The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-12-03
GENERAL Managers OFFICE.

GENERAL MANAGERS OFFICE,
ST. PAUL & Sioux CITY R. R. Co.
ST.. PAUL, Nov. 81, 1873.
Messrs. L. NJ. Brown and sixty EIGHT others
of Shakepee, l.. L. Baxter and eighteen
others of Chaska, Holmes, Anderson,
Sundine and twenty two others of Carver,
S. 4. Hooper and forty-three others OF
Belle Plaine, Chas. Keller and forty-one
others of Henderson,:
GENrLEMEk-I have respectfully to
acknowledge the receipt of your several
petitions, addressed to the officers of
this Company, asking that our passen-
ger trains Nos. 3 and 4, known as the
''Mankato accommodation, may be
continued through the winter.
In reply thereto beg leave to sub
NIT to you as candid business men and
to the public, the following statement
of facts:
For the year ending June Goth, 1874,
the expenses of our passenger trains
mot including taxes, insurance or in
terest) were $167 .63s.37, being 81 ITO
per cent. of the operating expenses of
the road.
During the same time the earnings of
the passenger trains Gncluding mail
and express,) were Sl52,753.72, being
q per cent. of the gross earnings of the
road, the deficit chargeable to the pass
enger trains for the year being $14.8
IS.
The passenger train mile has cost
for that time 81 20 $40, and has earned
S1.18 l.1O-a loss of IL IL cents per
train mile. These results were reached
while the local fare was five cents per
mile.
The passenger accommodation in
cludcs two, exclusively passenger, trains
each way, daily between St. Paul and
Mankato, and one between Mankato
and Sioux City. For the public con-
venience mail and express has been
regularly carried on the Mankato train
AoA Ao-1AoA VI "AiSu has VIC CoHPduy
received any additional compensation.
On the 1st Of August the Railroad
Commissioners prescribed IL cents
per mile as the maximum passenger
fare for this road.
This reduction, in view of the in.
formation laid before the Commission.
ers at the time, was justified, so far as
| am informed, only upon the theory
that the reduction in fale would SO
stimulate travel as to yield the same OF
| greater revenue than at cents.
| The Board Of Directors by resolution
directed the reduced fare to be put in
force on the LIST of September, for the
purpose of testing the question whether
increased travel would or would not
follow.
During the five months, April to Au
gust, inclusive, in 1874, the passenge.
revenue of the Mankato train exceeded
that for the corresponding months Of
1873 by about three per cent, the fare
being the same. During the month.
Of September and October, 1874, (al
IL cents per mile), the revenue Of
the same train was less than for tn,
corresponding months of 1873 by fiv,
per cent, falling off Of the revenue tt
be expected at cents per mile Of eight
per cent, or almost exactly ten pei
cent of that part of the revenue tina
comes from LEGAL ticket sales. which i.
about eighty per cent. of the total rev
enue of that train.
This means that the reduction of II
per cent. on the fare has not increased
the travel but has depleted the reve
nue., by the amount Of the reduction
Now it is an imperative necessity for u
to reduce the expenses or to increas
; the earnings of our passenger ira ms
until they at least pay their portion o
the expenses of the road.
| This necessity is especially apparen
| during the four months commencin,
. with December, when running expense
are greater and receipts are less thai
: for the remainder Of the year.
, The suspension Of this train whicl
brings no additional revenue excep
from such passengers as would not b
found ON the other, if this we're no
5 running, has seemed to me under tn
, circumstances the proper and necessar.
thing to do, and the preparatory in
structions have been given for its dis
: continuance on the 10Th inst.
t This conclusion was reached witt
e great regret and had the net earning
t from freight trains been suficien
to make up the deficit Of the passenge
trains and pay the interest on tn
funded debt. which (about $500 pc
mile Of road must be paid as we'll a
operating expenses, the suspension
would not have been considered. i
! fact. however, the stockholders have
large deficit to provide for, to pay thi
! interest aid ought not to be expecte
to run any more trans than will pa
expenses under economical manage
ment.
Il Upon receiving these your petition.
so numerously and respectfully signet
have reconsidered the matter an
have concluded to refer it to the decis
: ion of the Board of Directors, upo
= whom, if the train is continued. tn
3 deficit must fall. / have deemed thi
statement due to You. whatever ma
be the decision Of the Board, which Wi
be made at their meeting on the 27t
) inst
Il / Am very respectfully and trul
|, yours, J. w. BrsHoP,
! General Manager.