The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-24
THE MILEAGE BOOKS
THEIR ABUSE LEADS TO A SERIOUS
DECENTRALIZATION IN RATES.
The Consolidation of the New Eng
land Roads VIII BE of Advan-
tage to Western Shippers.

Now that the passenger department of
the Chicago and Ohio River Traffic Associa-
ton has been practically allied with the
passenger department OF the Central Traf-
fc Association. it would seem unnecessary
to test the market. yet one Of the number
said yesterday 1t would be we'll for Com
missioner Tucker to keep close watch, so
many ways are there of evading agree
ments and provisions and to manipulate the
mileage book. which leads to so much of
the decentralization. Yesterday two cases
were brought TO the attention of a Journal
reporter by persons who were benefited. In
one case the person went to a broker in
Cincinnati, asked the price at which he
could furnish ticket to Indianapolis. and
was told the rate would be $2.75. The offer
was accepted. The scalper took a mileage
book. stepped into scalping office near by
and secured a ticket, the ticket agent of
the road tearing out the proper mileage
between Cincinnati and Indianapolis. The
scalper paid $40 for the ticket and sold 1t
for $2.75. making So cents, and the road lost
s1.1O on its tariff rate. Another case was
that OF a person wishing to go to Chicago.
The same tactics were used, except that the
scalper made more money and the road lost
more. In each case the purchaser OF the
ticket was benefited in about the same ratio
the scalper. This is but one of a
half dozen methods of misusing mileage
books. Under the late practice there is not
an Indianapolis line. it is stated, where any
attention Is paid to the requirement that
the holder of a mileage book shall be the
real purchaser. Anybody can ride on
mileage book, as matters have been going
of late. and the question is will the new
agreement better things any? A conductor
on one OF the strong lines, in running fifty
nine miles. this week. took up over five
thousand miles OF mileage. and he said he
did not believe that 1900 of ii was in the
hands OF people entitled TO travel on il. A
gentleman who stood by and heard this con-
versation. said he last week came over the
Chesapeake & Ohio, and the conductor in
charge of the train between Clifton Forge
and Cincinnati took up over 1900 miles OF
mileage. and remarked to this passenger
that he now took up more mileage of this
class than the regular tickets collected
would cover. In further conversation the
conductor said: 1T is these mileage books
On this trip our road loses $40 IL the pas
sengerS had been carried at tariff instead
or on mileage. l think the use OF mileage
books has been so abused that IL would be
as we'll to make two-cent-a-mile rate
and do away with mileage, as i'm many cases
the scalper has made his percentage in one
way or another on the mileage sold at his
Office"
District and travelling passenger agents
are hnding that Ii is running their business
III traveller wants to go TO point on the
Chicago & Rock Island. the Chicago, Mil
waukee & st. Paul or any other Western
lines. he can procure mileage in the Central
Trarnc territory at almost any point and
go to Chicago or ST Louis, cutting directly
at the revenue of the roads and at TIE same
time making 1t almost impossible for the
travelling passenger agent or district pas
senger agent to show by reports that he
Is doing any good for the road he repre-
sents A veteran passenger man said IL
would be better to make cents mile the
rate. or else take steps to stop the abuse
OF the mileage books. "A real test of the
market" said passenger official. ''by Com
missioner Tucker. of the Chicago and Ohio
River Traffic Association, or by Commits
sioner Donald of the passenger department
of the Central Traffic Association. would
reveai some outrageous abuses of mileage"
Uniacation of New England Roads.
1t is becoming very apparent that Boston
will soon be made the greatest export ship
ping point in this country through the ag-
gressiveness of the wealthy and powerful
New York. New Haven & Hartford Rail-
road Company. The reason this company.
few months ago, purchased 800 acres of
ground in what is known as the Dorchester
Bay district, is already evident, 1t giving
the New York, New Haven &c Hartford a
water front of nearly four miles. The
United States Investor Of Jan. IS says:
For some time past 1t has been quietly re-
ported in Boston financial circles that the
New York, New Haven & Hartford rail-
road was buying Boston & Albany stock.
This week we have encountered the state
that the New York, New Haven & Hartford
had offered President Bliss, OF the Boston
q Albany, $3.50 share for his stock land
presumably enough more to carry the con-
troll of the road, but the latter demanded
500. If matters have gone as far as this.
it is safe to say that the union of the two
roads Is not far distant In fact. that is
the general opinion in the highest and best
informed financial circles. However disa-
greeanie the reflection may be to some per-
sons, the fact can no longer be concealed
that the time is rapidly approaching when.
in all probability. a unification of the rail-
road system of New England will be an
accomplished fact. OF course, no one needs
to be told that the New YORK. New Haven
az Hartford management's aim is to obtain
ally is to throw as much Western and
Southern traffic over Its lines as possible
New York, OF course, desires to monopolize
such traffic. But when we come to the fact
that the terminal possibilities of Boston are
said to be vastly superior to those Of New
York (there being, among other things, no
necessity necessity Tor iishterang IN Boston, whereas
York;. and when II is recalled that the own
ers or the great Vanderbilt system are the
largest owners Of the New Haven road. and
are very influential in the management of
the Boston & Albany, is there not room for
the belief that the way is open for great
increase in through business to Boston?''
Personal. Local and General Notes.
d. I. Roberts, general passenger agent OF
the Erie lines. Is on a Western trip.
The Panhandle is cutting down expenses
by laying on temporarily one man on each
section.
Steps are being taken to pool all the
atrical and party business over lines from
Pittsburg.
w. s. Kinnear has been appointed prn-
cipal assistant to the chief engineer of the
Michigan Central.
The Big Four last evening ran a spe-
cial OF six coaches to Lebanon carrying
visiting knights or Pythias from Indian
apolis.
1t IL stated that the Southern Railway
Company Is taking steps TO get its line into
Washington. making that city its northern
terminal.
1t is announced that the penalty for fall
ure TO deposit Union Pacific securities will
not be enforced by the reorganization COM
mittee until Jan. %. 1886.
N. X Elliott. .ex-general superintendent
of the Vandalia lines. was in the city yes
terday. He is enjoying a much-needed rest,
after years OF hard service.