Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-08
TIE RAILROAD REDUCTIONS OF YEAR

threat Of strike.
L
TIE RAILROAD REDUCTIONS OF A YEAR
The annual report Of the Central Pacific
Railroad Company, just issued, makes
some showings that go far toward exposing
the demagogy of the present insane assaults
upon the corporation. This is no warrant
whatever for believing that the bowling
crew led by the weak minded Eramiae'
and the Matchmaking Chronicle, to which il
is mere tender, reflect the wishes of the
people of California. Tneae hypocritica
sniyelers, who are go vociferous in theil
demands that the railroads shall be cinched
have never yet shown authority from The
people for their unholy crusade. They
have been careful to avoid the fact thai
freight and fare reductions have beer
made steadily, just as the need was, and
as the immutable laws Of trade and com
merce dictated. Thus it is shown thai
while on the 3lst of December, 1881, the
company operated 2.S65 miles of road, il
now operates 3, POI miles, or an increase O.
336 miles. The available dividends fol
1881 were 81, 500. 757 10, but for 1882 werc
81, 59l. Gil 90, decrease in one year oil
1902, lis 20, or p per cent. of the mel
income. The greater part of this decrease
is attributable to the reduction of rates
For in 1881 the average rate of freight pei
ton per mile was ,. l6 cents, while in 1885,
it is 81, lowering of rates l6 per cent,
or Of 80 of a cent on each ton hauled {
mile. In 1881 the average rate of farel
per passenger per mile was BOG cents. a
decrease Of per cent. was accomplished
in 1882, the rate declining to 229 cents
being a reduction of IA of cent on eact
mile travelled by passenger. With this
/ decrease of available dividends, and in,
creased mileage operated, the increase Of
tonnage between 1881 and 1882 was l69,.
| sos. APO tons carried one mile or more, and
the increase of passengers carried one mile
or more was 81, 706, Cos But, as is shown,
the increase or decrease of traffic has very
little effect upon the fixed expenses OF the
company, and this is true Of all railroads,
as the General Manager of the Central Pa.
cific is careful to point out. The thought
full reader will realize that these reductions
have come about in the natural order Of
things, that the bowling anti.railroad der.
wishes have not at all taken them into &C.
count, and have studiously avoided all
reference to them, or to the fact that the
increase of earnings of the company in
1882 was more than swallowed up by the
increase of expenses, The report shows
that the net earnings per freight train
mile in 1881 were 81 40, and in 1882 81 10,
a decrease of net profit on each mile run Of
26 per cent. The net earnings per passen.
ger train mile in 1881 were 81 40, and in
1882 81 IS, decrease of net profit Of S
per cent. As result, says the General
Manager in submitting the report, in
1882, compared with the previous year, the
company performed % per cent. more Of
freight service and Il per cent. more OF
passenger service, at total net profit to
the company of p per cent less" To
these showings there ia to be made no satis.
factory answer by the blatant and com.
munistic press. Il has not as yet. and never
can, present any artificial basis for reduo.
tion of freights and fares Ali it knows Of
railroading, and the conditions under
which roads are operated and rates fixed,
adjusted and reduced, can be written upon
the thumb nail. Itassumes 70 believe that
it is popular to cry out constantly and with
iterating dolefulness for reduction, and
against fictitious exsortion, discrimination
and high rates, but when cornered these
loud.mouthed but shallow patriots have
been unable to point out any method
by which their insane schemes fol-
arbitrary reductions can be carried out
and the roads still operated. 1t matter;
not to them that in one year reduction Of
p per cent. of profit has been accom-.
plished. If p per ceLt. more should be
| cut off in 1883, 1884 would find these con.
fscasors bowling as rabidlY as ever for still
greater limitations. In truth, there is nc
end, as there is no sincerity, to their de.
mands. They have their own case ends tC
accomplish, and viii stand at no device tc
compass them.