The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-06-19
RAILROAD FARES.

The question of railroad transportation
rates has had considerable agitation in one
of its elements and continued protest against
h Oh freight rates has been met BY conces-
sIons on the part Of railroad companies that
leaves little to complain Of by Montana peo-
pie and which has Injured TO the financial
benefit of the companies. Freight rates Into
and out of the Territory are now reasonable
and result thereof has been IN increase OF
shipments compromising the reductions
made. But passenger rates have been exor-
bitantly high and remain unchanged. The
local rates on the Utah & Northern and
Northern Pacific In Montana have been aud
are eight cents per mile. There has been
no reduction since the roads were construct
ed, although passenger travel has we believe
increased, with the exception Of ore ship
ments, rs greatly as freight. The rates OF
passenger transportation are out Of adjust
ment with other conditions and work hard
ship on our people that we believe lie also
detrimental to The financial interests of the
railroad companies. Over sparsely settled
regions, where operating expenses are great
and local travel arbitrarily limited, the high
local rates are perhaps defensible. But Mon
tana has largely passed out Of that c0ndi-
ton. We have large towns with travelling
populations. The business Of the country
Ia such that business men have much travel
Ing to do, and the working classes are more
transitory than In agricultural or manufac-
turing communities. High rates are OPP
pressive TO them. Railroads justly lay claim
not only to speedier transit but TO being the
more economic method. And yet between
many local points in Montana 1t Is now
cheaper fer two or three persons to travel by
carriage than by car. Again, many families
would travel, If rates were lower, who are
are new deprived of that privilege. In many
of the older States, extending as far west as
Kansas and Nebraska, rates are limited by
law 10 three cents per mile, and we believe
In Utah It Ii five cents. Why, then, should
the rate be eight cents In Montana? Except
In the cost of fuel, expenses are not much
greater. In the matter of through passen
gers, especially emigrants, these railroad
companies undergo enormous expenses u
attract travel that does not pay them one
third of the local rates charged In Montana
and this local travel comes without cost
| The trains are necessarily run daily at Ger
tain expense and the difference In cost be
tween carrying one passenger or two 10 TIL
fling. Travel makes travel, and freight ant
express transportation, from all Of which TIL
railroad company derives revenue. A ma
terial question to the companies of course is
whether travel could be so corresponding.
| ly increased II fares were reduced that thu
net revenues of the roads would be main
tanned. This Is an important problem, ALI
| IL Is one of which the railroad managers vii
doubtless take the most skeptical view
Probably no railroad man has yet compre
hended the business resources and activitie
of this country until 1t was presented In un
questionable form in the reports shown
actual earnings. When the late Washington
Dunn, Esq, to whom We are probably mos
largely indebted for the sanguine faith tha
induced the construction of the U. & n.
Montana, reached Silver Bsw junction
few years ago, he said one train wee
would do all the business Of the countr
north of that for the next ten years-and b
believed 1t. But there has never peen . tim
since the road was constructed north of 81
yer Bow Junction that there has been LEI
than from fsur TO twelve trains day opers
ted on It. With each successive reduction
of postal and telegraph rates throughout tn
country, many who could not comprehen
the commensurate increase Of business, pr
dicted loss OF net revenues, but In every cas-
the compensations have been ample. W
believe the railroads would make moi
money at lower rates. Anyhow, we thin
Montana is entitled TO them. Rates Of fal
are too high. We urge this matter upon th
attention Of railroad officials and trust th
newspapers Of the Territory will give 1t II
vestigation and expression. ..