The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-17

weighs sixty thousand to eighty thousand
pounds 1t carries only an average of forty
persons-for the modern traveller must have
more room-and the railroad companies are
transporting an average of one ton to the
passenger instead of a half ton in weight
days. This increased weight makes in
creased operating expenses We must
have larger and better engine
an engine that will consume more
coal - and all this means additional
expense. AS you increase the facilities for
comfort of the passengers and endurance
end durability IN the makeup of q pas
senger car you decrease its carrying ca
pacity, and necessarily you earn considera-
ply less In revenue IN the modern, up-to-
date passenger car. which costs from 500
to ST. 900, and the reclining chairs which cost
from $4,000 to sl2,5O0 than was earned some
twenty-five years ago in the so-called cheap
cars with carrying capacity of fifty to
sixty passengers. and which cars only cost
from $4,000 TO $1,000 and twenty-five years
ago we used to get something like passen-
ger rates. To-day we are carrying passen-
gers at one-half the rates we got twenty
ss Years ago g bhJ we are giving them
the amount we paid twenty-five years ago.
QUESTION OF CURTAILING COST.
Yes know you will ask why do railroad
companies continue to make these improve
ments in passenger-train service and expend
this additional money, when they might get
along without doing SO, and perhaps YOU
may think the railway companies foolish.
I have worked in the passenger department
of railway companies centering in Chicago
for over twenty-five years, and I know they
are foolish, and they know they are foolish
to incur them. They might cut down the
expenses of building a passenger car con-
sideraby and preserve all the safety an
planes of the car, and give the people
kind Of accommodation which would be
comfortable, thoroughly satisfactory, but
mt a al pnfo
cars OF to-day 1t would accomplish the
same results, cost less to keep it in re-
pair than the cars we are using at the
present time.
1T is the duty of the passenger depart
ments of the different railroad companies
to keep in close touch with the requirements
of the public. and to see that a competing
line has no particular advantage in the mat
ter of equipment train time and passenger
rates. We are frequently sent to inspect
new train on some connecting line or COM
peting line; we look it over; it seems to
have advantages which may everything
else being about equal, take from our line
and give 70 our competitor portion of the
competitive travel which we are now carry
ing. We Immediately report these facts to
the management, and urge something as
good, or perhaps something better 1--WE
usually get the latter.) The MANAGEMENT
may object and suggest that if we incur
the additional expense we simply egg on
others to greater expense, and 1t will not be
long Deiore our Tallroad may be in the
hands of receiver on account of the in
creased expenses which we are piling on the
management. Our reply to this is usually
to the effect that our chances for going into
the hands of a receiver are much greater
If we do not meet the situation as it is
made for us, and that if we must go into
the hands of a receiver it is better to have
made record for a passenger equipment
equal to the best.
FORTUNES IN SINGLE TRAINS.
Where will it end? 1 cannot tell YOU
and sometimes I dislike to think about it,
If the cost of material, the cost of labor
increased facilities for manufacturing pas
senger cars do not decrease the expense of
continued improvements in the construction
of passenger cars (and this expense con-
tinues to double every twenty-five years.
and passenger revenue does not increase
proportionately you can, of course, guess
the end as we'll as I can.
If we go into the question Of special linn
tied trains there can be no question in the
world but what the limited trains run on
the pennsylvania, Lake Shore and Michigan
Central lines, and the Sunset limited train
run on the chicago SS Alton, consisting OF
some hVe or SIX cars IN all. represent an
actual investments independent of motive
power of at least $1250O0 to each train, and
probably more. The trains which I have
mentioned represent the finest trains run
on any railroad in the world. They are the
par excellence of the car builders art and
they probably average all around in pas
senger revenue very much less per mile than
the ordinary everyday local train of four
passenger coaches and baggage car, which
represent an investment Of about $4,000.
Il can only give you in ~ general way
some idea of Pullman cars. 1t was claimed
by Mr.. Pullman that in making exneri-
ments within recent years in combination
sleeping cars single car had cost him
close to $4,000, but it is generally conceded
that a fair average for the most modern and
improved Pullman sleeper is $4,000 to $25,-
00O and it is fair to estimate the cost of a
modern dining car at $4,000.
Complaints are not frequent, and most
of the complaints which railway companies
receive with reference to their passenger
equipment are unreasonable They are usu-
ally the result Of little bitterness brought
ab0u- by some misundersta landing in other di-
rections and having no reference at all to
the passenger equipment, but the fellow
who has complaint or who thinks that he
has not been properly treated does not wait
to cheese his weapons he sails right in to
freignt-train time made by it's passenger
trains, the cold and cherries cattle cars
which are called palace cars and remarks
that he would sooner ride in a street horse
car, without heating facilities, and the Their
me meter 20 degrees below zero. than the
kline of a car which the railroad company
furnishes to it's patrons
whenever YOU hear that kind of talk or
some grand-Stand orator talk about grind
ing monopolies 'cattle-car accommoda-
ton furnished by the railroad companies,
bear this statement in mind. that over 50
per cent. Of the travelling public do not
own themselves or live in rented house
which cost to build the amount of money
which any railroad company centering in
Chicago has put into the poorest passenger
n y WI oh WIN on n tr~rt-t