The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-04
LETTERS FROM TIE PEOPLE.
treights on the Rensselaer, and sar-
ntOga Railroad.
FArRmAvrv. VT. Oct. %. 1879.

FAIRHAvEN, VT, Oct. 49, 1873.
E3itor Rutldnd GIoJe observing in
your issue this morning President Dickson's
order reducing the fare on the Rensselaer,
and Saratoga railroad, allow me TO express
my gratitude for this voluntary act. What
ever you may name it, sagacity, philanthro-
ply or justice, let the people rejoice and
be glad at the dawn of better days under
the new administration, and devoutly pray
that yet more light may be let in upon
their understanding, and that their hearts
may not be hardened so that they may not
take yet another step which should have
preceded the one already taken, but since
ii did not, should most surely and speedily
follow Let it not be set down as migrate
full presumption, if we modestly but earn
estly enquire why there should not be at
least an equal reduction in freight. Mr..
Dickson may be ready, and the records of
the road may be repletc with reasons for
this unjust discrimination against those who
are interested in the TRANSPORTATION of
freight over this road. We have analysed
this matter of course from the standpoint
OF simple citizen, not as railroad man,
nor that of captous or habitual grumb-
Ter, but have drawn largely on our resour-
ces such as they are), for parallel in
business or ethics where Justice is kept
steadily in view, and can find none with
which to reconcile this arbitrary order. We
look upon this railroad as corporation
which has had the patronage of the public,
and in all questions affecting the public
burdens for their support, they should deal
with the public generally, and so far as
they are concerned, property is as much a
part of the public as persons, nasmuch as
it is supposed to contribute its proportion
to the support of this road.
Now it is found by the management of
this road that the patronage of the public
has been ample and more than sufficient
and they propose TO make reduction
virtually dividend and we ask in the
name of freight why this discrimination. Is
it because this department of freight is so
mconsderablc, so far in arrear in its con-
tributon to your livelihood our success ?
If it were 50 it would be beneath great
corporation in the midst of prosperity to
discriminate against its weaker patrons but
if the reason were true then how would
this thing appear. Let us compare little
and see the result. The New York Cent
raj is limited to two cents per mile fare
have bill or receipt before me showing
the freight on a car load of eleven tons
from Schenectady to Buffalo to be 1913, a
distance about three hundred miles or one
cent per ION n mile; freight advanced on
same car from Fairhaven to Schenectady
s2I5O, distance about seventy-fve miles,
or over three cents ton per milc-prcsent
fare five cents per mile. Now observe,
while the fare (present rate is once and
onc-hali greater than on the New York
Central, the freight is over three times as
much and it is proposed to reduce the fare
to three cents per mile, while no relief is
given to freight, grooming as it is with a
disproportionatc burden already If these
things are true in the face OF vast and
steady increase in frcights are we not justi-
fled in making this public appeal for a re-
duction Of the tariff on local frcights. and
may not the road reasonably hope to be in
measure reimbursed bya still further in
crease of business and at the same time de-
serve and acquire the confidence of the
public on their line whom they have thus
encouraged by placing them on level
with other competing enterprises situated
on other railroad lines.
S. w. BAILEY