Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-18
somE pRAcrIcAL CONSIDERATIONS

Although It is an axiom in trsnsporta-
tion management that only in a permissi.
BILE high maximum is to be found the prob
ability Of the lowest minimum, there is no
commercial proposition which the advo.
Gates Of uniform rate so persistently
ignore. In that very fact probably is
found the best evidence of the souudness
OF the proportion, since any rational ap-
preach to its discussion invariably reveals
its correctness. It was, however, unwit.
tingly emphasized by one of the Railroad
Commission the other day in the statement
that on the lines Of transportation where
the travel is the greatest in California the
rate is the lowest, and almost If not quite
as low as he desired it to be. Bat his
acheme is 70 make that rate uniform. Il
vii. need but moments reflection to con.
vince the thoughtful that if the rate over
gwen line ia densely settled regions is
reasonably low, to apply the same rate
uniformly to sections where the traffic is
necessarily light and the population very
limited, must work hardship, since the
ixed expenses are about the same in either
case, and the operating expenses not pro-
portionately greater where the low rate
prevails than where the higher rate is
necessity. Bat it is true that in Califor-
MIA in very many instances where the
traffic is hgdt the cost of operation is
greatly increased by reason OF natural
obstacles to be overcome. In any light in
which viewed, uniformity such as is now
being demanded by those who assume to
be opponents OF the popular desire,
means nothing less than Gripping of
efficiency in the very regions where trans
porsation companies should put forth their
best efforts to develop and build up the
country, that it may the sooner enjoy a
lower rate and yield a heavier trsi6c.
AMI this consideration is wholly exclusive
OF that other and intimate one related to
It, the question of competition, which is
alsays greatest IN the thickly settled
regions. and those sections along which
commercial transactions are heaviest and
oyners the lower rates obtain. For in
stance, it viii need no argument to con
vince the people Of this county that on the
line operated from Sacramento TO Folsom,
where the traffic Is light, the passenger
carriage meager and the population scarcely
four to the squsre mile rate Of three
cents, for example, must result in dead
loss to the carrier OF passengers and a con
sequent reduction of the efficiency OF the
line, and damage to this county. This
instance is but one Of many that might be
cited, and illustrates the well. known
buliness rule that rates or profits depend
upon the activity ard extent of demand.
As in the older States. SO here, when
demagogaes shall cease to obscure the
popular vision and mislead the public
Judgment by the persistency of their fsl-
Iacious arguments. and the appeals to
passion and prejudice. the people will
fully realize thst a low uniform maximum
i. the enemy of efficiency in transportation
and 8 clog upon the development of the
interior sections, and that nowhere else in
the United States is it so manifestly true
as in California, with her broad area and
limited population distributed over a
great expanse OF territory.