Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-03-03

But for the great length Of this paper, l
would explain again why the through ra es
are SO low, as compared with local rates
I respectfully refer our patrons to my an
nuel reports for 1866, 1867 and 1869. Be-
low will be found extracts from them.
Respectfully,
$. l.. FREMONT,
Eng. and Sup't. .
EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL REPORTS CT THE
CHIEF ENGINEER AND SUPERINTENDENT FOR
THE YEARS 1866, 1867 AND 1869, WITH Elk
TRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE COMMIT
TEE APPOINTED TO EXAMINE THE REPORTS
FOR 1867:
EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF 1866.
To discrim ste il making freight charges has
been loEG and wall established. No railway can
be well anil juetiy managed who're that principle
is not observed.
Suppose the horizontal system to be adopted
and ali goods paid the game rates per ton p I
mile for long or short distances, the cost of
hauling and hsndlipg being the same. and the
ratio being such. that short distances we're sim
ply remuneratiVe. the charges for thu louges t
distances would &c excessive amounting 10 a
prohibition Carry the principle out as we may,
Tor one, two or three thousand miles and we
could not ENJOY tho products or manufactures
OF other countries.
1t has been thought hest, therefore, to equal
ize the burdens of transportation, and OF main
tanning our great Railway lines by charging less
and less IS the distance travelled becomes groat-
or and greater; thus while the residents az gr
the market towns pay more per mile than those
residing at the greatest distance yet the est of
transportation thus distributed Is not oppres-
slye upon either, and it enables the Railways to
be maln aimed, as they are, for the mutual bene-
lit Of stockholders and people.
This is precisely the principle that regulates
the local tariff OF freight for this and moss other
Railways.
REPORT OF 1867.
This subject, as connected with our through
business, requires few words OF remR1k. There
seems to be an lmpressi II wi some Of our
home patrons, that local way freights shouId
be charged IS low tae lowest through rates
on the ground that our own people should be
treated as Well as those at a distance. 60 this
abstract prluclpIe NJ one object. The true
cause of complaint on this subject, koWeye., IT,
that those who built and must sustain the road
Stne non l subscribers have no reason to COM
plain lose sight Of their own interests Would
any people, having jmpIoted great work ike
this, shut cut q benefits to all the world but
themselves. their neighbors and immediate
frlends, because others living at a distance coaid
not afford to uae it. and pay the same ate per
mile that they (the owners) find it necessary to
charge themselves and their neighbors, TO main
tda7e ute hod6. and Fay an income upon their in
vestnent? Surely not And yet this is precise
ly the caee presented. We cannot get the dis
tdnt business unless we carry it low as it can
go by other competing routes. Shall we ,efuse
to take it because of that fact, and run our cars
half loaded with local business only, when we
We think not. All we can add to the receipts
from such sources is nearly all profit and helps
to reduce the local rates, and thus benefit the 10
Cal patrons. In other words, will he local pa
irons maintain the line acne, or receive the as
slstance OF outsiders at such rates as thev are
Wiling to pay?
EXTRACT FROM REPORT CF COMMITTEE TO
WHOM REPORTS WERE REFERRED, CON
sIsTING OF COL. A. A. AIcKoY, MAI. J. A.
The question of through Freights we have
fully considered and approved. and can add Moth
ing to the able argument OF the Chief En-
gineer and Superintendent Col. Fremont, in it's
speotfuy call the attention Of all the stockhold-
ers, and others inter ested IN this matter.
REPORT OF 1869.
The whole principle may be stated in ie
WORDS. Local freight and passenger rates are
made just high enough to pay the cost of ope-
rating, and reasonable dividend to the stock
holders. II it were not 80 the Road could not
be operated for any great length of time.
Suppose there are persons living at distance
that desire to send their freight or to travel over
your Road. if they can do it as cheapIy as they
can by some other competing line, there being
t1o or more lines competing for this business.
If we cay we can only carry them their
goods at local rates, We will fail 10 take any pO~-
ton of them. and our Road will continue to run
empty or partially empty cars.
Ii, on the contrary, We will carry them as low
VI tOHeI tAdH auu OluoT Ilu0s We Will get some
additional business at rate that will pay a
profit, large or small, according to the rates we
able to obtain.
We will thus be enabled to build up thorough
business that will yield profit, which amount
can be subtracted from the amount we have
been realizing from our local business, and thus
be enabled to reduce the loca! rates.
On the other hand. if we insist upon certain
high rate for the business, which must be com
peted for We may lose it altogether, and the To-
cal freighters must continue to maintain their
lines of railway themselves, unaided.