The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-26
FREIGHT RATES FIRM
BAsELEsS REPORTS THAT EAST
BOUND RATES ARE BEING CUT.
Low Rates Cause ~UnfavornbIe Earn
ing Exhibits-The Number of Agen-
cies to He Restricted.

The last few days rumors have been in
circulation that east-bound freight rates
out of Peoria and St. Louis were being
cut. To ascertain the truthfulness of the
report two or three freight officials. includ-
ing Ford Wood. general freight agent of
the Peoria e. Eastern. were asked what
grounds there were for such rumors, and
in each case they said not the least founda-
ton. There is little or no business going
East from the points named. the business
coming largely from junction or local
points on the Peoria & Eastern and the st.
Louis division OF the Big Four; the runk
lines would not share in the least In any
deviation from rates, and after their per-
centage and the lighterage is paid but lit
tie would be left for a Western line were
it to cut rates as alleged Careful inquiry
demonstrated that some Of the shippers
have been using the differential rate of the
kanawha Dispatch-that Of the Cumber-
land Gap Dispatch being also onered-by
lines which are not allowed a diferential.
but the untruthfulness of such assertion
was soon made plain when the shipper who
was alleging that rates were cut by the
Central States Dispatch ana the Erie lines
was pinned down TO show his authority.
The fact is that business with merchants
literally the differential lines for shipments
both west and east-bound. as time is not
as important a matter as when business Is
good. No one will dispute that the differ
entail lines have for a few weeks past been
carrying in both directions more than their
share OF business. simply for the reason
that the differential enabled them TO make
a lower rate.
n Plan to Reduce Agencies.
1t is stated on excellent authority that
early in September the board of managers
nf tho Toinf Tro &c A cc1o;at fop vril "a Ea nm
the question OF restricting the number of
trunk lines and Central Traffic Association
territory ticket agencies through a con-
solidation of and the appointment of joint
agencies wherever practicable. This meas
ure of economy is in keeping with the OBJ
jects of the Joint Traffic Association.
namely. a saving of expense for the COM
panies. and it is expected that the general
passenger agents will enter heartily into
the plan to bring about such results. A
New York exchange says: The tax i'm
very hard one TO discharge. and 1T will re-
quire much time. thought and deliberation
on their part to effect the necessary
changes. 1t is proposed that the work of
In this city, and later on ex-
tend it to all territory. where
ever and whenever desirable. The
claim is officially made that there is much
useless expense incurred by the trunk lines.
for instance. by having a number of ticket
offices in this city. This is especially true
of the Pennsylvania and New York Central.
each one of which has over a half dozen
Offices all over town. The nine trunk lines
have about fifty offices in New York city"
An Interesting Compilation.
The current issue of the Railroad Gazette
contains an interesting condensation Of
facts showing that in the decline in prices
the last twenty years the railroads have
borne a larger share of the reduction than
the farmers or any other business. The
fall In railway rates from 1873 TO 1894 was
56.7 per cent If the freight of 1894 had
been carried at the rates of 1873 the rail-
roads would. have earned s9O6. coo. 900 more
than they did. The average rate per ton
per mile On the New York Central has
fallen in twenty-five years 90 per cent.
and on the Lake Shore So per cent. This
fall in lake and rail rates on wheat from
Chicago to New York since 1873 has been
"A per cent, and by all-rail 63 pei cent.
The average price of wheat at the New
York Produce Exchange in 1873 was s1.55;
I'm 1895. IS cents a fall of So per cent,
against a fall in freight charges from Chi
cago averaging about 6S per cent L n ran
rate on corn cha has fallen from M 49, nr,c 10 b bne
fallen "a per cent. The rate on provisions
from Chicago to New York has fallen 80
peer cent cent. and uns Of ari porS 0f ~ peer per H cent iai'en 90
D~rOvers' Tickets Causing
The Western roads are having much
trouble because of a large number of
drovers' tickets which have found their
way into the hands of the brokers and
which are demoralizing rates. The evil
has grown SO great that the chairman of
the Western Passenger Association has
been authorized 10 make a thorough test
of the market and buy up all the drovers'
tickets he can find He will turn these
tickets over to the roads in the next gen.
eral meeting and the freight departments
of the different roads whose tickets are
found on the market Will be invited TO re-
deem them with the penalty for violation
of the association agreement attached.
Fighting for G. a. II. business.
The Western roads are falling out over
the Grand Army business to st. Paul. II
was expected that the rate of 1 cent per
mile which was made for the encampment
was sufficiently low TO prevent any rata
| cutting, but the people who held that
opinion are being badly fooled. There is
| not much cutting of the rate proper. but
| many OF the roads are carrying depart
ment commanders and their STATS for
nothing and issuing free transportation in
| other cases. The business has turned out
much smaller than was expected and there
is a lively light for the lions share of it.
Growing More Demoralized.
The generalization in freight rates In
the West is growing worse. The South