The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-07

The manufacturers and business men OF
this city did not move any too soon in the
matter of securing a reduction in freight
too long under the disadvantage of dis
eliminating rates In favor of Chicago and
other cities much farther from the Indiana
coal fields than this city. 1t is little less
than an outrage that railroads which pene-
trate the coal fields In this State and which
enjoy many privileges under Indiana legis-
lation should transport fuel from the coal
fields to points outside of the State and
four times as far from the coal fields as
Indianapolis Is for an increase of only 10
cents per ton on the rate charged to this
city. 1t Is Discriminatory unjust that the
roads should deliver coal to cities in the
gas belt at the same rate charged for this
city. II 1t is worth only go cents a ton to
haul coal from the mines to cities in the
gas belt the haul to this city should be
worth considerably less. and that to Chi
cago. 173 miles farther from the mines than
this city. should be worth more than twice
as much instead Of only 10 cents more. The
entire schedule is a gross discrimination
against this city. and one which, IL 1t cam
not be remedied in any other way, should
be by legislation. The Legislature could
not interfere with rates to Chicago, be-
cause that is interstate commerce. and
consequently not within the jurisdiction of
the State. but it could regulate the rates
of transportation to points within the State
and fix rate that would give this city the
may be that the railroads on proper repre-
sensations will make rates that will not
discriminate against this city. In that
case it will not be necessary to appeal to
the Legislature, but they should be given
to understand that this will be done unless
apolis cannot afford and should not sub
NIT to having her manufacturing indus
tries handicapped and crippled and her
future growth retarded by the continuance
of such discriminatory. rates on coal as
those which now exist
What the city needs and should have is
coal road built with Indianapolis capital
and managed primarily in the interests of
this city. The Journal has advocated this
for years. and it is a matter of surprise
that our manufacturers and capitalists
have not taken a more lively interest in it.
For fifty years those who had faith in the
future of the city have cited it's nearness
to the coal fields as one Of the most i'm
portant factors in its growth, yet during
all that period there has been no deter
mined or intelligent effort to get the full
advantage of the fact. 1t has been nearly
thirty years since the Importance Of a
coal road owned and operated by Indian
apolis capital was first agitated. In July,
1876. Hon. John Caven. then mayor of the
city, presented to the Common Council a
mastery paper relating to the local adj
vantages of Indianapolis as a manufacture
ing center. In this paper he discussed the
question of cheap fuel with remarkable
breadth Of thought and business foresight
But nothing came Of it nor of any subse-
quent agitation of the question, and the
city has remained all these years at the
mercy Of railroads operated in the interest
of other cities. If the people had built
railroad to the coal fields twenty-five
years ago, even a narrow-gauge road, as
was sometimes talked of, they would have
been benefited by cheap fuel several times
the cost of the road. But il is no nearer
a coal road to-day than it was twenty-five
years ago. The citys most rapid growth
in manufactures was from 1890 to 1900, in
which period it advanced from forty-eighth
in the list of American cities to twenty
eighth in manufacturing capital and from
twenty-ninth to twenty-first in gross value
of manufactured products. If this rate
of progress is to be kept up the city must
have fuel materially cheaper than it is
now getting it. The capital is here to build
coal road. All it needs is enterprise, or
ganization and promotion. The objective
point to be worked for at present is lower
rates from the railroads, but the movement
should not stop until a coal road is as
sured.