Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-17
THE RAILROADS.
Reflections Caused by the Rate War
Between Western Railroads.
Er. Gould Says Railroads ust be Conducted
on Business Principles eFeaiter-Gen-
eral Railroad News and Notes.

Railroad passenger rates between Missouri
river points, St Louis and Chicago, are terribly
demorazed--so much so that person can leave
St. Louis so to Kansas City and from there to
Chicago and save $780, the fare by that route
being that much less than il he would go direct
from St. Louis to Chicago. The rate from st.
Louis to Chicago now is $50; the rate from st.
Louis to Kansas City is only So and from Kansas
City to Chicago only 81 more, and the distance
from ST. Louis by the way of Kan
City to Chicago is 900 miles
greater than from st. Louis direct.
Ills no wonder when such condition Of things
as this is possible in railroad management that
complaints go up from the people against rail-
roads. ANY management OF any business thst
will conduct it in manner that loses money Tor
those who have invested capital IN that business
should not be continued. Every passenger train
that leaves Kansas Cisy carrying passengers at
q 81 rate loses money for the road Ior the time
being, but when the reaction comes, and rates
are restored to paying basis, then the public
begins TO suffer through the efforts of the roads
to make up what had been lost in an unnec-
tssary war. II is o debt. like our war
debt, and it must be paid by those who have bus
inesS with railroads after the war i5 over. The
people who are benefited (if any are benefited
by railroad war; are very few, and il is prin-
cIpally people who would under other circhm-
stances staid at home. who travel when these
low rates are offered. The business world-that
element which furnishes the wherewlthal to
run raj rNals receive no benefit from these wars
but il is this element that has to pay for the
music to which others dance.
gentleman who is largely interested in
commercial affairs, and who has been a close
observer OF the drift of the war now waging be-
tween the Western roads, remarked to G Ga
fETTE reporter yesterday that tie managers OF
tAe roads engaged in the war were simply rob-
tlng the stockholders by cutting rates to such
an extent that caused the roads to lose money
on their passenger traffic.
81, "A law should be passed. he said,
'hy the general government, prohib-
Hing wars OF this kind. and if not by the
general government then by the different state
toyenments. II it were not for these rate wars
and the utter disregard for the stockholders
Interests by the railroad managers, it would
bs possible for railroads TO give regular
rates, both passenger and freight, that would
te more acceptable than those neoessitated now
py Their reckless business methods.
have you observed that there is a growing
sentiment among business men in favor OF rail-
road commissions? IT you have not, l can tell
you that 1t is a fact, and in voting for members
"a me legislature hereafter more attention will
os paid 10 this one thing than has been in the
past am friend of the railroads, and have
zen IN iaVor OF giving them a great deal Of
sIIng, but cannot any more indorse the meth
Sus OF the managers robbing stockholders Of these
L.oper dividends than would justify any agent
NHeaHGg outright money from his employer.
~ railroad managers must have their Rmuse-
meat let them have IL out in some other way,
~ not engage in these expensive rate wars, TO
.IaHe up !or which levy is made after they are
WEI upon the business and commercial world.'