The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-31
PURSUING A POOR POLICY
TIMELY CRITICISM OF III MANAGE.
MENT OF THE UNION STATION.
Comment ON Pennsylvania Acquisi-
tions-GcneraI Manager MetcaIf,
of the L. AZ N, tn Retire.

The boast is made that at no railroad
center where there is a union station is il
operated on as economical a basis as at
Indianapolis. In every department, except
the ticket office, fewer men are employed
than ten years ago; in the ticket office but
one man has been added, and often the
travelling public is greatly nconvenienced.
Such a rush is there at the Office that a
traveller must get to the station consider
ably ahead of the time for his train to
leave in order to be sure of getting his
ticket in season. At the baggage rooms the
most trouble is experienced. The force of
taggagemen is four less than ten years
ago. and thirty-two more trains arrive and
depart daily than ten years ago. The most
remarkable reduction has been made in the
trainsheds and Union Station callers; eleven
are now expected TO do as much work as
twenty-four did ten years ago, notwith-
standing the fact that trains are more nu-
merous and nearly double the length, and
there is not a day when there Is a rush of
trains that some stranger. in the sheds
would not get run over but for warnings
given by persons not employed by the
Union Railway Company. II is estimated
that between 2:45 and $50 p. m. at least
1900 passengers are handled on through
trains. and as the trains halt here from
ten 10 twenty minutes the through passen-
gers get out and walk about. This, with
passengers going and coming from the
trains. makes 1t a very busy time. and two
men are expected to see that no person is
injured by any of the numerous trains ar
irving and departing and the large amount
OF switching required in transferring
through sleepers. dining cars. etc. Several
times daily similar conditions exist. Visit
ing railroad men, as we'll as business men
who stop at indianapolis. are severe i'm
their criticisms of the manner business is
lone at the Union Station; especially in the
trainsheds and baggage rooms are the trav-
one really blames A. A. Zion, superintend-
ent, as his instructions come from the
board of managers of the Union Railway
Company Inquiry at other railroad centerS
where there are union stations shows that
where half as many trains are handled as
at indianapolis the operating expenses are
considerably in excess OF those at this city.
The pay roll OF the Union Station proper
IS now a little over 5000 81 month: ten years
ago ft was something over $11,0O. a train
Official. in speaking OF the manner business
is done at the Union Station. said 1t was
no money to his company. as whenever
there was any special train or out of the
ordinary runs for their lines he invariably
took five men from other lines OF work to
the Union Station 10 see that their trains
were hauled properly and without injury to
life or limb. Another point is made that at
every important union station In the coun-
try there Is an information bureau. a great
convenience to the travelling public With
a half force OF ticket agents, the latter
have no time to answer inquiries concern
Ing trains. etc.