Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-15
FIXING RAILROAD RATES.

The discussion we have been having
in this State for the last two or three
wears, upon the subject OF regulating
railroad tariffs. has done much to en-
tighten the public mind upon this SUD-
ject.
We started out, just where other
States have started, with the idea that II
was the simplest matter in the world;
that all it was necessary to do was 10
pass law fixing definite and unalter'
able schedule OF rates, and compel the
railroads to observe them.
In the two years discussion OF the sub
iect, the majority OF the people have
learned that what appeared to be the
simplest matter in the world is, in TACT,
the most intricate problem with which a
Legislature has ever had to deal. 1t is
a problem with which the English Par,
lament, the American Congress, and
nearly all the State Legislatures have
wrestled, as yet, without any satlsiac'
tory result.
Some of the conclusions which have
been reached by legislative bodies in
this country and Europe, are thus re-
ported:
A select committee OF Parliament re.
ported as follows upon the subject OF
fixing rates OF transportation: This is
a function which no government ought
10 undertake. 1t involves the necessity
of determining what are the proper ex-
penses of the companies, and what econ
omies they can practice. These are mat.
tiers which require the knowledge, skill
and experience OF the managers them.
selves, and any attempt on the part oil
any government department to do 1t tor
them is impossible, unless the govern
ment were 10 take an amount OF inter
ference with the internal concerns OF
the company, which is neither desirable
or practicable.
(R'y Co.'S Amalgamation, p. %
So in the general railroad law OF Eng
land, it is declared that at is expedient
that the company should be enabled to
vary the tolls upon the rail way, SO as to
accommodate them to the circumstances
of the traffic" and the company was au
thorizsd "from time to time, to alter OF
vary the tolls either upon the whole o.
anu particular portion Of ne rditpdy as
they shall see fit"
The R'y clauses consolidation act.)
And, in the year 1867, a Royal Com
mission, after investigating the subject
in all its bearings, reported that, Inc
quality of charge In respect
OF distance, besides being q
necessary consequence OF com
petition, is an essential element in the
CARRYING trade; that is to say, the prin'
cipal which governs a railway company
in fixing the rate is that Of creating d
traffic by charging such sum for con
yeyance as will induce the product OF
one district to compete with that OF an
other in common market.
"The power of granting special rates
thus permits development OF trade
which would not otherwise exist and il
is abundantly evident that a large por'
ton of the trade OF the country at the
present time has been created by and Is
continued on the faith OF special rates. "
And they conclusively add: "The con-
ditions under which such rates are
granted are so numerous that no special
law could be framed to regulate Them
Royal Commission on railways,
p. Az
In 1874 the railroad commissioners oil
the State OF Maine reported as follows:
"In the minds OF those who give this
subject the fairest consideration and
possess knowledge enough CT it to ap
preciate fully its difficulties, it becomes
conviction, more positive the longer II
is dwelt upon, that the only sure way
to obtain permanently low rates on rail
road traiic-and especially on freight
is 10 leave the problem untrammeled by
legislative enactments to those whose
special business it is to study out all it,
intricacies."
Or r. Com'rs Rep, Maine) 1874. p. 49,
In 1878 a Special Committee OF the
Senate OF the State OF Alabama, alter
investigating this subject, in their re
port gave this practical illustration;
Ordinarily it requires twenty.ioul
hours to load car and twenty-four tC
unload it. The average speed OF {
freight train is ten miles an hour. \
car carries ten tons OF freight. Sup
pose the rate charged to be two cent:
per mile; il the car is to be moved ter
miles, it would require forty.nine hours
and it would earn for the company -
that is % cents per day.
"lf this same car were TO be moved
one thousand miles, it would require
one hundred and forty EIGHT hours, and
at the same rate OF freight, would earn
$50 80 per day.
"Now, il to this calculation be also
added the loss to the company from the
locomotive continuing its trip with
train of less weight than it had capacity
TO draw, and also the additional expense
to the company of station houses and
station agents and employees at different
points to accommodate the local bust
ness, kut which are OF no use for through
business, it becomes palpable the trans
portation OF freight over Short distance,
iustifies discrimination and charge oil
q much higher rate per mile OF distauct
than is necessary when the transporta
ton is over long distances.
The Railroad Commissioners OF Mas.
sachusetts, in their report for 1873
speaking OF legislation upon the subject
said: 1T would appear that the more
such measures are extended in their
operation the more complex they be
come, and the greater must be the dith.
culties in the nay Of their successful
operation"