The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-15

St Louis on account of the worlds fair.
There is a difference OF opinion as to the
day that should be allotted to each road for
running this excursion.
The Big -Four road is preparing to erect
a handsome combined freight and
passenger station at North Manchester,
Ind, to take the place Of the building de-
stroyed by fire few weeks ago. The Struc-
ture will go up in "a new and more con-
venient location, and will be one of the
best on the division between North Vernon
and Benton Harbor
Officials of the Wabash state that the
Western Maryland extension TO Cumberland
will be ready for operation by September.
Chief Engineer Samuel ID. Brady. of the
West Virginia line of the Wabash, has
been comforting with the Baltimore az Ohio
engineers in relation TO the special grade
and line of the two roads near Paramount,
w. Va, and some settlement VIII be
reached within few days.
The controversy over rates, wages and
hours of work between the officials of
the Baltimore & Ohio and the telegraphers
will be settled by a vote of the men, and
whether the men will strike not de-
ponds on their action. The ballots must
be in the hands of the committee by March
20. and the counting of the votes will be
begun as soon after as possible. If the
operators do not care TO accept the COM
panys proposition they are asked to indi-
cate the same by their ballots.
In connection with the statement that
the Wabash will spend over 100000 on the
Pittsburg project. made possible by the
signing of the city ordinance, it is stated
that all cash expended or to be expended
in and around Pittsburg will be furnished
by the Pttsburg, Carnegie * Western syn
dicate. Participants in IL provide the cash
for the work on certificates for syndicate
participating. The funding, however of
these advances into first-mortgage bonds is
a matter now in Gould councils and like
ly to be consummated during the current
year.
The Interstate-commerce Commission yes
terday gave a hearing in the case of the
Planters Compress Company against the
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & st. Louis,
the Southern, the Central of Georgia and
the Missouri, Kansas & Texas and numer-
Gus other railroads, involving various al
legged violations of the intersta te-commerce
law. The grows out of the fight be-
tween the square-bale and round-bale cot
ton interests of the country, the latter seek
ing to stop alleged Determinations against
their products.
A M Stewart general livestock agent
of the Erie for the West. died Sunday
at Marion, o., after a few hours illness.
He was frequent visitor at the Indian
apolis stockyards, and was we'll known all
over Central Traffic Association territory.
He was formerly livestock agent of the Big
Four, but for number of years has been
connected with the Erie, and was consid-
cred one of the most efficient livestock
agents in the West, ranking with Frank
Reynolds, recently deceased, who for SO
many years was general livestock agent of
the Pennsylvania.
The Wabash has been exceptional in not
catering to the idea of a pension depart
ment. This railroad has a system of hos
pitfalls that rivals anything in its line that
is maintained by any railroad in the world
The Wabash hospitals are located at con-
venient points along the line and are mod
just completed at Decatur, Ill, is second
to none in the country. The Wabash is
credited with being exceptional in caring
for it's employees, save in this feature of
pensions. Last fall two caroa1S of roadmen
were sent to California to spend the winter
for their health, the company paying. all
expenses.
AS was expected the drastic economies
and reductions by President Mellen, of the
New York, New Haven & Hartford, have
created an ugly temper among some of the
employees, which gives rise to threats of a
general strike. There is said to be much
Indignation over the order which on Sunday
took off fifty trains and threw 500 employees
out of work, but officials of the road state
that the talk of a strike is premature, to
say the least, as the matter has been under
contemplation for some months. Mr.. Mel
len found that the transportation depart
ment was conducted on an expensive scale,
the working hours were short compared
with Western roads with which Mr. Melen
had been associated, and his services were
really secured to bring about a curtailment
of current expenses.
Officials of the Lake Shore road say the
lack of new business is being noticed now
that the winter blockades are about cleaned
UP. and think better weather will revive
business activity and the roads will soon
find the congestion cleared up and pos
sessed of all the equipment they have
use for An official of the Pennsylvania
said yesterday that the car situation is
easier all around. and il is now possible
to supply cars fairly promptly to shippers.
The statement does not imply that there
are no shortages, but it is thought that
two three weeks of good weather will
relieve the situation. Officials of the Erie,
the Michigan Central, the New York Cen
trail and the Nickel-plate report that mod
crate weather is permitting them TO make
| considerable progress in the relief of con-
| gestion, and within a few days they hope
| to see conditions normal.