The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-02
THE OCTOBER BUSINESS
A HANDSOME INCREASE in FREIGHT
AND PASSENGER TRAFFIC.
The Rate Tension Has Been Strained
and Decentralization FoIlows-Large
Sales OF New Mileage.

In the month of October there were
handled at indianapolis by the fifteen rail-
way lines 11S,72s cars, 1896 being loaded, a
number which has been exceeded but three
times since the weekly statements from
which the monthly report is tabulated have
been published, and this was in August,
1892, when 1880 loaded cars were handled
at this point; in September of the same
year, when the number was 1928, and in
October. 1892. when it was 939O4. In October,
1896, but 1851 loaded cars were handled at
this point; in 1895, 1888; in 1894, So, 055; in
1893, 72,465 From these comparisons it will
be seen that it is necessary to go back to
1892 to find as heavy loaded car movement
as that of last month, and in 1892 bitter
rate war was in progress, while in October
this year, freight rates were the best main
tanned at any time in the last five years.
Although the freight tariff is not as high as
in 1892, had the tariffs of tn 4 year been adj
hered to, and while the business of October
was very heavy this year, could cars have
been commanded, the volume could have
been largely increased, as not an Indianapo-
lis line has had cars to fill its orders. The
month closed with every road thousands of
cars short of filling the requests for cars to
move business, much of which has been
more or less delayed for lack of rolling
stock. Some roads are not only short Of
cars but of locomotives, and November is
entered with prospects of even a heavier
business than that of October. In addition to
the usual increase in November in ship
ments of live stock, more coal will be
handled, larger amount of miscellaneous
freights and more cotton than in
back to business this month viii be a car
shortage, but this will be relieved in some
measure by the Indiana lines, several of
which are now receiving new cars from the
various car-building works.
500 Paying Excessive Commissions.
B. D. Caldwell, chairman of the Western
Passenger Association, left Chicago for st.
Paul yesterday to confer with the executive
officers of the 500 road regarding the with
drawal of excessive commission payment.
That road threatens to undo all hat was
accomplished last week by the Agreement
reached with the Union Pacific in Il nat
ter. Should the 500 persist in its il ton
Of continuing the payment of Excessive
commissions, the Great Northe e and
Northern Pacific will probably do tho same.
and the excessive commissions will be con-
tinued on business to all of the Pacific coast
points 1t will be we'll if the matter end
there. The Burlington will probably feel
compelled to continue the excessive pay
ments on business over it's Billings route,
and If so it may feel compelled to pay them
on Colorado business as well. That would
upset the whole plan of their withdrawal,
and last weeks work would all go for moth
ing. 1t is earnestly hoped that Chairman
Caldweli's representations to the 500 people
Will be successful in inducing them to be-
come party to the agreement for the with
drawal of all excessive commissions.
A meeting OF the executive committee of
the Western Passenger Association was
were taken to prevent the continuance of
excessive commissions on California bust
ness, irrespective of what the 500 may do
in regard to their payment on North Pacific
committee that the action of the 500 should
be ignored, so far as California business is
concerned, and strong recommendation
will be made to all the lines to that effect.
1t is by no means certain, however, that the
executive committee will succeed in having
its recommendation adopted. The business
is so interviewer that when any course is
adopted relating to North Pacific coast bus
iEeSS 1t is almost impossible to prevent Cali
fornia business being affected.
new plan Of getting rid of excessive
commission payments by the Western roads
has been suggested. 1t is proposed that a
ton with the Western Passenger Associa-
ton to take charge of commissions, and
that all payments be made through it.
Should the suggestion be adopted it would
at once do away with the dstrust which
has always existed among the roads con-
corning each others doings in the matter.
From this distrust nine-tenths of the con-
tinual trouble has arisen. Each road would
feel certain that 1t was not being outbid by
a competitor and none but authorized COM
missions would be paid. 1t has also been
suggested that the vexed question of divi-
sions between connecting roads might be