Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-01-10


termining the rates which should prevail
at any given time A system Of rates un-
der which one road might operate
without detriment to its permanent pros
perity, would totally paralyze another
road whose relative position would rem
der the adoption of the same system
compulsory upon it. Indeed, the neces-
sity under which comparatively new
and weak lines find themselves 10 con
form their rates Of charges to those
either established by strong roads, or de
vised for them, renders a very large
amount Of railroad property, both in
this and other States, wholly unpTOit-
able Of the hfty-five railway COM
panies reporting to the Railroad Com
missiOners of the State of Illinois for the
year ending July 80, 1888, twenty-three
reported a loss. The companies report
ing loss operate an aggregate of 1922
miles Of road, and the total loss reported
for that year was S3094 134 60 This
added to the losses of former years,
which the same companies had been
carrying, sWelled the aggregate on July
80 of last year to $11 OPS, 98477.
The reports to this Office of companies
operating in this State for the year end
ing June 80. 1888, show that several
roads did not earn enough to pay cost
Of operating them, leaving the interest
on funded debts to be provided for from
some other source, or left to default
Nine roads reported to us for the same
year showing an insuficiency of earn
ings IN excess Of expenses 10 pay annu-
al interest upon bonded debt. These
nine roads represent a mileage of 1878
miles, the larger portion of which is in
Kansas. One of the companies reporting
fails to specify the earnings of it's lea ed
or auxiliary lines distinct from
the earnings Of the system as
whole. We doubt not that
a separate statement of earnings and ex-
penses of each line operated would swell
the aggregate Of non-paying mileage for
the last year.
For the year ending June 80, 1884, the
case stands substantially unchanged in
this respect. This loss must be provided
for and carried by the companies Oper-
ating the roads whose earnings are thus
deficient.
Railroads hereafter built in Kansas
will be compelled, from force of circum-
to conform their tariffs suLstan-
TALLY to the schedules of rates prevail
ing upon the older roads. The tariffs
had, prior to the recent reductions
brought about by the action of this
Board, been reduced from time to time
by the railroad companies, under the
OF Grafton of the laws of commerce, IN /
til the aggregate had reached about 40
per cent. of the first railroad tariffs
charged in the State.
This fact, it may be assumed. will len
der it hazardous for independent cOmpa-
MES to undertake the construction OfneW
lines in the State in the future, and the |
extension of our railroad system will be /
carried forward chiefly by the older and |
established companies. Recent ex-
perience only serves to confirm this view /
A new line, even though favOrably To- /
Gated as to business, would need to |
charge higher rates than It's situation !
would permit, to enable it to stand alone !
during the first years of seXistence, and |
until its traffic became well developed |
and firmly established.
Yet it must be evident that the |
demands of the State. |
arising from the increase of population /.
and the development of our vast agricul- |
tural resources, will require the building
Of a great number of additional miles of |
railroad In the near future.
In dealing with the question of rates,
the Board did not feel at liberty to nor
justified in ignoring considerations of /
the character outlined above. 1t is of |
Importance to secure, so far as could be
done, a full measure of justice to the .
people, but at the same time to avoid, by /
nconsiderate or too radical action, in
pOstpOning, or at least greatly |
the development and prosper
ty of those portions of the State not yet
penetrated by railroads.