Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-02-23
ON IOWA RAIL RATES.
PA S s E NC Err ERVICE AND
RATES COMPARED.
Reply of the State Railroad Commission
to Inquiries by Agricaiturists Regard
ing Average Receipts and Expenses.


ing Average Receipts and Expenses.
Des Moincs, Iowa.-Correspondence Chicago
Times Herald.-W. W. Field of OdeboIt. pres
ident of the State Agricultural society, ana
ious TO enlightCE lis 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 fare in Iowa? what does IL cost the
railroads to carry. a passenger mile? How
are We the agriculturistsl 10 ascertain what
rate would be fair on both sides? What 10
the opinion of the commissioners on the ques-
ten? In reply an open letter has been writ
ten by w. w. Ainsworth. 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. It's conclusion was that II 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 reduction. yet the smaller
roads and those which do almost wholly
local business, and which now aud hace
been for 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 wei-known fact 10 those who have
taken the trouble to investigate the amount 81
passenger business done by the railroads in
Illinois during the last two years that there
has been "A 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 ali
lines or business the low prices of farm
products and the unsettled financial condi-
lions which have had their effect on the pas
senger well as the freight business. This
question was before us when we revised the
freight schedule in 1895 and the whole ques-
ton was thoroughly considered. We did not
tI1 thnf ,,.s,1, fn1I Nt,n-
in justice TO both the public and tine railroads
this reduction should be made at this Zinc.
II the country was prosperous our conclu-
sicns might be different. The statistics In our
office show that for the last three years 1894.
1880 and 1896, the average amount charged by
the railroads per passenger per mile Is fraC-
ZION above cents. although the maximum
allowed them was cents. For the reasons
above stated we do not feel that this redGc-
ton should be made by 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 be
consistent for us 10 do
Receipts and Cost Per Mile.
From the statistics given in the report Of
this commission for 1895 IL appears the aver
age amount received by the railroads doing
business III iowa for carrying one passenger
one mile during the year was 2.27 cents. The
returns FROM which these results are OBJ
tanned q" not include any passengers carried
Tree. The large number of passengers who
Fave Travelled uIon reductions of rates as per
"
pei organizations of our military. excursions
on holidays, special rates TO meetings of many
organizations. state and county fairs-are rae
tors that reduce the average fare TO the
amount above stated. Ii 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. Ine
Iowa report for 1895 shows only ten roads
which returned the average cost OF CARRYING
one passenger one mile. The average cost or
these companies was ia cents. This result
is less reliable than IL IL were founded upon
returns made by all the roads, which would
probably increase il. 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. when con-
sttute part Of the OF doing the business.
From statistics complied by the interstate
commerce commission IL appears that 70
charge The passenger business or the rail-
roads with its proportionate share or the nxe"
charges. not including anything. however, on
account of dividends and crediting II WIN
mail and express warnings, would give US as
the actual cost 2.57 cents.
Figures on Reduced Traffic.
Tho statement of the Illinois commission
that there has been a general reduction OF
passenger business is undoubtedly confirmed
by the statistics. For the whole United States
the number of passengers carried one mile
tor each mile of railroad in 1890 was IJ.!Jl
In 1885 K was 1872. Though the number of
passengers carried was less. the passenger
car mileage was greater in 1895 than Ia 1890
which. of course, increased the cost per pas
senger. In 1890 the total number of miles
run by passenger trains In the United States
was 2S5, $500; in 1895 il was 311.565.6i5. In
1895 the revenues from passenger service In
the United States decreased $33 ioS.SIS as
compared with 1894. though the figures for
1895 include .. 05J. % miles of road more than
in 1884, The foregoing statements. which are
based uoon the most accurate statistics oh
10 tif ind hat ut he
present time the average fare charged in lowe
is less than the actual cost of transporting the
passenger. .. That within the last three or
four years passenger earnings have decreased
without corresponding decrease in the cost
Of doing the business. Unless changes have
been recently made that have not come To the
notice OF the commission the following are the
rates prevailing In the countries named
Engiand-First class. ~ cents: second. S.2
cents: second. 3 cents third. cents. Italy
First class, Sc cents: second. 2G cents; third,
Is cents. HollandIHrst class. 81 cents;
First class. "a cents; second. is cents; third.
- cents Except in England baggage IL
carried free.
Density of Population a Factor.
THE density OF population also affects the
volume OF passenger traffic. Where the popu-
lation Is dense there will be more travel than
i'm soarsey settled districts. In Iowa the
population per square mile Is about IS: Ia
England. 54l; Belgium. ia; Holland. $50
80: New England SO: Illinois. 75: Missouri
AZ: Wisconsin. "a; Nebraska. 10: Kansas. 10:
south Dakota, 3. The population per mile OF
railroad in Iowa is about 247, in Illinois il is
about 3aJ; New York. S3; New England. 7is:
Missouri Az. Wisconsin, 306: Nebraska. 209
Kansas los South Dakota i29 The average
passenger earnings per mile, as shown by the
las. reports to this commission. OF the roads
operating IN Iowa are $3.50. The Kansas re-
port for 1895 shows ssi4 the Illinois report
81 $50 and as shown by the, report of the in
terstste commerce commission. they are 81. APP
in New England. sA,5lS in New York and IN
Ohio 81 95l."