Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-07-08

OVERLAND FOR ONE DOLLAR.
A Train Of Thirty Cars Can BE Moved
One Hundred Miles for Sc.

have stated the average cost Of
moving trains throughout the
United States, including every pos
sible expense, to be $3.50 or less, per
100 miles, or 1926 for 1900 miles.
The reports Of the Pennsylvania
railroad company show that the
average cost of moving Grains 100
miles, over that road, was $lG.4S in
1865, and in 1881 had been reduced
to SG.02 per 100 miles" The Ameri-
can Society of Civil Engineers-
which embraces the most eminent
civil engineers and railway builders
In Amcrica-state that "the reasons
for the reduced cost in railway trans
portation of late years, are improve
ments In the condition of railroads
by better construction, better main
tenance of track, and i'm more
economical administration; also in
the increased amount of freight haul
ed on one train, which il made possi-
BILE by the increase in locomotive
power and in the capacity of cars.
The train-load has increased about
70 per cent. The capacity of cars in
creased from 20, 900 pounds, In 1855,
to 1876, to 10000 pounds in 1889, and
to 10000 pounds i'm 1885, and the
master car builders have recently
decided upon = standard car to
carry 10000 pounds"
The above remarks are taken from
addresses read before the American
society of civil engineers at their con-
vention, June 25, 1885, 10y f.. Sweet
and T.. l.. Corthel, members of that
society. | have stated that the Uni
ted States government could move
freight, at II profit, at l-2 n cent per
ton mile, that Is ut mills, or $40
or 50-lO0 of "A cent, and for that, and
similar assertions, | have been called
n crank by people ignorant of the
the cost of transportation by steam.
Now, | produce positive proof from
the most eminent scientists, con
structors and operators Of transport
tation lines in America and the
world, not only that freight can be
moved for h0-lOO of n cont per mile,
but that for years Il has been hauled
for 6-l0O ofa cent per mile, aud that
the cost is steadily aud continually
being reduced 10y improved nIachin-
cry and better administration, aud
will hc further aud very largely re-
duced, In the near future, hy the
use of larger ears and more powerful
locomotives. This shows not only
a profit for the government, at the
rates | have stated, but an enor-
nous proht, amounting To li-lO0 of
a cent per ton per mile on all freight
moved, or u profit Of $50 lis per cent
m the cost Investment of 6-lO0 of
'ent per ton per mile.
Now, who Is crankG--or a fools -
myself, or those who are 50 ignorant |
# transportation matters that they /
'annot realize the enormous extent I
o which they are being daily robbed 4
~ freight charges, wrung nom
hem lor those from whom they
laily purchase everything they eat,
wear ar use, hy the gasping corpora
ions We so unwisely permit Ia con-
rol American highways and rob
americans Of all they earn. Ii |
m crank when | assert that the
United States government could
move fnight for 5o-ioo of n cent. per
on per mile, the eminent scientists
rho compass the American Society
Civil Engineers must be Iaving
razy and the widest of naniaos
hen they assert that il not only
An be, but has heen, for years, done ,
n cleo OF cent.
My estimali's have bsen bas,,d
pom cans carrying ten ipns only,
nd now ears are being made Ia ear ,
: thirty tons, with les cost par ,