The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-09-13
THE PACIFIC RAILROADS.

The recent advance of freight charges
by the Union and Central Pacific rail-
roads has called forth emphatic dissent
from almost every quarter. The San
Francisco merchants, who are chiefly
affected, as is natural object most stren-
uously, but there is nothing for them to
do but submit. In this fast age, as the
local journals say, it is impossible to
wait for goods shipped around the Horn,
and, as it is believed the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company are in the ring,
there remains no alternative. The facts
of the situation, as it seems to US, are
ably discussed in a late communication
to the Philadelphia Evening Telegram,
from which we extract few paragraphs
as follows:
1.-THE Secretary of the Interior, in his
recent report gives the following official
information about the financial condi-
ton of the Pacific railroads, WHITLEY
have earned from their completion up
to October 81, 1877, in an average of
eight years, the very handsome sum of
$3.50, 0O0, 600, during which time they
have expended for operating expenses
$91 ,0O0, 900, leaving 500, DOC, 900 to their
credit as net earnings, or a clear profit
of a sum much larger than their total
Government liability, both principal and
interest, which up TO the same date is
computed as $31 ,895. 184.
Last year the gross earnings of the
Union Pacific and Central Pacific rail.
roads amounted to $31, 900, 943, and the
net profits to 81, ia, 1853, and while these
railroads constitute but the 1-30th part
of the railroad mileage of the United
tage of their position and the entire free
dom from any healthy competition, to
carry off the 18th of the total net earn
ings of American railrods.
"a passenger is now carried from New
York to Omaha at 2-37 cts per mile, at
the rate of 245 miles per hour, including
all stoppages. From Omaha west to
San Francisco he is obliged to pay 5.22
| per mile, or over double fare, and travel
at the slow rate of 18.5 miles per hour.
The charges for freight through the west
| average 1.6 cents per ton per mile, and
between Chicago and New York, Phiia-
delphia and Boston less than one cent
per ton per mile. The Pacific railroad
| freight charges were three times as great
and they have recently been doubled.
Extend the same time table and rate of
| fare which now exists between n. York
and Fort Worth, Texas, and passenger
viii be transported to the Pacific coast
in two days less time, and for one fourth
less money. Apply the passenger rate
from New York to Omaha to the trans
continental trip, and instead of having
to pay $135 for ticket, transportation
would be furnished for $7S, or $57 clear
saving 10 the emigrant or tourist.
This uncalled for advance of rates
must be viewed with grave concern by
the intelligent mercantile classes of the
country It stands as an instance OF
corporate greed, antagOnizing the besi
interests of the community that fostered
and created it, and as such is wifhoui
parallel In the annals of railway rapaci
/ ty. Already nine-tenths of the valuable
trade and travel of the Orient, which
should be welcomed and encouraged te
traverse our territory, has been banishet
by the extravagant cost of our fTanscon
| tinentaI service, and driven to seek
more circuitous Snez route, which fhs
English and French governments finC
it to their interests 10 sustain by libera
Advances Of money amounting TO abou
AZ on Go Uer aBnuTa