Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1886-02-14
ONLY ONE DOLLAR
FROM NEW YORK TO SAN
FRANCISCO.
win II. SDuthWorth On the Rail.
road Traffic Hogs and Humans.
H0W Corporations Rob
The People-Goycrn.
ment Control.

Live hogs, before fattening, are
shipped in lots of from 100 to l30
head per car, and after fattening in
lots of 60 to 100 to the car, accord
ing to weight and condition.
If a car load of l30 hogs were
shipped across the Continent, they
would not charge moro than 5000
for the car, Witch would amount to
about 81 for each hog. The
companies are charging from $50
to 5000 per car for transcontincntal
freight, 1t costs them no more to
phil a carload Of hogs than it does to
move Il carload of any other kind of
freight. If 1870 hogs were taken for
$50. it would cost for each hog
only 81. Is for the trip. If 100 hogs
only are shipped i'll each car, it
would cost for each hog only $l,50,
and if 60 hogs are shipped to the
car, each hog would cost but s.. 80.
Hogs have to be loaded and un-
loaded once every thirty-siX hours
or oftcner, and cost more to move
than passengers, who load and un-
load themselves.
Counting the cost of a passenger
coach at -, 500, and interest on one
Of the sixty seats in coach, for one
day, would amount to about two
thirds of a cent.
Counting the cost Of the coach at
s., 900, the interest at 6 per cent,
for one seat, for one day, would
amount to one and one-third cents;
at a cost of $4,000, the interest
would be two and two-thirds cents;
at $50, 900, the interest would be for
one seat, one day, five and one-third
cents, and for seven days, or the
trip across the Continent, thirty
seven and onc-third cents. 1t would
cost as much or more than that to
handle each hog on seven day trip.
This shows that the passenger can
can be carried in a palace coach for
what it costs to haul and handle
each hog. The hog is only charged
$1.lG for crossing this great Amer
American Continent, while the pas
scnger is charged $l5l,50. From
this it would seem that the hog is a
favored and superior being, and
really controls this country; but
the politicians tell us that the pas
sengers can vote and control this
country, and that the hog is only al
animal, and, having no vote, has
no voice in the matter.
How long are the passengers going
to pay 1870 times the price Of hogs
passage when they know that two
passengers can be hauled for what it
costs to haul and handle one hog:
If the hogs did the voting in Amer
lea, we would not be surprised at
their taking advantage Of their
numerical power; but why humans
should continue to pay 200 prices
and let hogs 60 for so little, is more
than a stranger can understand.
Counting the cost Of moving
trains across the Continent at Is
cents per mile on 1900 miles Of
Western road, and at six cents per
mile for 200 miles Of Eastern road,
and 20 cars to the train-each car,
then, costs to move across the Con-
tinent, only $2l. Yet the corpora
tions make shippers pay from $50
to 5000 per car for freight, and
make passengers pay Sl5l.50 per
seat, or $1,000 per ear. Counting
trains of 20 cars, at SCI, to cost
s42O, and to receive $50 for each
car for freight: the receipts would
amount to $4,000 and the profits to
81, $50. Counting passenger trains
of 20 cars, at S2l each, to cost S420,
and to receive $1,000 for each car,
or $lSl 800 for each train, or on an
investment of 1920; and yet few
people, claiming to be intelligent,
are still willing to continue TO per-