The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-11-25

COST OF RAILWAY TRAVEL.


The Roman Empire owed its rapid
decline, in great measure, to the very
growth of monopolies.
The alarming increase Of monopolied
corporations has induced many to be-
lieve that the same fate was in store
for our republic-that we had planted
oak in proclaim vase, and might soon
expect to see the vase shattered One
of the elements entering into this ques-
tion is the disproportionate coast of
railway travel. In this connection,
the Chicago Courier says that the
gross earnings of the railroads OF the
United States for the year 1868, were
S400 900, 900, and for 1869 the amount
was $500, 900, 900. According to the
estimated census OF the country, every
person in the Union contributed to
this last amount the sum of $40. 20.-
These figures disclose the factthat the
rates are pluch too high for the public
good, or for the national. safety. The
experience of other countries shows
that the rates may be materially re-
duced without practical loss to the
comp anies. In Belgium, where there
are something over 1000 miles Of
road, the fares are very low, averag-
ing, for first class, trife over one
cent per mile. Third class passen-
gers are carried at about two-fifths
less. Yet ut these low rates tho cars
are run at profit. In France, under
a similar system, the revenues are
very large, and railroad stocks are
generally quoted high. In these
countries and in Prussia, the railways
yield an annual profit Of seven per
cent. In England the profits are much
more, the railroads being controlled by
great monopolies as with US.
The statistics in our own country.
however, are conclusive as to the NIB.
normally high rates Of passenger
traffic. In 1851 the earnings OF oil
the railroads in the United States
then amounting to 5000 miles oi
track, as near as then could be ascer.
tanned, were s39, 900. 900. OF thi,
S19, 1915 900 was from freight aud $50. !.
DE. 900 from passengers. In lS6s
the receipts from all the roads, thu
number of miles having increased Il
Il, ,255, were $3.50 900 900, of whici
$120 ,000, 900 was derived from passen
engers, only three-tenths of the entire
amount, seven-tenths having been de
rived from freights. The history o
the changes in rates is no less inter
esting than this remarkable increas'
in amounts. In 1851 the average
amount per mile for transportation 0
passengers was four cents per head
and of freight 4.05 cents per ton pc
mile. In 1867 the average freigh
tariff per mile for through freight Wa
2.75 cents per ton, while local charg
es, between great centers where ther
was no competition, sometimes were Il
high as four cents per ton per mile
Indeed, in cases of extreme competi
ton freight has been carried fron
New York to Chicago for one cent pc
ton per mile. From these figures
will be seen that the great increase j
the gross receipts from freight has. i
the main, been proportionate to th
decrease in the rates. The gross re
ceipts of some Of the roads have bee
fifty per cent. Of their cost, Will
those of others have been %, q an
% per cent. of their cost. And {
these great profits seven-tenths wer
due to cheap freight tariffs, which di
not average for both through and Ii
cal freights, more than two cents pc
mile.