The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-06
an INrnMEsrrsa srArEaENr.
Decrease In Freight Rates ON southern
Railroads. N

II
Railroads. IA
| From the Manufacturers Record
The fourth census bulletin on rails
way statistics, synopsis of which has
already been published by tho Manu-
facturers' Record, relates to tho opera
tions of railways in Virginia, West
Virginia and North and South Carolina.
Tho figures are not up TO date, but only
for the year 1880, tho Same period for
which statistics were given in the three
preceding bulletins.
The student of the statistics of these
four groups, viz, the New England, the
Middle, the Middle Western and the
four Southern States named, will note
the fact that while there has been in all
q largo decline in transportation rates
since 1880, yet the average decline of
the fourth group has been unexpectedly
great. The average per ton per mile in
the Southern group is 766 thousand tbs
of cent; in the Middle States it is sos
States it is 6S4 thousandths, and in New
England it is 1,470 thousandths, or, tax.
ing the four groups in their order Of
freight paying, New England pays the
highest rate, the Middle States stand
second, the Southern group third, and
the Middle Western fourth. 1t was
quite different in 1880. when the aver.
age for the Southern group was 40 per
cent. higher than for the Middle States,
and more than GO per cent. higher than
for the Middle Western.
In other words, there has been n de-
cline in transportation rates in the
Southern group since 1880 from an aver
age OF q cents per ton per mile to an
average Of but trifle moro than three
quarters of cent in 1889, drop of
nearly so per cont. This is the largest
reduction shown in the statistics of the
four groups. 1t is probable that if these
statistics were brought up to the close
oil 1891 the average reduction for the
four Southern States would be even
greater than given by the census, for in
1890 the average per ton per mile on the
Norfolk and Western railroad was but
571-1000ths of n cent. while the average
on the Chesapeake. and Ohio for the
year ending June 30, 1891, was but 525-
1000ths of cent.
During the nine years between the
taking of the tenth and the eleventh
census, the tonnage OF the Southern
group increased 24S per cent, and per
mile at the rate of 1913 per cent, while
on the roads of the other groups the in
crease of the tonnage of the middle West
ern States was only lob per cent, and
in tons per milo 81 per cent, while for
tho Middle States the percentages were
respectively but 66 per cent. and SO per
cent.
Passenger traffic has increased and
rates have been reduced on the always
of the four Sou thern States during the
same period. In 1880 they carried
2,62S,535 passengers; in 1889 nearly
$500, 600. In 1880 their average pas.
senger rate per mile was 1904 cents; in
1889 it was 2.207 cents, or but fraction
of cent higher than in the other three |
groups. While these statistics show
that the railways traversing these four
Southern States have voluntarily re- |
duced freight and passenger rates dur |
ing the past nine years to about the |
same standards that govern the other
three groups, yet it ought to be stated |
to their credit that the railway man
ayers have done this with the full |
knowledge that there was no Immediate
hope OF earning the large sums per mile
that the railways were certain to re-
ceive.
Notwithstanding their large increase
of both freight and passenger business,
the railways of these four States earned |
in 1880 an average of but 1858 per |
mile, while the Middle Western roads |
earned S6,S21 per mile, and the roads in |
the Middle States (Which include four
great trunk lines) earned an average of |
Sl4.402 per mile.
The Manufacturers Record commends |
the foregoing statistics, partly com piled |
by the Commercial and Financial |
Chronicle from the census bulle-
who suppose that they can bet.
ter its railroad service and Sc.
cure lower charges by railroad |
legislation, and to that other and ap.
parently more numerous class of citi- |
zens who have been taught TO believe |
that all tax burdens should be lifted |
from their shoulders and imposed upon |
the railroads, the manufacturers and
tradesmen. Most Of the railroad com
panies in these four States have ex-
pended money literally to secure i'm
migration and capital for the territory
they traversed; they have made perma-
nent improvements that have cost mil
lions of dollars; they have secured the
establishment of industries by their
liberality from which weekly flow thou
sands of dollars in wages which help to
enrich the State. Their earnings have
been small, but as fast as these would
permit they have reduced their rates
until they have been brought down to
the level of systems that earn from 100
10 500 pc. cent. more mile than thew
do or can expect to do for many a year to
como. There is such thing as "kill-
ing the goose that laid the golden egg"
Iowa had nearly accomplished that feat
before she discovered her error, and
ever since has been trying to remedy
her fault. Texas has, through her rail
road laws and commission, frightened
railway capitalists from continuing her