Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-08

subsequent repeal would not increase
the powers, rights or privileges origi-
nally conferred by ithe charter grant.
The objection urged next as ground
for the modification of the order and deci-
sion heretofore made is that the decision is
based upon the operating expenses
of the road for a single year, and
that the expenses for that year
were much below the average. The per
centum of operating expenses TO earnings
upon the road for the year ended June 30,
1885, was 80 9-1o. The average for the year
past was 81 1O-1C0, or = 5000 above the
! average for the year ended June 30, 1883.
But dividing the ten years into periods of
] five, we find the average for each period as
| follows: For the first five years, 81 I0-l00:
for the last five years, 53 4)-1OO per cent"
The Commissioners, after a review of the
progress of new roads and their compare.
| tive earnings, further say: THAT part
OF the territory through which the
respondent cOmpany's lines run, which has
heretofore been the least profitable through
which to operate railways, is quite rapidly
| filling up with an enterprising and thrifty
population. The business of the road is in.
| creasing, and unless new lines shall be
added to the system, whose operation may
be so unremunerative as to impose an ad.
ditioral burden upon it, it is reasonable to
expect that other things, equal the ratio of
] expenses to earnings, will be diminished
rather than increased in the future. In the
! light of these facts, and in the absence of
any evidence of circumstances and condi.
tions existing, which would tend to show
| that the ratio of expenses to earnings for
the last year is exceptionally low, we think
the ratio for the last year may be regarded
as fair representative average" In an.
swer to the plea that the decision proceeded
upon mistake of facts as to the company's
revenues, in this, that it charged to the
company as part of its revenue the pro-
ceeds derived from the sale of its
land grants, the Commissioners set
| forth the facts as showed by
statistics that the company had a large
revenue from the sale of its lands over and
above the amount necessary to liquidate
the remaining part of the land-grant bonds,
now unprovided for, and it sis not only
fair to presume, but it may be confidently
expected that the earnings per mile Of the
railroad will continue TO Increase in the
future as they have in the past. The terri
tory through which the road runs is capable
of indefinite development. 1t yet but thin
| ly settled. The lands along its lines are
being rapidly absorbed by settlers and
others for practical use. With the growth
of settlement the business of the road must
continue to increase. The gross earnings
per mile of the road have grown
from $3,567.55 in 1876 to IS, 1917 in
1882; and the net earnings per mile from
| S1,614.6S in 1876 to 50 $50 in 18S2-more than
| hnnHraH in l.. L.
meantime the average rate of freight has
been reduced % 3J-I00 per cent" From
the general exhibit of earnings by the
road the Commissioners are unable to APP.
prehend financial trouble to the respondent
company from the proposed reduction. To
the objection that "the tariff rates fixed by
said decision are injurious to the best in
terest of said respondent company, and
the people of said State, for the reason that
if carried out will practically result in the
contiscation of the auxiliary and leased
lines of said respondent company and pre-
vent the construction of new lines in the
| future through portions of the State where
such new lines ought to be built" the ar
gument was not sufficiently definite and
clear to enable the Commissioners to ap.
prehend the full meaning of this last OBJ.
lection. - With
respect to the proposition that the
reductions will retard the building of add
| tional branch lines, the Board said 'this &c
a certain extent may be an indirect result.
Railroad companies DO not build railroads
from motives of philanthrophy, or mainly
for the purpose of promoting public utili.
ties, but solely from motives of gain. They
are moved just as other persons are in.
iuenced to establish banks and other finan.
cial business enterprises. The persons
composing railway companies are as selfish
not more so nor any less, as the average OF
mankind. They have built branch lines in
the past where and when it seemed to then
it would pay to do so; they will
continue to do the same in the
future" While this might leave the
company less surplus earnings to build
branch lines it could not be presented upon
any grounds of Justice to those who pay the
transportation tax or of legitimate bust
ness principles. The Board could find moth.
ing i'll the arguments presented to induce g
change of the former decision. The Com
missioners, however, upon further thought
and investigation deemed it just and
proper to make several notifications in the
distance tariff schedule, as for the
shorter distance the rates fixed were toe
high. The following rates were therefore
established as a substitution for those pre-.
scribed for corresponding distances and
classes in the former schedule:
ON FIRST-CLASS.