The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1897-01-30
VIII, No.neu.ce s...s.ux.r ssa..

w IAA NJ: kSeasiCC hsiHSeESAE SSilES
The [llinois state board of railrcal and
warehouse commissioners has decided,
after careful and thorough investiga-
tinn Of the railway business in this state
toreport against the praposed reduction
OF the passenger rate from 3 to cents
per mile. AS this reput is based upon
acuIate data from ofiic al sources, it is
safe to 'sume that The present lcgisla-
tura will nat cara to isanfa Il recon-
iamentlatiGn 'uade by those who are auth
oriz d by the state to p;Ctect tn interest
of the people, and at The same time TO
deal justly with the railway Interests.
While 1t is Important ;l;at tl,e piop!e
should cnj"y the BENEFITS OF tile cheapest
| transportation that is consistent with
good service, any legislation that is cal
culated to cripple tie earning spowcr Of
the railways to the cXieDt that they will
fail to yield a fair return upon the in
vestp! capital is clearly opposed to pub
lie policy. 1t is conceded by these Ia
| miliar with the history OF lalIroading
| for the past twenty ears that the rail
roads have heen the heaviest sufferers
from the widespread and often unrea sor-
| able hostility to corporations. They have
| been seriously embarrassed hy an ava
| lanche OF unfrienhly buea!ic legislation
in MANY western states, wben they were
struck by tho panic and tile Wilsun-Gor-
man tariff law of 1891
| The la three years has witnessed Il
desperate struggle for existence on the
part OF most OF the western railways.
According to the report II liie interstate
commerce commission for the year end
ing June 30, 1855, the railroad companies
of the United States lost in their opera
ti0ns the enormous sum of S2a,S45, 24l.
Seventy per cent of the stock failed to
pay dividends aud there was default in
the payment OF interest OH II per cent
of outstanding bends.
The twenty.lifth annual itro:i of the
IlliDO:s railroad aud warehouse commits
siGuers, recently Submitted to the gov
ernor, showed that the Illinois lines had
suffered heavy losses from tie business
depressions and financial uncertainty Of
the year. The report shows that only
sixteen of tho forty five roads operating
in Illinois paid any dividends and that
there was net deficit for the year of
S7,S03,455. The passenger department
shows decrease from last year OF So
423,9oS, or 24 66 per cent in tie receipts
from passengers, tile average passenger
rate per mile being ~, cents.
| u is possible that some OF the big
trunk lines might stollA the proposed
reduction, but itnuSt be ,l0rne i'll mind
that much of the railroad property in
Illinois Is branch mi!tcss, and any re-
ductiOn in fare would in Hitabiy result
ina curtailmeHt Of tran portation faci-
lities that would be ini,nsral to the in
terest OF the travelling public.
AS ii matter OF fact. there is no popular
demand for reduced raj il..siy fares at the
present time. After three years OF dis
asterOns depression he railways are
4 struggling TO get Il new lease OF life un-
/ der an administration that gives promise
of revival OF prosperity in all the pro-
ductiyc industries. The public interest
would not be promoted by reducing the
resources of the railways at this time
Chicago Times Herald.