The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-11

earnings, from all sources OF the passenger
service have been 1891 ,iS6.0S. OF which
| slSi.72i.2S. or 16 per cent, came from mail
and express Using this percentage Of the
/ passenger cervice expense as legitimate
charge against mail and express and de-
Quoting 1t from the total passenger serv-
| ice expense. as above shown. we have S6l2. =
I 575.Gi. less $3.50 0l2.0a equal to $3.50, $50 80,
the amount directly chargeable to the OK
pense of carrying passengers. This. divided
by 2S,S7OS2l number of passengers carried
one milel gives the expense per passenger
per mile O236i as above stated
With the cent rate. plainly showing a
loss although too light to cause the cur
failing of our splendid double daily serv-
ice. reduction TO cents per mile would
place the matter beyond any expedioncy,
and economy would enforce single daily
trains, with cheaper equipment, on gain
line. and mixed trains on branches.
These figures can not be disputed by any
logical or mathematical argument. | only
ask that they be given a fair analysis, feel
ing assured that the gentlemen Of the com
mittee will appreciate the business OF our
position. and the great hardship which
would be imposed, should the cent act
become law.
Another argument which may we'll be
considered is the ratio of dead to oco-pied
space in passenger cars our records for
the year lSA6 show an average OF three
coaches to the train run, or seating ca
pacity. at sixty to the coach, of $50. Multi
plying this by 1880. the passenger train
mileage for year ending June 80 1896 we
nave l29,5ooOOO as the number OF passen-
gers which could have been carried one
mile and for which accommodation were
provided The actual number carried one
mile was 2sS70,S2l, or 20 per cent OF the
train space. hence. it can be readily seen
that we are forced TO carry a dead space
OF 'i.b per cont for ga per cent earning
capacity. This ratio of dead TO live space Is
incident to the nuctuating nature of the
travel, aud also to the separate coach law.
which. in its operation. has clearly demon
strated the imposshility of equalizing the
space on the ratio of race travel.
AS matter Of comparison, bearing upon
the question of population in its relation
10 passenger travel. | invite your attention
10 the following figures, taken from Poors
Manual. under head of operation of the
New York Central and Hudson River road.
Tor fiscal year ending June 30. 1895: The
passenger train mileage is shown TO h,
if'ubl WI and the number of passengers
carried 10 the train mile 40, at cents nor
mile This gives earnings per train mile of
aS cents, while under the same rate ,shouIJ
II become law, the Houston and Texas
central. carrying only forty passengers per
IRAN mile, would earn so cents. The New
YORK Central and Hudson River road shows
nm expense OF 10 cents per passenger train
mile. while We show an expense OF 81 10
rms is due 10 the cheaper cost of material
loWer wages, cheap fuel, and the larger
Nolune OF business into which the main
tehance and preservation of the property f.
distributed. The cost for maintaining a
ROAD Tor say traffic Of ten trains daiiv
being but very little less than that for
MY mo passenger train mileage Of the
NV YORK Central and Hudson River for
800 Is shown to be ll031 .09i and thu
houston and Texas Central 6gG. 500 for same
period giving the Hudson river road
Noiume OF business twenty times that OF
tue houston and Texas Central Is II rea-
sonable TO suppose for moment that
road IN Texas, under heavier expense for
material. fuel labor and maintenance and
operation per mile. can do one twentieth az
mo volume of business at the same rate?
our correct idea Of the fitness OF things
VIII answer this question for you.
IN closing beg to remind you that the
houston and Texas Central railroad. an nm
industry OF Texas. while amanablo IN tho
Jaw Is entitled to Justice and Its protection
cripple It's revenues, by hostile lepls,atio,
ana you destroy the power 10 render s,c,,
service as would be conducive to tho de-.
Noiopinent and prosperity OF the State
Equity would demand that the rate ~
raised to meet the expense and give n ,,;.
proht on the business. Your most ohedien,
servant, M J"euient
nj