The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-19
MEETS WITH APPROVAL
THE INTERCHANGEABLE MILEAGE
AS MODIFIED SATISFACTORY.
The New Ruling Of the j. T. A. Favors
-General Railway News.

1.-THE modified interchangeable mileage"
said travelling salesman, lis all right, and
will be considered so by any reasonable
man. unless he be a friend 10 the scalpers."
The book will doubtless be popular, as it is
good on forty roads, and under the modi
fed plan the proper owner of the book need
have no trouble in the use of the ticket or
the checking of his baggage, as the princi-
pal trouble complained of has been re-
moved, and it is now no more trouble to
comply with the rules than to purchase
ticket from Indianapolis to New York. The
thing which most delayed its use and ex-
cited the most unfavorable comment has
been removed. narnely-the delay in check
ing baggage or sample cases, and the holder
of the ticket can get 1t checked two days
ahead If he chooses, and the ticket agents
are more pleased than are the purchasers
of the book. for the reason that, under the
revised rules, it does away with much red
tape in signing names, etc. But few per-
sons appreciate this book until they have
purchased the mileage and experienced its
conveniences, it being good on so many
roads,"
Another feature of the book which it was
thought would work injustice to the pur-
chaser is shown to have no foundation
that of getting back the rebate at the office
where the mileage books are issued and ac-
counts of the same kept Commissioner
Donald is redeeming covers and returning
the $40 rebate at the rate of three hundred
mileage books per day; often, however, the
$40 goes to purchase another book. But few
persons understand how large a number of
mileage books are used. On Saturday the
Big -Four sold at its uptown office in this
city and brought the Union Station ticket
office eighty-one of the interchangeable
mileage books, and the Pennsylvania, the
Cincinnati Hamilton & Dayton and the
Monon are showing proportionately faVora-
BILE exhibits. II. NJ. Bronson assistant gen.
eral passenger agent of the Big -Four, says
he is satisfied the book has come to stay,
and in the near future will be the most
popular mileage ever sold by the roads in
the Central Traffic Association territory.
Annual Meeting of the ID. so. s. w.
The annual meeting Of the Baltimore &
Ohio Southwestern stockholders was held
at the company's office in Cincinnati yes
terday. The old board of directors was re-
elected, and after the adjournment of the
stockholders meeting organized and re-
elected the old officials-Presdent, e. r.
Bacon; vice president and general manager,
w. w. Peabody; secretary, Edward Bruce;
assistant secretary, +. E. Tracy; treasurer.
following results of operation for the fiscal
year ending June 30: Gross earnings, Sc, 1885,
$685.; operating expenses 96.34 per cent. $4.
257, 30426; net earnings, 1882, 695.56; miscel-
laneous receipts, $2250. Deduct taxes and
assessments, 1924 25S; rental of terminal
property, $780, interest and discount, S.
096; net earnings applicable to fixed charg~ s,
1892, $50; interest on bonds and equipment
certificates, $B791 1886, leaving a deficit Of
$3.50 346.
The report shows the following as some
of the causes which led to the decreased
earnings: The year commenced with a
strike in the coal fields, which practically
closed that business for two and one half
months The financial depression which ex-
listed during the entire year and the gem
eral depression in business throughout the
country, augmented by the presidential
canvass and the tariff agitation seriously
affected the business of the company. In
addition to the causes mentioned, the reve-
nueS of the company were seriously affected
by disastrous floods, which occurred in the
month of March and practically caused
cessation of business for many days. The
report further shows that If the revival of
business continues throughout the fiscal
year the losses which occurred last year
will be more than made up. The gross earn
ings from the LIST of July to the 18th of
November both actual and estimated, are
$780, 500 in excess of the gross earnings for
the same period of last year.