The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-11-01

Is the most significant from the fact that
those months bring the lightest traffic and
the poorest financial return, not only over
this road, but, so far as we have been able
to ascertain, from reports to this office, on
all other roads operating in Kansas.
The traffic over the road for the
three months named over the traffic
| indicated by the receipts or
| earnings, has increased 50 per cent. II the
same ratio of increase were to continue up
on the business of the whole year, and the
present rates were maintained, the receipts
of the company would register upwards Of
two millions of dollars. While this is a
result which it would perhaps be too san.
guine to anticipate, it is well known fact
that the volume of traffic over the Central
Branch for the ensuing year will very con.
siderably exceed the business for any pre-
ceding year. AT present we are unable to
perceive sufficient reason to recede from
our decision made on the 9th of Septem-
Der. If, in the future, it should appear to
the satisfaction of the Board that the rates
fixed in that decision should prove to be in
sufficient remuneration for the service per-
formed, or should require modification, the
Board will feel at liberty to make such ad.
Justments of them as will be fair and just
to all concerned. The people living along
the line of the road are alike interested
with the company operating the line, in
having efficient service upon it, and we
recognize the fact that this can be secured
by maintaining its revenues so as to afford
a fair compensation for the service per.
formed. As was stated in the original de.
cision, the law requires just proportionate
rates to be charged along the line of the
road, and that change at one point would
necessitate REIMBURSEMENT of the rates at
other points. The most equitable results
will be attained by providing that revised
schedule of rates in conformity to the de-
cision of the Board, go into effect at the
same time the decision is made to apply to
the point from which the complaint comes.
It will require some time to accomplish this
adjustment, which6he law seems to contem-
plate must be made. Besides,
the general managers of the diff.
ferent railroads in the State,
through committee appointed by them at
their meeting held on October II, 1888, have
requested to meet the Commissioners on the
9th day of November next, for the purpose
of adjusting equitable freight rates on their
respective lines, to which request the
Board acceded; and in view of this meet
ing and in order to avoid complications
which would inevitably arise if the decision
were Immediately to go into effect at Beloit,
and the Board believing that the best re-
suits will be obtained to the people of the
whole State by such meeting and confer
ence, and postponement of the taking eff
feet of said decision until such meeting in
November, at which it is believed fair ad.
justmenl of rates can be arrived at at all
points, without waiting the slow process of
successive adjustments under complaints,
it is ordered that the time for posting seized.
ules of rates under the decision be post. |
poned to the 10th of November, 1888.