St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1880-08-14
Reasonable Passenger Rates
on Railroads.

1t has always been our belief, and VIC
have invariably contended, that cheap
passenger rates Oh railroads yielded
more clear money to owners than the
high rates they have been in the habit
OF charging. An increase of travel is
all increase of income. One hundred
passengers at SIS each surely amounts to
more than twenty-five or thirty at
double that price, whilst the expense in
Cured in carrying the one hundred is
about the same as for the twenty ve
or thirty. In support of this view, we
print the following eye-opening article
from the Cincinnati Gazette:
1t the statements by the officials Of
the roads leading north from New
Orleans, and who are just now indulg-
ing III rate war, are true, and they doubt
less are, they demonstrate the fact that
passenger rates before the cut were too
high. This reduction has had the effect
OF stimulating travel to such an extent
that the trains are loaded or comforta-
bly, filled every day. People can afford
to travel, and, as a result, the traffic has
grown SO heavy under the reduced rates
that the roads are really receiving more
money than they would have done
under the old rates, while the operating
expenses OF the lines have not increased
to any extent. The fact that this is the
case is sufficient argument that the
rates were too high, and that the roads
are really gamers by the reduction. This
is by no means an isolated case. 1T has
been shown time and again that roads
make more money with h n ~, ,,c
than they do with exorbitant ones. The
rates for round trip tickets from New
Orleans are perhaps lower than they
should be as permanent thing, but not
much too low. They were too high
before, as the continual running of
half-filled cars clearly proved. Indeed,
they called it a thriving business if they
were one-quarter full. Perhars this
war was necessary to prove, if more
proof was needed, that the policy of the
Southern III reducing rates is the only
correct principle upon which passenger
departments can be successfully con.
Quoted. Trains have to be run any way.
and it costs very little more to carry
them full than empty; 500 passengers
can be hauled from New Orleans to Gin
clnnatl about as cheap as 100, while |
the increase in actual earnings will be
100 per cent. We venture to say that if !
the Southern had a corresponding period !
IN 1879 with which to make comparison
the passenger earnings of the time since I
the reduction would show all increase of
more than 100 per cent. The advantage
OF low rates to both the road and the |
PUBLIC has also been demonstrated bv
the Chicago and Alton, Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific, and Illinois Central. |
which reduced their rates some time 90. !
Since then their receipts from passenger |
otsihess nave increased wonderfully
u lacs .icy are doing better and making
more money than ever before. There |
IS much need of reform in Southern rail-
road passenger business, and it is to be
hoped the war OF rates now going on
will convince the officials that when
peace is restored, and a new rate sheet I
it should be on a basis in |
Keeping with the spirit of the nineteenth
century.
We commend the following to the
officials of the Morgan road. If they
expect to command a large business in I
5llls section, and their road made pop
llar and useful, they must lower their |
'ates. By establishing low passenger
Ind freight rate, they will reap one
hundred dollars where they would not
make fifty by pursuing the old method.
Live and let live" has become the
settled motto of the times.