Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-02-02

LnaC the CnlcagO G Northwestern and
Milwaukee q St. Paul Companies an
nuallyexpend nearly two millions dollars
for fuel for locomotives, and that me-
dium coal averages 81 in Wisconsin,
while the Pennsylvania Railroad pay
only 81 for the best quality, it is mans
ifest, that, in one important respect,
the cost OF transportation must be 100
per cent. higher in Wisconsin than in
Pennsylvania. This comparison ex-
tends to Illinois, Indiana and Ohio
roads that traverse coal districts, some
OF which average less than $50 per
ton. This difference becomes more
striking in view, Of the fact that of the
90 odd per cent. which the operating
expenses of the Northwestern and St.
Paul railways bear to their earnings,
the item of fuel constitutes IL per
cent.
Expenditures for track repairs and
renewals are the leading items of ex-
pense. Supplies being largely drawn
from the East, Western roads must
pay in excess Of Eastern roads the cost
of carriage to the West. $3.50 q
Another element of cost is climatic
Southern and eastern roads are rarely
troubled on account of snow or frost;
whereas, during a "severe SPELL" Wis
consin railways are blocked tor days,
traffic is suspended, and great losses
are incurred.
AS it does not appear that in the re-
naming items of expense the Wiscon
sin companies can effect any deduction
compared with other roads, clearly the
cost of railaoad operations in that
State is greater than that of roads
more fortunately located On what
principle, then, should they be re-
duced to lower rates of fare and freight?
The average rate on the several classes
named in the present law is, for $50
miles, slight fraction over two cents
per ten per mile The rate for $50
miles is taken because that is the av-
erage distance that each ton of freight
is hauled upon the leading railways of
Wisconsin. The rate named would
be realized were an equal quantity of
each class of freight carried. But the
lower classes predominant. Lumber
is the main article of shipment. For
]50 miles it is taken at less than II
per ton per mile, and for $50 miles at
less than Ii per ton per mile. Hence
the companies are compelled to do the
major portion of their local business at
less than l3cents per ton per mile!
In Connecticut the railroads average
81 cents per ton mile; Maine, AZ cents;
Massachusetts, Al cents; seven Penn
sylvania roads, 5 cents: twenty-three
Ohio roads 6a cents, and New York
roads, including the New York Cen
trail, 81 cents per ton per mile.
In Europe, the average rate per
ton per mile are-in Belgium, 24
cents; France, 3 cents; England, 81
cents: and Germany, 4 cents.
Compared with other States, the
lumber rate is unreasonably low. 1t
scarcely averages l. cents per ton per
mile. In New England, the roads
having heavy lumber traffic average
from 3 to 4 cents per ton per mile,
This adverse showing extends to rates
on grain and -four.
Nor is the comparison of passenger
rates more favorable. Connecticut av-
erages Al cents per mile; Maine, 4. to
5 cents; fourteen Pennsylvania roads
average 81 cents; Michigan, 81 cents;
Minnesota, 4 to 5 cents; while, in the
Upper Peninsula, the rate is 5 cents.
and in Colorado 10 cents per mile.
Throughout England, the average is
4 cents; while upon the best routes
from London to Brighton and London
to Dover-the through rate exceeds
5 and cents per mile. In France,
the average is AZ to 5 cents, and in
Austria, 4 cents.
The low rates enforced in Wiscon-
sin cannot be justified. No railroad
in the State is in position to earn
dividend, while two only from their
earnings meet current expenses and in
terest on bonds, and they are enabled
tG do so only on account of their op-
Grafton in other States. Thus the
people of Wisconsin receive cheap
transportation at the expense of others
This is shown by applying the average
Potter Law rates to the entire freight
movement ofthe Northwestern & st.
Paul companies for their last reported
fiscal years. The former would then
have closed the year with a deficit of
ST ,076, ,602, ,63; and the latter with a
deficit of 81 ,S42, ,59963.
Nor are the companies with whose
rates comparisons have been made ex-
cessively remunerative. Massachu-
sets and Pennsylvania each fall below
an average Of FIVE per cent. dividend;
Maine and Connecticut average 81
each; while in the West, Ohio does
not aveaage 8 per cent, and only two
roads in Indiana. four in Illinois, and
four leased lines in Iowa, pay any di-
vidends whatever. OF the remainder.