The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-02-07
VANDERBILT LINES
OPPOSED Toe. I'll.
That These Lines Have 1t in
. For New Road Is Shown
In Several Instances.
A FIGHT ON AT MUNCIE.
BIG ROADS HAVE WARNED SHIP
PERS THAT THEY WILL NOT
ACCEPT FREIGHT IN CAR LOAD
LOTS TO OR FROM COMPETITOR

The Vanderbilt and the Pennsyl-
vania lines have formed a ombination
against the c., c. and l.. railroad. is
the general impression of shippers in
this city and eastern Indiana. The
action Of the Pennsylvania in refusing
to interchange freight with the c.. c.
and J.. in this city is we'll known. This
case is now in litigation, the cause of
the c., c. and l.. having been cham
pioned by the railroad commission of
Indiana.
At Marion, the Panhandle" also re-
fuses to pay any attention to the state
laws regarding the switching to and
from of cars with the c., c. and |. The
Glover Leaf line is obeying the law,
but the p, c., c. and St. l.. absolutely
refuses to do so. 1t is understood the
matter has been taken before the In
diana railroad commission and the out
look Is that the panhandle" company
will be the losing party in the litiga-
ton.
The latest action taken against the
c., c. and L. is at Muncie, where the
| REPRESENTATIVES
ad the Big Four, the two Vanderbilt
lines entering that city, have notified
the shippers that after March l these
two roads will not switch to or from
the c., c. and l.. car load lots of
freight. A Muncie dispatch has the
following to say in connection with the
fight now being waged against the c.,
c. and L. by the Vanderbilt system:
Another war between railroads, af-
fecting the industrial interests of
Muncie, has broken out and the bust
ness men, manufacturers and other
shippers of the city will probably fall
in line under the leadership of the
Commercial club In having a quietus
put on the controversy at the earliest
possible moment.
The conflict may be described in
the statement that the Lake Erie and
Western and Big Four railroads are
notifying industries on their lines in
the switching districts OF Muncie that
will bs effective March I, no carload
freight will be switched to or from the
Chicago, Cincinnati and Louisville rail
road, from which it appears that the
fight long waged by the Vanderbilt in
terests against the Bradford road has
not yet been abandoned.
AS one manufacturer expressed it
yesterday, this action shows that the
New York Central lines simply give
another instance of their established
policy Of coercion toward their weaker
competitors and the interests which
find it desirable to patronize them a
policy which can only be regarded as
unfriendly to the shipping interests of
Muncie. If this city is to derive the
full measure of benefit from the rail
roads centering here, there must be
free and unrestricted interchange in
switching service. Restrictions, If toll
Grated, cannot but have discouraging
effect on the location of new industries
for one thing"
Not the First Row.
This is not the first time that the
New York Central lines have put a
ban on the c., c. and l.. In 1901, they
essayed the same policy but the bust
ness men and manufacturers of the
city, backed by the Commercial club,
raised such a protest that the Wander
bilt interests rescinded their action.
The c., c. and L. is Muncie's newest
railroac and from the beginning its
traffic has shown a heavy, constant
increase, both in the passenger and
freight department. Old railroads in
variahly frown upon the work against
new lines when the latter afford com
petition, plotting 70 obstruct their sue
cess in every possible way The c..
{. and l. is recognized by the Big
Four and Lake Erie controlling Off
Gals, who are really the officials of
the New York Central system, that
the c., c. and l.. is destined to be some
day a great factor in railroad circles
in this part of the country 1t has the
financial backing of some of the
wealthiest and most influential men in
the United States, whose plans prom
Use to make the line first class in all
respects, including roadbed, rolling
stock and service. The c., c. and L.
has been making heavy inroads into
the business of the other railroads in
Muncie and everywhere they come in
10 competition.
However. such a discriminating or
der as that issued in Muncie. is against
the state railroad laws and can be
preve nted by the statues. The matter
will be brought to the attention Of
the Indiana railroad commission if the
New York Centra4 lines do not cancel
the order