The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-18

1t is stated that James Charlton general
passenger agent of the Chicago & Alton,
does not look with favor on the action of
the Eastern roads in making rates into
territory of Western roads without asking
the consent of officials of the lines most
interested The relations of the Eastern
and Western lines have been more or less
strained for several years over this matter
and Mr.. Charlton has addressed a letter
to the chairman Of the Western Passenger
Association in which he says: DO not let
the Western Passenger Association lines
forget that our trunk line friends are in the
habit of making demands for minimum
rates without regard to the wishes of the
feelings of their Western connections To-
day the trunk lines insist on certain
minimums on excursion travel to Niagara
Falls, Buffalo and Toronto and on single
trip business to trunk line territory, which
practically shuts out number of the lines
ticketing through Chicago from meeting
short line rates unless these lines are will
ing to take what is left after they have
satisfied their very greedy and arbitrary
east-bound connections. 1t should not be
forgotten either that the trunk lines have
never been willing to share with us on q
proper basis the reduced proportions neceS-
sary between New York and San Francisco
in competing Tor the round-the-World trafhc
against Canadian Pacific and other COM
petition. They have insisted that out of
any rate or proposition due between New
York and San Francisco they shall have
their proper proportion of standard rates.
regardless of competition for the traffic.
believe in giving them whenever we can an
extra dose of their own medicine and under
no circumstances will the Chicago q Alton
ever agree to have rates made or divided
upon anything but the regular recognized
basis of making and dividing rates, al
though we are willing at all times to permit
connecting lines to meet other competition
and divide the reduced rates necessary on
an equitable basis"
In accordance with this protest Western
lines are now voting on proposition TO
give notice to Eastern lines that Such rates
will not be countenanced and to request
them to put the charges on the regular
basis effective Sept. l.
Acts HOnOrabIy Towards Competitors.
SO common is it to charge upon the Penn
sylvania that it is a heartless, arbitrary
and overbearing corporation that some peo-
pie have come to believe there is some
truth in the assertion yet no railroad COM
pany in the world treats it's employees with
more respect as rule and looks after their
employees interests more closely than does
the Pennsylvania. The interest it takes in
the Voluntary Relief Association and the
money it contributes to it illustrates this
point. Sick and disabled employees, even
when absent for weeks, seldom have their
pay cut off, and in many ways the COM
pany shows great regard for its employees
while in meeting competitors 1t STANDS up
for its rights it never does anything dis
honorable An official of the road states
that in the year 1875 the Pennsylvania Com
pany, by the purchase of five acres of
ground in the West End, could have COM
pletely shut out the PittSburg a. Lake Erie
at PittsbuTg The ground was useless to
the owners and could have been bought
for $500, and yet the big corporation ne
elected the opportunity to keep the VAN
derbilts out of this territory. II the Pan
handle had owned four acres along the
river between TemperanceVille and ESplen
previous to the time the Lake Erie pro-
jectors secured their right OF way 1t would
have been absolutely impossible to con-
struct the Pittsburg q Lake Erie road
because the river men would have prevent
ed the company from driving piles out in
the river which would have INSTRUCTED
navigation. Since its completion the Pitts
burg & Lake Erie has been hauling an
ruaIly $50O0.000 worth of business in and
out Of Pittsburg territory. Had the Penn.
sylVania taken up several acres of land
along the river above OrmSby they could
nave stopped the building of the Pittsburg
McKeesport q Youngstown Railroad, and
the Lake Erie would never have been able
to obtain the bulk of the Monongahela
river traffic. In 1913 the Pennsylvania could
have purchased four or five acres of ground
along Pine creek and by simply applying
for a charter through that valley fhey
could have killed the Pittsburg x Western
project and there would be no great Bal
timore & Ohio Southwestern system in
Pittsburg to-day.