Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 202, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 December 1927 — Page 20

PAGE 20

DVANCE MADE HIRING YEAR BY STREET RAIL CO, ■— — — <)wer System Is Improved Greatly: Records of Accidents Good. By ROBERT I. TODD piMdfnt of the Vndianapoli* Street Railway Company. fUie year 1927 was one of the most parkable years, from tlir* ad|><i4<rat.ive standpoint, in Ur* his--I.V t>f the Indianapolis Sweet Radiy system. Iri o company aecomp*'hed im>v.ments of a major mature and the same time showed an inase in net earnings with a ccnued decline in the gross business ie. ncrease in the net was the rct of substantial decreases in srating expenses, part of which re brought about through the im)vements made in spite of the un'orable conditions resulting from ! trend away from street cars in * city's transportation field among these improvcjrita was the rehabilitation of the ® er system under wnich the comfiy is now able to purchase more |wer than it was previously able | generate at a less cost for the |wer used than the operation of | own plant. Lack of capacity at the West |nth St. power plant of the Terre l.ute, Indianapolis <fc Eastern • action Company compelled the jpianapolis Street Railway to conue operation of its W. Washingjsi St. power plant up to May. %en connection was made with the feh tension system of the Central diana Power Company and - West Washington St. plant andoned. Through a system of five subilions, installed for approximates7so,ooo, tiie street railway is le to maintain power on Its lines fficient to move its cars much |>ter than heretofore irhls not only produces more pnomical operation in the power Id transportation department, but io holds forth an inducement for jblic patronage which is believed j have been considerable of p. facin helping to stem the decline k the use of street cars in Indian|olis. ■ IThere can be no denial that street Ir traffic here lias been for years Ia steady decline, regardless of all lat the street car company has |ne to prevent it. * The figures low that each ypar there are fewer irsons transport ed and analysis of je loss indicates that a great deal this decline is due to industrial nditions which have deprived the r company of revenue heretofore tained from transporting worklen to and from factories in the Imufacturing district of the city. Kn the light of this experience the fort of the street railway company Is been directed toward operations

. INDIANAPOLIS i The Home of the World’s Largest Manufacturer of Silk Hosiery and Makers of Fine Lingerie FAE A L SIL K_ HOSIERY MILLS, Inc. In Indiana By special arrangement, this state has been reserved exclusively for the sale of the famous Real Silk “Sub-Standards.'’ They arc offered by the leading merchants in each community.

U. S. BIGGEST ‘TALKER’ Telephone Conversations Increase to 202 Per Cpila. Bu Timm kvrrial NEW YORK. Dec. 31.—Americans arc the greatest "talkers" in the world, according to a recent survey by the National Industrial Conference Hoard. Since 1900 per capita telephone conversations have increased from thirty-four to 202. The beard's figures show that between 1900 and 1926 population in the United States increased 56 per cent; freight traffic, 216 per cent; passenger traffic, 123 per cent; mail communications. 300 per cent; telegraph messages, 153 per cent, and telephone conversations, 304 per cent. within the curtailed gross revenue and while results have not yet been at'.elnod in sufficient volume to produce dividends on the preferfed stock, the effect of more economical operations Is readily seen in the reports which the company makes each month to the public service commission. In addition to the improvement in the power situation, the street railway has improved its accounting system by the installation of fare boxes on its cars and the use of tokens. This improvement was undertaken on the theory shat it would pay for the capital outlay and it is proceeding in that direction. It has also proved more popular with patrons and employes than the ticket system heretofore used. One-man car operation continues to be a factor in the reduced operating expenses. Several years ago 1 the street car company authorized the conversion of cars into the one-'

To all our friends —new ones, old ones, and friends yet unmade — Greetings! May the New Year bring you fulfillment of your cherished hopes and plans! | iiii!lllli!ll!!!!l!lllllli!!ll!lllllillllllli!lliillilil!!!ll HOTEL SEVERIN Jesxc Fletcher, Mgr.

