New-York tribune., 1890-08-06
PITTPOADS AND THEIR VALUE.

The outcly Tor cheaper anu SVhl N"'"PCi
TRANSFORMATION does not cease. Yet the yearly
volume of railway statistics issued shows
that the rates were again reduced III 1882
making the average the lowest yet recorded.
In 1880 the census showed that 32,0OO,OOO,-
600 tons were transported one mile at an aver
age charge of 1887 cents per ton per mile
Mr. Poor's volume, his error in arithmetic beino
corrected. shows that in 1889 there were trans
nortcd 6S. .000, ,000,00 tons one mile at al
average charge of 81 Of cent per ton per
mile Had the same work been dOne at the
rates of the census year, the receipts OF the
railroads would have been $3.50, 100000, OF
two hundred and sixteen millions more than
they actually received, the reduction having
been 24.6 per cent, or almost quarter. lhiS
i on all charges for freight, local as well as
through and to the people Of the west the
reduction has been relatively much greater
But the saving of two hundred and sixteen
millions OH a single years service BY no means
satisfies, and further arbitrary reductions are
remircd by authorities in many states, while
great bodies of farmers socmnly resolved that
ALI railroads and tccgraphs ought TO be placed
under Government control.
Prior to 1850 there is no full record on the
aggregate cost Of transportation. But on the
principal trunk lines at the East the reduction
was more than 30 per cent from 1859 to lsSo
and on the principal trunk lines at the NeN'
il was nearly 60 per cent. II the reduction
On all roads was about the same aS 1t was on
the many whose rates are known, the average
charge N 1869 was about 2.G cents per ton
nor mile. against .971 Of cent in 1889. The
D. IA ii. hHn0gsI
and ,ixty-six millions in 1889. at the rates oil
1869 would have cost one thousand seven
hundred and cighty-threc millions, and the
saving in the cost of transportation BY reduc-
ton OF charges in twenty years has been one
thousand one hundred and seventeen millions.
The saving alone for single year has been
marc than II per cent OF the entire cost oi
all iai!road, in thc country in 1889. Yet tins
enormous benefit 20 producers Shippers ana
landowners does not satisfy. w hat hrahch
of government has reduced rs charges Tor
any service whatever at tho same rate III twenty
wear, from - 90 20 - cents for the same
service? What government IN any state has
80 reduced It's charges for any service? Yet
IL said that IA much-Opprcsscd people must seek
relief from railway cytortionS IN absolute con
troll by the Government.
No man can calculate the value OF these
agencies Of commerce 10 this country III Is
strictly and literally true that the Nation would
not be possible without the railroads. no
can realize what il would cost 10 haul 6S,O0O,-
600. 600 ton, Of freight one mile Before the
era of railroads II used 10 cost 500 u trans
mort by wagon ton Of freight from New
| Yorl, 10 Bunalo, or about 80 cents per ton
pcy mile AZ that rate the transportation
actually effected last year would have cost
$4,000, 1000, or a much rs all the farms
IN the country are worth. The feed Of the
horses required would cost more than all the
food clothing and shelter cost each year iol
all the inhabitants OF the country. Excepting
near water routes. which are few and widely
separated. the country would have been virtual
| ~ uninhabtcd. simply because the cost oi
Transporting products would have been more
than their value IN any market 1t may be
hcpful at times, fo! men who think the rail
road, have plundcred the people beyond en-
durance. 10 remember what the services they
perform are actually worth.