The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-25
TONNAGE BASIS ADOPTED
NEW RATING FOR LOCOMOTIVES ON
THE BIG FOUR LINES.
Nearly 2,OOg Pennsylvania Employees
Drew Benefits in January from
the Relief Department.

In the past thirty days the operating de-
partment of the Big Four lines has been
testing the power Of different classes of
locomotives, experimenting with seven diff
ferent locomotives, with a view of adopting
the tonnage basis for making up freight
trains. In each case the trials were made
with specially loaded test trains and with
three types Of engines-the consolidated, the
simple and the ordinary ten-wheeler. In or
der that the test might be the more ac-
curate, seven locomotives were employed
that were in active service and good aver
age condition. In making the tests on grades
the train was started from a point where.
under ordinary circumstances it might be
required to stop. If on the trial an engine
stalled under full steam pressure the run
was repeated with fewer cars. until it was
shown that it could haul the train over such
grade. and if an engine passed over the
grade faster than five miles an hour more
cars were added to ascertain just what the
engine could haul over such grade. The
number of tons the engine was pulling was
accurately obtained by placing a hydraulic
dynamometer. connecting the engine with
the train, the dynamometer recording the
tslct n8mber of tons the locomotive was
pulling, The speed at the saline time being
taken by an automatic recorder. After
March 1 the engines on the Big Four lines
will be rated according to the number of
tons eaca type hauled at the several trials,
the trains being made up on that basis.
Blackstone Wants to Keep the C.. & A..
Owing to persistent rumors circulated
concerning the attitude of President T. b..
Blackstone, of the Chicago & Alton Rail-
road, toward the proposition of the syndi-
nafa 70 nrrrobaSa the stock Of that cOmnanV-
a reporter called on him at his office in Chi
cago yesterday to obtain an authoritative
statement of his views. Touching the story
which recently appeared in Il New York pa
per to the effect that Mr.. Blackstone was
"a very old and q very sick man. he said:
If the old saying that a man is no older
than he feels be true, / am not very old.
The fact is, I am in my sixties, but 1 am
now enjoying better health than 1 have in
many years past. l am at my office daily,
Sundays excepted, from 8 a. m. until 5 p.
m" AS to whether the syndicate had OBJ
tanned a majority Of the Alton stock, Mr..
Blackstone said that it had not, and he did
not believe it would, and if it ever did he
would advise the stockholders of the fact.
Concerning the statement, also published
in New York, that his views touching the
proposed sale to the syndicate had not been
uniform of late, he said: Il have never been
uncertain Is TO Whit i Stdt1 40. L nave not
favored the acceptance of the syndicate's
offer, and have never advised any one to ac-
cept it, ard shall not accept it myself. The
present condition and earning power of the
Alton road, with the future prospects
of better crop and mining conditions, make
1T more than certain that stockholders will
continue to receive dividends on the present
capitalization equal to those of the past"
Mr.. Blackstone said, further, that he had
prepared the following announcement,
which will shortly appear:
ITO Chicago & Alton stockholders-In
my communication addressed to you under
date of the 31st of January 1 made certain
statements with reference to an offer made
by Mr.. j. j. Mitchell to purchase your
statement by advising you that. in case a
majority of the shares of the company are
not sold to the syndicate represented by
!Nr. Mitchell. shall advise that you author
lie the ~refunding of the outstanding bonds
Of the company and the issue Of a stock
dividend to represent the earnings heretofore
invested in permanent improvements"
As to the amount of stock which had been
forwarded TO the syndicate, Mr.. Blackstone
said; Il do not know TO a certainty the
hummer of shares that have been deposited
at the present time, but at my last advices
there had been less than one-fourth of the
stock forwarded. 1t is remarkable that
persons least interested in the prosperity
OF the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company
appear to be the most anxious that it should
change hands, but what outside considera-
lions prompt these conditions I do not
know. This Is all / care to saw at nresant -
Another officer of the company said: Mr..
Blackstone is the holder of more stock in
Ine Chicago q Alton than any other person.
his confidence In the earning ability of the
company is perfect. Under his administra-
ton an average of over s per cent. annual
dividends have been paid for thirty-fve
brought from a nominal value to the price
O1efed for 1t. In the face of these facts
u would seem that Mr.. ~Blackstone's views
should have a potent influence on the non
kpccQiatlnE stockholders