The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-26

move traffic more expeditiously that Mr..
Cassatt was much pleased and this result
ed In his appointment as general man.
ager
John f. Ross has been appointed banker
by the Pennsylvania lines 10 take care of
the surplus cash of the employees saving
fund or the Pennsylvania lines west, which
VIII receive deposits and pay 31s per cent.
per annum on them after Feb. 1. Mr.. Ross
IS ticket agent for the company at Fort
Wayne.
Out of total issue of 72.17s shares OF
Chicago & Eastern Illinois common stock
the holders OF 6S.171 shares have accepted
the proposition of the St. Louis & san
Francisco to exchange their stock for 10
per cent common stock trust certificates
| Issued by that road. Stock can be de-
posted until Jan. 81.
The Express Gazette gives statistics of
train robberies which have occurred of late
years The latest tabulation shows that
the number of train hold-ups was twenty
two. and that. commencing with $780, there
nave been BIS such crimes. as result OF
which ninety-eight persons have been killed
and 1OI injured by shooting.
The Pennsylvania lines have practically
completed the work of installing storage
batteries at points along the line west of
Pittsburg. Battery plants have been To-
Gated at Chicago st. Louis. Cincinnati, In
annapolis, Columbus. Allegheny and Pitts
burg, and IL is intended TO eventually have
the passenger cars of the entire system
lighted with electricity.
1t was announced on Sunday by ID. j.
Burke, who represented the conductors at
the recent conference with Baltimore d
ONO officials at Baltimore, that an agree
ment had been sanctioned by the company
granting 10 per cent. advance in wages 10
date from Jan. l. The advance extends over
all branches of the road and is given TO
conductors, brakemen and yardmen.
1t Is stated that in anticipation of a strike
the Chicago & Alton has hired no less than
one hundred new fremen in the past thirty
out Is manned by one two of these tyros
who are learning the modus operandi. The
company has also promoted a considerable
number of the older firemen. The officials
still maintain that the increase of pay Dec.
Is all that the men could reasonably ex-
pect
The new line which the Pennsylvania will
build from Enon, on the Pittsburg, Fort
wayne q Chicago, to Red Bank, on the
Allegheny Valley Railroad, will be sixty
miles long and will be utilized especially TO
divert through freight traffic around Pitts
burg The surveys for the line have been
completed and work will be begun as soon
as the weather will permit. The estimated
cost or the Improvement Is S6.ONO,OOO and
the work is to be completed within twelve
months.
The statement Of the Big Four submitted
TO its directors at their meeting last week,
shows that for the six months ended Dec.
81. 1902. the gross earnings were slo,26l ,94S
an increase of $685. The operating ex-
penses were 81. 723.5l5, an increase OF $685.
723. Net earnings, s2,53S,42S. a decrease of
$325.2S5. The decrease was due mainly to
the large amount of current income applied
to permanent improvements. At this meet
ing per cent. dividend was declared on
the common stock.
Several days ago mention was made
that three trainloads of Asiatic goods were
en- route east to New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore. st. Louis and Chicago, the larg-
est consignment of Oriental goods that has
ever been sent by rail. 1t has been demon
strated that these goods can be unloaded on
the Pacific coast and delivered in New
York by rail cheaper than they can be car
ried TO Eastern seap0rts by water, and
this gives prestige to the Western lines
which carry the goods.
The block system on the Big Four is
now in operation between Indianapolis and
Nation, telegraph stations have been es-
established every six miles Of the road
and Ii is impossible for two trains to enter
a block at the same time. Assistant Gen.
eral Superintendent Houghton spent the
greater part of last week at Mattoon pro-
posing to put stop to the numerous
wrecks that have occurred on that divi-
| sion in the last two weeks. The block
| system is being extended and will be in
| operation before the close of this week
| between Nation and st. Louis.