The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-15

A strong effort is being made by the lines
of the Western Passenger Association to
have a general meeting of all the lines in
the West called at an early date for con-
sideration of the .rate situation. If the eff
fort falls through it is likely that Western
rates will soon be in a worse state of de-
moraliZation than they have been for a
long time. The situation at the present
time is very bad, and is growing worse. A
meeting of the Chicago-St. Paul lines was
called at Chicago yesterday to consider the
rate situation between the two cities, but
in a short time the meeting drifted away
from the original cause of the gathering
and was discussing the general situation.
The discussion was carried on in very
animated manner, and considerable hard
feeling was shown. 1t was at first charged
that there are tickets of the Great Western
in the hands of the brokers which are de-
moralizing the tariff, but this was indig-
nantly denied by the Great Western, which
said that there were no more tickets of it's
issue in the hands OF brokers than there
were of any one of the other roads. No
settlement could be reached on the Chi
cago-St. Paul situation and the meeting
drifted over to the question of equalizng
the Omaha rates to Chicago with the 81
rate from Kansas City, which all the roads
made yesterday. Some of the roads made
strong fight against the proposed action,
saying that if the rates were reduced from
Omaha TO Chicago it would mean that local
rates all through the State of Iowa would
come down, and there would be no telling
whore the trouble would end. The meeting
broke up without any decision being
reached and without any action being
taken, but 1t Is practically certain that the
Omaha rates will in the near future be
duced to 81 to equal the rate from Kansas
City, and If this is done the rates will be
I.~1 do IlAC Mftfrn
City, Leavenworth and st. Joseph, and,
very likely, other points. One of the most
conservative passenger agents OF the West
ern roads said after the meeting that he
considered the reduction to be a certainty
unless the general meeting of the Western
roads could be called in the meantime and
steps are taken to prevent the demoraliza-
tion The chances are, however, that the
rates will tumble before the meeting can
be called.
The Burlington further complicated the
passenger situation yesterday by the an
nouncement that it would pay IS commits
sion for that portion of the California bust.
ness between Chicago and the Missouri
river. 1t also announced commission
rate of So on st. Paul business All the
other roads will, OF course, meet these
rates. and settlement of the situation is
put still further below the horizon. The
action of the Burlington grows out OF the
action of the Milwaukee & ST. Paul in
Offering a commission of S. for the sale of
the first ticket over its new California
route.
Fast Time by "a New Locomotive.
A new Western record in fast time was
made ON the Missouri Pacific road yester-
day, when new engine just from the
roads own shops made the remarkable
speed of sixty-eight miles an hour between
Kansas City and Sedalia. The speed was
only kept up for short while, but it
showed what the new locomotive could do.
Considering grades and curves. the per-
formance was even more wonderful. 1t
was the trial trip of the locomotive, which
was built in the Missouri Pacific shops at
St Louis after the pattern of the celebrated
Empire Express engine, No. 1893, OF the
New York Central road, which broke the
worlds long-distance record of speed. II is
souri, Pacific road. 1t weighs sixty-three
and a half tons and has four siXty-eight-
inch drive wheels. The cylinders are lSx24
inches in dimension and the boiler Is built
to carry two hundred pounds of steam pres
sure to the square inch. The engine stands
high on the frame and weighs forty tons
more than do eight-drive-Wheel passenger
engines. The engine was attached to the
fast mail train, for which 1t was built and
left ST. Louis at O'Clock yesterday morn
ing No accident occurred until California,
No. was reached, when it was discovered
that one of the truck boxes was overheated
Before the box could be cooled of and Sc
dalia was reached the train was forty min
utes behind time
ID. & O. TO Absorb the ID. & o. $. w.
The recent visit West of Oscar Murray,
receiver and practically at the head of the
Baltimore & Ohio system of roads, and
the results Of his trip. which have been
announced from day TO day, make it plain
that the Baltimore & Ohio viii be reorgan-
lied and with this reorganization will alb
sorb the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern
road or bring them into the same relation
that the Pennsylvania bears 10 the lines
Of the Pennsylvania Company West. Such
practical consolidation would make the B.
& Q. q great and important system and en-
able the reorgani2ed company TO operate
the two on more economical basis than
under the present distinct interests. The
next move looked for is the retirement OF
President r. r. Bacon His successor, as
already announced, is TO be Mr. Oscar G.
Murray. Ii is thought that this change
win be made at the annual meeting OF
stockholders IN November. Mr.. Bacon Is
now abroad and Is said 10 be In confer
ence with European interests in the Balti-
more A. Ohio, well as the Southwestern.
relative 20 the reorganization of the Balti-
more & Ohio, While it is proposed that