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

but III Keep on AT TINS rate VIII not get
through in my allotted time. l will, there
fore, briefly 90 over a few points and give
way to others who are more conversant than
am with some of these subjects, should
your time permit
A great deal has been said here In the
last two or three days, and also before the
House Committeeman q number of ques-
lions have been asked--as TO the effect OF the
reduction of passenger rates In increasing
the volume of travel. win the volume of
travel be so increased that the revenues OF
the companies will not be decreased? That
is all there is to It. To this say no. The
statistics show--and we must be guided by
the past in these things-the statistics show
ON lines that are local lines within the State
and l speak more particularly of tho Du-
buque Il Sioux City and Iowa Falls n Sioux
City-that the passenger earnings decreased
when the rates were reduced, and they have
not up TO this time advanced to the figures
formerly obtained. This | know Is what
you gentlemen want precise Information
upon, and | therefore had a small statement
made which will submit to your chairman,
Upon the Dubuque n Sioux City road, In
1888, passenger earnings were $aSi, 75i.is.
In 1884, $3.50, 10000. In 1885, $3.50, SSS. 90.
In 1886, $3.50, 100000. In 1887, S2tS, 900. 90.
Upon the Iowa Falls 4 Sioux City road the
gross passenger earnings for 1883 were
S237, 100000. For last year their gross earn
ings were Sl99, ASSOC; In round numbers,
$500, 100000. A road constructed through
growing country, road lined with grow
ing population, and yet the passenger earn
ings for 1887 were not equal by Sl0l, 10000
10 the passenger earnings of 1883, aud main
| ~ because in 1883 three aud one-half cents
per mile was charged, while In succeeding
| years, including 1887, three cents per mile
was charged. Upon the Cedar Falls - Min
ncsota branch the passenger earnings re-
| manned about the same, 1900 for
each year. While speaking of passen-
ger earnings, let me recur plainly
TO the fact that although the Dubuque s.
| Sioux City and Iowa Falls Il Sioux City
roads have been operated at loss, although
| Il has been necessary TO take money earned
on the Illinois Central lines in Illinois to
make UP the loss incurred in the operation
| of these'lmes In Iowa, yet we have In JUS
| tlce TO Iowa citizens along the Iowa lines,
made substantially the same freight rates
| upon the Iowa lines rs we have made upon
the lines of the Illinois Central Company In
| Illinois.
Upon that railway which extends from
| Chicago TO Cairo and from Dubuque to Con-
trala, aggrcgatng 70S miles, the gross ton
mage for 1888 was 200, 900 tons. The gross
tonnage of freight moved In 1887 was 3,00O,-
900 tons. Upon the Iowa lines, rs | have
remarked, the tonnage moved in 1887 was
less than that moved In 1888.
| Looking alone TO the interests of the cor
porations, it would seem to have been wise
and prudent course that higher rates should
have been charged upon lines of road aggre-
| eating only half million Of tons, as com
| pared with lines of roads aggregating 3,000,-
900 of tons, the first being 400 miles and the
second 200 miles long.
| II would seem TO have been prudent
| course TO adopt higher rates OF freight upon
| lines where the tonnage Is diminishing from
| year to year than ON lines where the tonnage
is swelling from year TO year. But IL was
thought in the councils of the company that
this course would be one that would be open
TO public criticism and cause public com
meni, and might be construed as working
| injustice to the communities upon these Iowa
| lines. We, therefore, determined TO place
| upon the Iowa lines substantially the
same rates that we ha placed upon the
| lines In Illinois. And we have gone further,
Mr.. Chairman, for on the merchandise
| classes, the LIST, I'd, Sd and 4th classes, we
have made, in some instances, lower rates
| upon the Iowa lines than upon the Illinois
| lines. This has been done without any COM
| pulsory legislation; without being forced by
| railroad commissioners who have arbitrary
|
cause il was thought TO be right thing TO
do, and we contend that, regardless of
whether person be private citizen or n
| corporate citizen, a strong position 10 assume
| anywhere and everywhere Is that the right
shall prevail.
Mr. Sage has made some reference 10 tho
| Illinois lines, and to my experience before
the railroad commissioners of thatState last
September, when IL was desired TO take UNI
der consideration the proper course TO pur-
sue rs to a tariff for the Illinois lines l
would not have referred to IL except that i
| thought YOU might expect something from
me in view OF Mr.. Sage's suggestion. The
State of Illinois, rs you are aware, has the
largest railroad mileage Of any State In the
Union. II has the greatest number Of bank
rupt railroads of any State In the Union.
The State of Illinois has some OF the best
managed and best equipped roads In the
Union II has also the poorest and most un
safe and unsatisfactory railroads there are in
the Union. The reasons are these: The i'm
pOrtant lnes-the dividend-paying lines-are
the lines that are sustained by the large
volume of travel and OF tonnage coming
through twenty or thirty States and thrown
upon these great arteries OF commerce within
Illinois The poor lines and bankrupt lines
exist because they were built when rates
were higher when competition was not so
rife and they have been endeavOring 10 car
ry freights under the low schedule placed
by the Commissioners, and under the low
competitive rates made by the various east
and west lines in Illinois which tap nearly
every important point within the State.
They have forced themselves into bankrupt
cy, forced themselves into the miserable con
dltion they are in by attempting year after
year to carry freights at less than cost. These
10 4
physically, within the Union. There are
roads that we feel unsafe TO travel over and
say TO you, as | said to the Commission In
Illinois, that IL Is not prudent policy on
the part of the State Legislature or of State
officials TO compel roads 10 enter into this
wTetched condition and to compel those who
travel upon them TO risk their lives and their
property at every turn of the Wheel
There are two great considerations, and
we cannot avoid them, Mr.. Chairman The
first of all is, or ought TO be, safety of life
and limb. What Illinois and Iowa and every
other State in this Union should demand and
insist upon, is that railroads shall be CON
structed and maintained in iirst-class and
substantial manner. When we or our wives
or our children travel upon these lines Of
railway we want 10 feel that we shall arrive
| Mt destination, and that those we love will
arrive there safe and sound. This cannot be
done by gripping the income and resources
of railway property. say, therefore, that a
wise and prudent policy would he TO give
these roads revenue for Improvement for
betterment, for being put in first-class condl-
ton and paying the expenses ofdoing It, and
then insist through your Railroad Commits
sion that the property shall be put and main
tanned in that condition and take no excuse
for its not being done.
The second is, there is growing demand,