The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-08-03

noma and Mendocino Counties, which
are traversed by his road, compared with
the population per square mile Of several
foreign countries, we'll as Eastern
States. which showed that California is
iar behind In population per square mile.
comparative statement was also SUBJ
mltted OF the passenger traffic, which
showed that in the United States in 1894
there were carried ID, 2S9, Az, 1893 passen-
gers distance of one mile, with an aver
age receipt per passenger per mile Of 2.10
cents; and In illinois, by Ill roads, there
were carried l,5T, 81. 3l9 passengers at
an average receipt per passenger per mile
OF Z.3l cents. On the other hand, the San
Francisco and North Pacific Railway car
rled Is, 239. COS passengers one mile, at an
average receipt per passenger per mile OF
2.l0 cents.
This, he claimed, bore out his statement
that the passenger rates in California are
no higher than in any other State in the
Union.
Mr.. Mellersh also commended that the
passenger traffic was not a profitable one,
ana 10 support his statement he quoted
from the report OF the Railroad and Ware
mouse Commission of Illinois, in which
1t was shown that the results Of Ill roads
embraced IN such report were: Receipts
per passenger mile, 2.3l cents; average
cost OF carrying each passenger per mile,
Z6l; lost per passenger per mile, 80 OF a
cent
referring to the clamor of the Govern
ment ownership of railroads and cheap
1ares, Mr.. Mellersh said he did not think,
II they could be referred to such statistics
showing that the travelling public are
now getting more than their money s
worth IN cheap fares, combined with ex-
cellent service, that they would obtain as
much satisfaction under Governmental
control.
In the capitalization of $40, 700. 473, Sl3 OF
the railways in the United States. it was
shown that the amount Of stock paying
no dividend in 1894 was S., 066, $50, 094, and
only 4.3l per cent. paid from to per
cent; 1912 per cent. paid from to per
cent, and 542 per cent. paid to s per
cent Beside this, bonds to the amount
OF $3.50, 573, 7S9 paid no interest whatever.
In nineteen years 593 railroads, with a
mileage of 62926 and stocks and bon DIS
amounting to S3.528, l25, 900, were fore
closed.
In conclusion. Mr.. Mellersh stated that
The past two years had been years OF al
most unparalleled depression in rail-
reading, and that his company had felt
the stringenCy as we'll as the other roads
in the State, and he thought the State
would not lose anything if it extended a
little kindness to the railroads by reduc-
Ing their assessment 10 per cent.
NEVADA COUNTY NARROW GAUGE.
George Fletcher. Secretary of the Ne
vada County Narrow Gauge Railroad,
addressed the board in reference to the
assessor ent on his road. The road is as
sessed for 100000, bur Mr.. Fletcher did
not ask for reduction. He only asked
that his company be left alone. BUSH
ness has not fallen off any; on the con-
trary, it has increased, but the road is not
earning anything, he said The strike,
too. affected the road adversely, and then
considerable business is being done by
teams and stages by outside parties,
which cut into the earnings of the road
considerably. The company has no
watered stock, bonds being issued for the
actual construction of the road.
Both matters were taken under advise
m9nt