Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-02-18
ON IOWA BAIL RATES.
PAS SENDER SERVICE AND
RATES COMPARED.
Reply of the State Railroad Commission
to Inquiries by AgrIculturlsts Regard
Ing Average Receipts and Expenses.

ny HeBhkQ@
Ing Average Receipts and Expenses.
Des Moines Iowa.-Correspondenc Chicago
Times-Herad.-W w. Field of Odebolt. pres
ldent OF the State Agricultural society anX-
lous to enllghten its members on the merits OF
the railroad question, sought for information
from the state board OF railroad commission
ers on the following points What is the aver
age rate OF rare in Iowa? What does II cost the
railroads to carry passenger a mile? How
are we THE agriculturists) 10 ascertain what
rate would be fair on both sides? What Ia
the opinion of the commissioners on the uues-
tion? In reply an open letter has been writ
ten by w. W. Alnsworth, secretary of the
commission, saying. in part THE questions
suggested by you have recently been con,
sidered by the board Of railroad and ware
hocse commissioners OF Illinois in response to
an inquiry made by the state grange of that
state. Its conclusion was that 1t would be
unwise unwarranted and unjust to the rail-
road interests OF the state to comply with this
request The regular report says: Some OF
the great trunk lines in Illinois might be able
to stand such a reduction, yet the smaller
roads and those which do almost wholly q
local business, and which are now and have
Deen Tor the last two years struggling for
existence, would be most seriously affected
by 1t. Such action on our part would simply
increase the heavy burdens under which they
are struggling now.
Decrease In Passenger Business.
1T Is a well-known fact to those who have
taken the trouble to investigate the amount Of
passenger business done by the railroads in
Illinois during the last two years that there
has been large decrease in the number OF
passengers carried. This is due. in our judg-
ment, not to the amount charged for such
service, but to the general depression In all
lines OF business, the low prices Of farm
products and the unsettled financial cOndi-
lions which have had their effect on the pas
senger as we'll as the freight business. Thig
question was before US when we revised the
freight schedule in 1895 and the whole ques-
tion was thoroughly considered. We did not
think then. and neither do we feel now, that
In justice to both the public and tine railroads
this reduction should be made at this Zinc.
II the country was prosperous our conelu-
sions might be different. The statistics In our
ONCE show that for the last three years, 1894,
1895 and 1885, the average amount charged by
tho railroads per passenger per mile is a frac-
ton above cents, although the maximum
allowed them was cents. For the reasons
above stated we do not feel that this reduc-
ton should be made by us at this time.
We are also asked to recommend this re-
duction to the legislature. In view Of our
conclusion We do not feel that 1t would b
consistent for us to do so.
Receipts and Cost Per Mile.
From the statistics given in the report Of
this commission for 1895 1t appears the aver
age amount received by the railroads doing
business in Iowa for carrying one passenger
one mile during the year was 2.27 cents. The
returns from which these results are OBJ
tanned do not include any passengers carried
Tree. The large number Of passengers who
have Travelled uron reductions Of rates as per-
mitted by our statutes-minlsters Of the gos-
pei, organizations Of our military, excursions
on holidays, special rates to meetings OF many
organizations state and county fairs-are fac
tors that reduce the average fare to the
amount above stated. It is obvious, there
fore, that the average must always be lower
than the rate fixed by law. The character Of
the business renders 1t impossible to make
any rate that will be absolutely uniform. The
Iowa report for 1895 shows only ten roads
which returned the average cost OF carrying
one passenger one mile. The average cost OF
these companies was 2.14 cents. This result
is less reliable than II 1t were founded upon
returns made by all the roads. which would
probably increase 1t. In arriving at the cost
Of carrying one passenger one mile, as above
given, nothing Is charged on account OF the
expenses Of the railroads for interest, rents,
taxes and miscellaneous fixed charges, ana,
Of course. nothing for dividends on stock.
The passenger traffic should OF course bear
its proportion Of these expenses which con-
stitute Fart Of the cost OF doing the business.
From statistics compiled by the Interstate
commerce commission 1t appears that to
charge the passenger business OF the rail-
roads with its propOrtonate share OF the n&ed
charges not including anything, however, on
account of dividends and crediting 1t with !,
mail and express earnings would give US as
the actual cost 2.57 cents.
Figures on Reduced Trahic.
1.-THE statement Of the Illinois commission
that there has been a general reduction or
passenger business Is undoubtedly confirmed
by the statistics. For the whole United states
the number of passengers carried one mile
for each mile OF railroad in 1890 was IiIol:
in 1895 IL was 6S,512 Though the num- er OF
passengers carried was less. the passenger
car mileage was greater in 1895 than In 1880,
which, OF course, increased the cost per pas
senger In 1890 the total number OF miles
run by passenger trains i'll the United states
was 285, SIS, S04; in 1895 1t was 3l1,565,6lo. In
1895 the revenues from passenger service In
the United States decreased $50, 1878 as
compared with 1894, though the figures for
1895 include 2O60.29 miles OF road more IMAM IAN
in 1891. The foregoing statements, which are
based upon the most accurate statistics Cd
tainable, at this time indicate: !. That at the
present time the average rare charged IN IOWA
is less than the actual cost Of transporting the
passenger. 2. That within the last three or
four years passenger earnings have decreased
without a corresponding decrease In the COST
Of doing the business. Unless changes nave
been recently made that have not come to tho
notice Of the commission the following are the
rates prevailing In the countries named;
EngIand-First class, ~ cents secona, 81
cents; third, 2 cents. France-First class.
cents; second 3 cents; third. cents. ltaiy-
First class, SO cents; second, 2.6 cents; thlrd.
1S cents. Holland-First class 81 cents
second &c cents; third, 1.6 cents. Belgium
First class "a cents; second, LIZ cents; third
Ia cents Except in England no baggage Is
carried free.
Density of Population Factor.
"The density of population also affects the
volume of passenger traffic. Where the popu-
lation is dense there will be more travel than
In snarsely settled districts. In Iowa the
population per square mile is about 3S; In
England, 81; Belgium, 5l4; Holland. 30;
italy, 26S France 1871; New York, lSg; Ohio'
co. New England SO: Illinois. 75; Missouri,
AZ: Wisconsin, "a: Nebraska, Isl Kansas; 49,
south Dakota, s. The population per mile OF
railroad in Iowa is about 247 in Illinois Il Is
about Sg5; New York. Sl3; New England, Ils;
Missouri, 447; wisconsin SO6; Nebraska, 2O9; :
Kansas. 1903; South Dakota, 129. The average
passenger earnings per mile, as shown by me
last re1orts to this commission, OF the roads
nnaratin1 in Iowa are 1890 The Kansas re-
mort for 1895 shows SSi4. the Illinois report
81 $50. and, as shown by the report OF the i Ias
terstate commerce commission, tney are I'll.
ohio 81 ,951."