The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-07
THE PASSENGER PROBLEM
ELECTRIC LINES PROMISE TO BE
STRONG COMPETITORS.
Their Interference Will Complicnte
the wage Question, and Trainmen
Are Fearing Results.

Railway passenger officials are considera-
bly, disturbed over the newly projected cleo
trio line. On Monday IL was announced
that company has been incorporated TO
build road from Toledo 10 Dayton, paral-
ling the Cincinnati. Hamilton & Dayton; on
Tuesday II was announced that a company
had been Incorporated to build an electric
lire from Cleveland 70 indianapolis. and the
syndicates which are behind these enter
prises said TO have ample means to car
~ out these projects. 1t is expected that
before December an electric line will
parallel the Indianapolis & vincennes from
indianapolis TO Martinsville, and another
the Louisville division of the Pennsylvania
line from Indianapolis TO Franklin. The
Big -Four people admit that the electric lines
in the gas belt territory are cutting into
their passenger business revenue, and Ii
would be felt more seriously had there not
been such an improvement in travel the
last few months. Inquiry of passenger off,
Gals in other territory makes IL evident
that the electric lines are making inroads
in the passenger business of the regular
steam roads. There are lines in operation
between large cities in the East, and even
in the West. where the electric lines have
taken from 90 10 30 per cent. of the short
travel. At first it was said that the busy
American people would never submit to the
slow time and frequent stops made by these
electric lines. The actual test however,
has thrown any such idea as this into the
background. When the average American
can get a trip on an electric line for less
than half the price that IL would cost him
on a regular steam line. for short distances
In pleasant weather, he will be very apt to
take the electric line. While time and lux
ury are items which appeal to a certain
class OF passengers ii Is by far the smallest
one while cheap rates count for everything.
These changes threaten a reduction in the
wage scale on the steam roads. One of the
reasons why the electric lines can be oper-
ated with passenger fares at 80 per cent.
of the price charged by the steam road is
that the wages of the men are less; an
electric car is run by a motorman, who
draws $50 or $50 per month. with a conduc-
tor getting So per month. The steam pas
senger trains require passenger conductor
who draws s125 per month, and the engine
is run by a man who receives for the brain
and skill he puts into operation $40 10 $50
per month. The railroad trainmen have al
ready noticed the tendency, and they are
preparing TO guard against ii by fedora
tion, hoping to equalize the wage scale.
IdSscHStr OlHCldiS were not dS uneasy Wnen
only suburban electric lines were projected
but now that these longer lines are pro-
Jected they stake IL TO be a more serious
matter. A local official commenting on the
situation, said the promoters of these cleo
trio lines never develop new fields, they
never discover unbroken ground and bring
out the possibilities of IL; they see a terri
tory wherein some railroad is doing a good
passenger business, and they say, that is
the field for US. there is good deal Of bust
ness there and we must have some of IL, %
scheme
into effect, and the first thing the railroad
men know they have a competitor that is
running cars more frequently and at half
the price that they can afford they make
slower time. but what does the average man
care for time when it is money in his pock-
ct! The original cost OF their equipment
and Its maintenance is very small compared
with that OF the best equipped steam roads.
Il don't see, said the Official, that We
have any recourse against these low rates.
they are tariff to the electric line as our
higher rates are to the steam line. l think
the steam roads have serious problem to