Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-02-19
ON IOWA RAIL RATES.
PAS ENCER RVICE AND
RATES COMPARED.
Reply of the State Railroad Commission
to Inquiries by Agriculturists Regard
ing Average Receipts and Expenses.

Des Moines, Iowa.-Correspondenc Chicago
Times-H erald.--W. W. Field of Odebolt, pres
ident of the State Agricultural society, anX-
ious to enlighten 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 fare in Iowa? What does 1t cost the
railroads to carry a passenger a mile? How
are we THE agriculturists) to ascertain what
rate would be fair on both sides! What is
the opinion of the commissioners on the ques-
tion? 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
house 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
local business, and which are now and have
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 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 well as the freight business. This
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, tn hot fha 10 and rni
this reduction should be made at this time.
II the country was prosperous our conclu-
sions might be different. The statistics in our
Office show that for the last three years, 1884,
1895 and 1896, the average amount charged by
the railroads per passenger per mile is a frac-
tion above 2 cents, although the maximum
allowed them was cents. For the reasons
above stated we do not feel that this reduc-
tion should be made by us at this time.
We are also asked to recommend this re-
ductlon to the legislature. In view OF our
conclusion we do not feel that 1t would be
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. Inc
returns from which these results are OBJ
tanned dc not include any passengers carried
free. The large number Of passengers VINO
have Travelled uTon reductions of rates as per
mitted by oG- statutes-ministers 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. 1t Is obvious, there
FORE that the average must always be lower
than the rate fixed by law. The character OF
the business renders it impossible to make
any rate that will be absolutely uniform. me
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 IL 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 apove
given, nothing is charged on account Oh .ne
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, pear
its proportion OF these expenses. whlch con-
stitute part of the cost of doing the business.
From statistics compiled by the interstate
commerce commission 1t appears that 70
charge the passenger business OF t . a ras
charges not including anything however, Vu
account of dividends and crediting II VIII
mail and express earnings, would give us as
the actual cost 2.57 cents
Figures on Reduced Traffic.
1.-THE statement of the Illinois commission
passenger business is undoubtedly confirmed
by the statistics For the whole United STATES
the number Of passengers carried one mis-
for each mile OF railroad IN lSSo was .o,.oi
in 1895 il was 6S, 572. Though the number OF
passengers carried was less, the passenger
car mileage was greater in 1888 than IN lssV'
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, 575, SO4 in 1895 1t was 81, 5,615. In
1895 the revenues from passenger service IN
the United States decreased $33, 1O337S as
compared with 1894. though the. figures for
1895 include 2,05529 miles of road more than
in 1894 The foregoing statements, when are
based upon the most accurate statlstics o.
tainable. at this time Indicate: l. That at the
present time the average fare charged in iowa
is less than the actual cost of transporting the
passenger, g That within the last three or
four years passenger earnings nave @ cost
of doing the business. unless changes nays
been recently made that have not come 10 the
notice of the commission the following are .ie
rates prevailing in the countries named;
England-First class, AZ cents; second, 5.z
cents; third. cents. Franee-First class.
cents second, cents third cents; lt taiyd
IL cents. Holland-First class, 81 cents;
second, 2.6 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 a Factor
1.-THE density of population also aTects the
volume of passenger traiS wner es sne p tban
in ''s sparseiy settled districts. In Iowa "a the
population per square mile is about ~; IN
E Iay sas FRI France, is7 New York iss ohio
80; New England 81 Illinois Is; Missouri n.
43; Wisconsin, 81: Nebraska 10; Kansas ,,i;o III
ra oI in Iowa is about 247 in Illinois it Is
about sos; New York, S13; New England, adS;
Missouri Wisconsin, $685. Ne bra saer 2Us
nassenger earnings per mile, as shown by the
last reports to this commission. Of the roads
operating s in Iowa $780, The Kansas re-
port for 1895 shows $S44 the Iliinois FepH in
ferstate commerce commission they are Si'A22
in New England. s4,51S in New York and IN
Ohio 1,951."