The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1895-08-03
UPHILL BUSINESS In CALIFORNIA.
Railroad Expenses Here Compared
With Those East.
This Time It is Not the So-Called
OCTOPUS" That Asks for Fair
Treatment.

]
President 4. w. Foster and Secretary
and Controller Thomas Mellersh OF the
| San Francisco and North Pacific Rail-
road appeared before the State Board of
Equalization yesterday In support of
request to reduce the company's assess
ment 10 per cent. The company is now
assessed at 81, 935. 900. The road extends
| from San Francisco to Ukiah. Guerne-
vile and Glen Ellen, and runs through
Marin, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.
Mr.. Foster stated that the road is doing
fairly well, but the assessment, not alone
on his road. but on all roads, is too high.
So long as assessments were not reduced.
capital could not be induced to build
roads in California.
Mr.. Mellersh said that as the mileage is
the same as last year and the earnings
and expenses SO similar to those of the
preceding year. that little reason could
be offered for comment thereon. There
had been, however, a decrease in ex-
penses of S36, 600, caused by reduction
in the force of employees, wherever it
could be made without impairing the
service.
The taxes paid were 81, $50 over those of
the preceding year. The profits for the
year were over $50. which, in these
times, was not unsatisfactory, although
the using of the money for necessary i'm
provements prevented any distribution
among the stock holders.
The passenger earnings were consider
ably less than for the years 1892 and 1898,
which unquestionably was due to the
Nh iuht
earnings showed q good increase this
year, explained by the large shipments
of wine, which were brought about by a
| com bination having been formed by the
wine producers. thereby obtaining a
good price for their Wines as we'll as in
surfing good market for the now mstur-
ing crop OF grapes.
| 1t was also shown that this company
paid for taxes So 20 out of every 500
taken in, and So SO in every Sl00 expenses
| incurred was paid out for taxes.
| The expenses for fuel consumed by the
| locomotives, Mr.. Mellersh said, was IL
| per cent. Of the operating expenses, and
by steamers nearly per cent. Coal cost
this company an average of So 81 per ton.
! and wood 50 ~ per cord, whereas IL was
shown that in Illinois Ill companies con-
sumed last year ), 694, 500 tons at an average
| cost OF 81 5S, and wood at All average cost
| of 81 u. The coal used in California came
| principally from British Columbia. Aus
tralia and England, as the coal mined in
California was not suitable for locomo-
tives.
1t is thus seen, said Mr.. Mellersh. that
the San Francisco and North Pacific
| Railway pays over four times as much
| for coal as do the roads in the Middle
| States.
In addition TO this, the latter companies
| haul large quantities OF coal for manu-
featuring and private consumption,
whereas this company does not transport
| any. Then, too, hardship TO this road
| is the fact that its gradients are difficult,
with much sharp curvature, which visi-
| bly, Affects the weight of train.
The wear on a rail on a hYe-degree
curve is 30 per cent more than on a tam
! gent, and as between San Francisco and
! Ukiah there are twenty-five miles of
curvature with forty eight miles of as
cending grades, 1t will be seen that the
cost per mile for coal is much heavier
| than through prairie or less billy coun-
| try.
There is no silver lining to our coal
| cloud said Mr.. Mellersh, because allevi-
alton is not even prospective by reason of
the wood contiguous to the present con-
| structed road having been largely cleared.
Another burden that is grievous, he
said, Is the great expense of terminal
charges. The present steamer wharf and
| ship accommodation is sufficient TO do
| business several times the volume now
| handled. The cost of operating the
steamers last year was S97 900, or 10 per
cent. of the total expenses, which charge
is entirely additional to those of many
railroad companies, as but a few have
| ferries to maintain.
If this company was connected by land
with san Francisco, and thereby saved
| the enormous expense OF the ferry, it
would not need to ask for low assess
ment. Mr.. Mellersh inStanced the fact
| that the 70 cents per car rental paid for
terminal facilities, including switching,
amounts to nearly $4,000 per annum.
Three ferry steamers. with wharves and
other facilities, represent good deal of
capital. be said. Although it makes the
cost of the property, as an entirety, much
larger, it does not enhance its value and
in its consideration for assessment ought
not to bear part, only as an incu bus
rather than an advantage.
MIR. Mellersh said that another hardship
on the California roads is the difference
| between the cost OF material in the East
and its cost laid down here. Steel rails
cost S25 per ton in New York and in San
| Francisco S33. Carwheels cost So % each.
against So in san Francisco. and to trans
port locomotive the cost was nearly
the cost is $40 per 1000 feet. whilst here
the price would be 500 to $l20 per thou
sand feet.
Mr.. Mellersh also cited the fact that the
pay for labor in California Is much higher
than in any other part of the United
States. He submitted statement show
ing the comparative cost OF labor in 1894
as between Eastern roads and the one he
| represents, as follows: