Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-04-02
ON IOWA RAIL RATES.
PA S ENCER SERVICE AND
RATES COMPARED.
Reply Of the State Railroad Com mission
to Inquiries by Agrieulturists Regard
ing Average Receipts and Expenses.

to Inquiries by Agriculturists Regard.
ing Average Receipts and Expenses.
Des Moines, 1owa.-Correspondence CHICAGO
Times -Herald.-W. W. Field Of Odebolt, pres-
tdent Of the State Agricultural society anx-
ious to enlighten It's members on the merits Of
t the railroad ~ question. sought for information
ers on the following points: What is the aver
age rate OF fare in Iowa? What does It cost the
railroads to carry = passenger = mile? How
are we tthe agrculturists) to ascertain what
rate would be fair on both sides? What 10
the opinion OF the commissioners on the Ques-
ten by W. " ADsSorth see rrs Gsen Of T n.
commission. saying in part: The questions
suggested by you have recently been con-
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 nnwarranted and unjust to the rail-
road interests of the state to comply with this
request The regular report says: Some Of
o' .sna sSrh lines IN no. be s:
roads and thosc which do almost wholly =
local business. and which are now and have
existssee. would BE- most seriousIy affected
by 1t. Such action on our part would simply
increase the heavy burdens under which they
are struggling now.
Dccrease In Passenger Business.
1T is a wel-known fact to those who have
y
passenger business done BY the railroads in
Illinois during the last two years that there
mas been a large decrease in the number OF
passengers carried. This is due, in our tudg-
ment not to the amount charged for such
service, but to the general depression in all
n lines OF business bus the low prices Of farm
tons which have had their effect on the pas
senger as well as the freight business. This
freight schedule in 1895 ard the whole Iues-
ton was thoroughly considered. We did not
mint then. and neither do we feel now that
In justice to both the public and the railroads
this reduction should be made at this lime.
II the country Was prosperous our conclu-
sions might be different. The statistics in our
office show that for the last three years. 1894.
1885 and 1896, the average amount charged by
the railroads per passenger per mile Is fraC-
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-
auction to the legislature. In view Of our
conclusion do not feel that 1t would be
consistent for us to do
Receipts and Cost Per Mile.
From the statistics given in the report Of
this commission for 1896 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
Tree The large number OF passengers VINO
have travelled uron reductions OF yates as ?er-
mitted by our Observation-Disclosures Of the Cos
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
than the rate fixed BY law. The character of
any rate that will be absolutely uniform. Tho
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 e.14 cents. This result
is less reliable than II 1t were founded upon
returns made by all the roads. which would
probably increase II. In arriving at the cost
Of carrying one passenger one mile. as above
given nothing 10 charged on account OF the
expenses Of the railroads tor Interest rents d
Of course. nothing for dividends on stock.
The passenger trafic should OF course. bear
stitute rart Of the cost Of doing the business.
From statistics compiled by the interstate
commerce commission 1t appears that TO
roads with its proportionate share Of the nxed
charges. not including anything, however on
account OF dividends and creditinE 1t with
mail and express earnings, would give us u
the actual cost 2.57 cents.
Figures on Reduced Tramc.
"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
for each mile ct railroad in 1890 was q, Isl:
In 1875 l: was S572. Though the number Of
car mileage was greater in 1895 than In 1890,
which. Of course, increased the cost per pas
senger. In 1880 the total number Of miles
was 2s5 SID. sO4 in 1895 1t was 3l7 585. SIS. In
1896 the revenues from passenger service In
the United States decreased $3S 103.37s a.
compared with 1894 though the figures for
1895 include 2.055. % miles OF road more than
in 1891. The foregoing statements which are
based upon the most .sufse hs,
present time the average fare charged In Iowa
is less than the actual cost OF transporting tho
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 have
notice OF the commission the following are the
rates prevailing in the countries named !:
England,Fir.t class a. cents E,. second 81
First class, SIS cents; second. &c cents: third
,e s Ten's e. cents; third is cents. Belgium
First class, "a cents: second. Is cents: third
IL cents Except In England no baggage 10
carried free.
Density Of Population . Factor.
1.-THE density Of population also affects the
volume Of passenger trn ira, G. Where the pGpT
| In sparsely settled districts. In Iowa the
| population per square mile Ii about 81: in
a. rI.p see is New yorE 49, Ohio s
Sc; New England. So: Illinois, 70: Missouri.
| g; wisconsin, 81; Nebraska. Is: Kansas: ~:
railroad in Iowa 10 about 247, in Illinois II Is
about 3s5; New York. s13; New England. 7l9;
| Missouri. AT: Wisconsin, 800: Nebraska. sO9 !:
| Kansas. los; South Dakota, 10. The average
messenger earnings per mile. a. shown by the
| last reports to this commission. Of the roads
| mart for 1885 shows 3S44, the Illinois report
| h $40. and as shown by the report Of the in
| terstate commerce commission. they are 81. 49,
in New England. A5l3 in New York and In
! Ohio 81. 951."
| Quicker I'm the Old Days.