man type as rapidly as it was pos-j sible to finance the changes. The program has not been com- 1 pleted. but a sufficient number of cars were transferred during the year to put one-man service into effect on several of the lighter lines in the south part of the city. For the first ten months of the year the wages paid to one-man car operators increased $9,386.65. The most radical step taken by the car company during the year was the purchase of the People s Motor Coach Company, under which the car company becomes practically the sole transportation utility of the city. Under the terms of this purchase, the motor coach company is maintained as a separate entity and pending the approval of a coordination plan, recently in hearing, no practical benefits have accrued to ! the service through the purchase. It is the theory cf the street railway management that when the service oiTered by the two companies can be coordinated, the transportation needs of the city will be covered either through the car line and bus lines or through the transfer privilege which will permit the use of any two lines with a maximum of 12 cents fare. With its employes receiving higher w;ages than ever before in their experience, with its cars operating on faster schedules than ever before, the accident reqord of the street car company for the year 1927 was remarkable enough to attract attention throughout the country, the number of accident for which the company was responsible being more comparable with interurban car operation than with that of city lines. The Indianapolis Street Railway Company enters the year 1928 with j every prospect of a still better year.'

THE INDIANAPOLIS TRIES

LOCAL MARKET FAIRLY GOOD IN OFF HOG YEAR City Packers Respond to Demands of Competitive Market. Closing a year in which the fiftieth anniversary of the Belt Railroad and Stockyards Company was celebrated, the local hog market compares favorably with 1926, especially when conditions are compared with those in other markets. One of the threatening menaces, somewhat general over the country, is the so-called country buying or direct shipping. Buyers comb the larmside for the best material, which is shipped direct to the packers. The animals that remain are shipped to the stockyard, thus reducing the quality of material on sale at the competitive markets. Indianapolis packers have, however, refrained from this practice, more so during the past year, with a benefitting result to both producer and buyer. Hog receipts for the year show a gain over the preceding twelve months, although other livestock have decreased in the number received. The demand of local packers on the Union Stockyards has increased, as shown by the loss of approximately 30,000 hogs in ship-

ments to other markets over figures cf last year. During the latter part of the year and throughout most of the first part, Indianapolis prices paid to producers for porkers, have stood almost evenly 10 to 25 cents above the Chicago market, although hog values have declined under the weight of increased production, stimulated by high prices in 1926, and aggravated by poor export demand. Receipts in cattle, calves and sheep have been lower this year

No Matter When the Time--Our Commercial Service Has Always Been Efficient

CENTRAL TRANSFER & STORAGE CO. 118-132 MAin 0284 SOUTH ALABAMA ST. MAin 0285

than last, calves having suffered the greatest loss. Values have likewise been lower, although a somewhat belated but substantial appreciation in cattle values was the outstanding feature in 1927 livestock trade. From the feeders’ standpoint it was the most profitable year in the history of the industry, not excepting the war period of even higher prices, when the cost of production was materially higher and net profits smaller. Cattle slaughter for 1927 will be

For 40 years we have been supplying efficient commercial service to Indianapolis and as in all the previous years, the past shows more improvements in both our equipment and personnel . . . We have always operated on the basis that it takes more than just men and trucks to furnish efficient hauling service. Proper equipment is an essential, but the brains required to properly operate this equipment is also an absolute essential. In our business every job represents a problem all its own that must be solved, and it takes men with wide experience in the handling of all kinds of merchandise to successfully do the job. Our organization combines brains, equipment, storage and a reasonable charge. We solicit your business on the coming year upon our past record for efficient service and with the assurance that satisfaction will be yours.

substantially less than 1926. which was a period of abnormal beef production; hog slaughter shows a considerable increase and lamb slaughter will show a slight increase. Although 1927 was financially unsatisfactory to the packers, whose net earnings were small, it was the best annual period for cattlemen since 1920, and was reasonably satisfactory to hog and sheep raisers. The inception of 1928 finds the reserve beef cattle stocks of the country at low ebb. Swine herds are

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ample, and the sheep industry is well along in the expansion eye la of production. Older Folk Not Dependent NEW YORK. Dec. 31.-The National Civic Federation announces a survey of thirteen eastern cities and towns has shown the majority of persons 65 or more years old not to be dependent. Omaha has more than $20,000,009 invested in public schools.