does not ex
tend down the Hudson, and when | told
him that a. Albany our business IS divert
OF course. he asked me what salary ] was
receiving, and he was going back direct
to China ! told him in confidence.
Row Over G. A. R. Tickets.
The Eastern roads are now having their
share of trouble over the G.. A. r. tickets,
and it bids fair to be more serious condi-
ton of affairs than any of the Western
roads have been compelled to meet. The
offices of the brokers in Chicago are loaded
down with the return portions of tickets
from ST. Paul, and there is pretense
that all of them have been properly ex-
ecuted by the joint agent at st. Paul. The
roads, at least some of them, are not very
particular as TO whether the tickets have
been properly executed, and are honoring
them without asking questions when the
tickets are presented for passage. Besides
these tickets the brokers have large guam
titles of the c.. A. r. tickets that have not
been near ST. Paul, and the charge is OPEN
ly made that they have been supplied di-
rect by the agents of the roads. Charges
and counter charges are flying back and
forth, and there seems TO be a chance of
big fuss over the matter before it is finally
adjusted.
Western roads have at last agreed to
make a reduced rate for congressional con-
ventions during the present campaign.
They have repeatedly refused to make a
low rate for these conventions. but have
finally agreed that thew will make a rate
of one and one-third for the round trip
where the rate is cents per mile and one
and one-fifth fare where the rate is over 3
The Illinois Central the Wabash and the
Alton have entered into an agreement to
travelling on one ticket to points in the
South The sra rates s. that have been agreed s,ei
Nicksburg, So; New Orleans. S13.
Personal, Local and General Notes.
j. O. Van Wrinkle, general superintendent
of the Big Four, returned from Boston
yesterday.
The New York Central earned in August
So, S15 919, a decrease compared with Au-
gust 1895. of S265, s25.
The train dispateher's Office of the Little
Miami division of the Panhandle lines is TO
be removed from Columbus to Xena.
ID. r. Donough general ticket agent at
the Union Station, to-day goes to Chicago
to meet his family. who en- route home
from Colorado
A construction train is distributing Gin
ders for ballast on the Belt road. Seven
miles of the double track is to be inn
proved this fall
George b. Roberts. president of the
Pennsylvania lines, who has been so i'll for
several days as 10 connne him at home is
reported much better.
The Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas CITY
earned. the first week in August S44912 is
an increase over the corresponding week of
1895 of S63S1.72. Since July l the road has