The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-27
EFFORT NOT APPRECIATED
ROADS DOING ALL IN THEIR POWER
TO MOVE TRAFFIC OFFERED.
The Trouble Is, Says n Traffic Official,
that There Is More Business Than
the Lines Can Handle.

-%
j. Q. Van Wrinkle, general superintendent
Of the Big Four, yesterday said that one
would think from the comments of the
press and of shippers and consignees that
the railroads were making no special effort
TO move the traffic offered. This, he said,
was a great mistake; the Big Four, the
Pennsylvania, the Vandalia, and, in fact,
the officials of every road that he knew
were doing their best to move the business
promptly. The Big Four at the present
time was handling a larger average OF
loaded cars per day than in any former
period in its history. It's power was in
good condition and hauling to its full ca
pacity. He then gave figures for several
days of last week. which showed an aver
age movement of 500 loaded per day.
There had been days when 5000 or more
were handled, but these were days when
passenger traffic did not require all of the
locomotives being Sunday, and was done
especially to clear up the congested bust
ness. but the average movement at the
present time gave no grounds for COM
plant. The fact is that there is more traffic
to move than ever before in the history
a congestion at division point was cleared
up, in two or three days the same side
tracks were filed with loaded cars; conse-
quently shipper or consignee is led to
think that the roads were not doing all in
their power to satisfy consignees and ship
pers. Present conditions would exist until
the freights offered were lighter in tonnage.
He stated that the equipment of every road
In cars and locomotives had been Increased
In IN ront agexhf fha ha
Big Four, for instance had 1000 more large
capacity freight cars in service and thirty
five more modern heavy freight locomotives
than twelve months ago, and as soon as
possible Will further increase Its equipment.
The Fight Becoming Interesting.
The attempt of the Wabash to reach
Pittsburg and the seaboard despite the
denial of President Ramsey, of the Wa
bash, that the company does not care to
get east of Pittsburg is not borne out by
the conditions existing. 1t has been dis
covered that no less than fourteen Penn
sylvania charters are in existence for rail-
road lines from Pittsburg across Pennsyl-
vania to the Cumberland valley. and an in
dependent interest which has been studying
the subject in connection with the Gould
fight for Eastern outlet has found in
a
Incorporation. Further Investigation showed
that the present owners of eleven of these
charters identified with the Pennsyl-
vania and that the other three have been
acquired by the Wabash interest. The
charters omnibus in character several
of them having been granted before the
adoption OF the new Constitution In 1874,
and it is said that some legislation may be
needed at Harrisburg In order to allow a
railroad company to make use of some of
them Plans OF the Wabash's Eastern
route from Pittsburg are being kept very
secret Among the Pennsylvania officials
a belief prevails that the Wabash contem-
plates some move of this sort, and that 1t
Is likely before the present session of the
at the state capital like that which is still
raging In Pittsburg between the rival rail-
road interests. The fact that the Wabash
has secured extensive and valuable seaport
| terminals at Baltimore at a cost of millions
of dollars adds to the belief that the plans
| include direct line east from Pittsburg.
Personal, Local and General Notes.
III. M. Bronson. assistant general pas
senger agent of the Big Four, was in Gin
| cinnau yesterday in conference with Gen.
eral Passenger Agent Lynch
The Chicago & Northwestern earned in
December s37S7,99l, an increase over De-
cember, 1901, of $l69.1lS Since July l this
4 road has earned $295l1 1886, an increase of
1927. 293.
Stephen r. Payne has been promoted
from trainmaster of the Mohawk & Malone
division to be assistant superintendent OF
| the western division of the New York
| Central with headquarters at Syracuse.
The Lake Shore the Norfolk & West
| ern and the Chesapeake & Ohio announce
| that they are open TO all traffic offered
and If present conditions continue delayed
business will begin to move quite rapidly
The Pennsylvania will to-day commence
| using the Trenton cutoff. which will great
| ~ expedite the movement of trains from
| New York TO the West. For the presen,
| only six of the fast trains will use the
| track.
| The Michigan Central, IL is stated Off.
| cially. Is considering the advisability OF
erecting a large steel storage grain ele-
vator at Buffalo. the general superintend
ent admitting that negotiations are In
progress to that end.
r. p. Algeo, district passenger agent OF
the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton and
| the Mcnon, was in Cincinnati yesterday In
| conference with ID. G. Edwards, passenger
traffic manager. concerning the remodeline
of the local ticket office.
On Sunday all previous records were
broken on the Vandalia line, there beine
| handled 2.7l0 cars. Engines off of the
| Peoria and Logansport divisions were
| transferred for the day to the main line
to move this immense volume of traffic
President Kimball. of the Norfolk & West
| ern, states that the company proposes thu
adoption of a pension system and II /!
| the intention not only to put the pension
| system into effect in the shops, but t(
cover every one of the roads 1880 EN-
| ployes.
Eastern papers state that there is unu
sual activity on the part of the Pennsyva
MIA Railroad interest in sending solicitor:
into Wall street after proxies to be voted
at the special meeting of stakeholder.
called for March 10 to authorize the doub
ling of the capital stock
j. h. Cockrum has been engaged i'm in
teresting litigation at Elwood. where
trolley line attempted to cross the l.. +,
& w. tracks at grade, and he succeeded IL
forcing the traction company to purchas,
ground which will enable them TO eros:
the railroad tracks above the grade.
The large number of trained men which
the Chicago & Rock Island has takel
from the Great Northern within the las
six months is attracting attention. Mn
officials in high position having gone from
the Great Northern and accepted importan
positions on the Rock Island.
The Erie has let the contract for three
new ferry boats for service between New
York and Jersey City. These boats will
be double deck. 245 feet long and sixty
four feet wide. will have propellers a
each end and will be the fastest and mos
comfortable boats on the North river
General Passenger Agent Rhein is max
ing a strong effort TO secure theatrica