Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-03-01

1886. .......................3 81 cents
The average amount earned per train mile
was thirty nine and a-half cents.
But your attention is called to other facts
which almost prove the lack of profit on pas
senger business at present rates.
On the Chicago, Burlington IL Quincy Rail
road, as per figures shown in 1886, the average
weight of a passenger car is % tons.
Weight of full load Of passengers go in num-
berD 375 tons.
Average weight Of average load az passen-
gers,) 80 of ton.
Dead weight in passenger cars, SO per cent.
Paying weight in freight cars, 1871 per cent.
Dead weight in freight cars, go per cent.
Cost OF passenger car So, 900.
Cost Of freight car, $3.50.
A freight car, costing one-tenth as much
as a passenger car pays about 40 per cent of
its weight; passenger car, costing ten times
as much as freight car, pays per cent of
its weight.
The average earnings of a passenger car,
per day, when in use, is. s46 80
Cost per day, including fixed expenses,
but not dividends. Observation-Disclosures. 45.46
Net earnings, per day. .................. .93
So that the actual cost per passenger per
mile was, in 1886, within .045 of cent of
the maximum rate proposed by this measure,
leaving no margin for the payment of diyi-
dends upon the stock; while it must also be
remembered that these figures are for Illi-
nos and Iowa combined.
These figures swell the vast volume of
evidence that the passenger business of
Iowa, at the present rates, is not and in the
nature of things cannot be profitable, and
yet it is proposed to reduce the rate one
third, and it seems to me clear to make it
improbable.
Loss can only be avoided by limited fa-
cilities-fewer and slower trains, and poorer
accommodations to travellers.
The most radical demand of the people of
Iowa is to be found in the platforms of some
of the political parties of the State, and there
a belief is expressed that the first-class roads
can stand two cent per mile rate, and
therefore the rate is demanded.
You, gentlemen, know how much inyesti-
CATION precedes the expression of such a. be-
lief in political platform, and yet dignity
ing this political plank to the high plane of a
demand by the people; it is expressly
founded on a belief which it must be con-
ceded has not fact upon which to base
itself
think any prudent man would fear, in
deed confidently expect, that Immediately
following the fixing of such a rate Iowa
would have fewer passenger trains, slower
passenger trains, and greatly reduced and
limited facilities and accommodations or, il
that were not the result it would be newt
freight. Before taking such a step would it
not lie wise to look abroad and see what
other States have been doing, and find, If
we can, State that has ventured to fix the
rate proposed, and has found her railroads
prospecting under the restriction.
He who, from the fact that the New York
Genital road carries with profit its passen-
gers at two cents per mile, would infer that
Iowa roads can do the same, must note tina
following facts essential to a comparison:
| Aver age passenger train load on the New
| On the Chicago, Burlington Il Quincy. 40
| On the New York Central, passengers
on per tbe % Gs od roa Huntingdon Quincy
In Il &c. the New York Central earned
per passenger per train mile ........ leo
| 1t expended in operating .............. 81
| Leaving margin of per mile .. 80
If at two cents a mile the New York Cen
| trail, carrying 330,346 passengers per mile,
| realizes 80 one-hundredths of cent per pas
| senger per mile, how much will the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy, carrying 69,742 pas
| SINGERS at the same rate, realize?
| The population Of cities at the eastern
terminus Of the N. Y. Central, is POSI- 223
Cities of 10000 and over, along the line, 53SO3s
| Other towns and stations. ............ 1S4396
The population of all towns and stations
on the lines of all roads in Iowa, is about
| $780, coo.
The area Of New York is. AZ $40 square miles,
| The area of Iowa. ......... 045
| Population Of New York. .5,0S2,ST
| Population OF Iowa. ,624,615
The New York Central, with eighteen per
| cent of the mileage of the Iowa roads, car
ries enc hundred and fOrty-iive per cent, or
about one and onc-half times as many pas
sengers. 1t must be apparent that ON ac-
count of the volume of business rate at