The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1897-02-26
PASSENGER SERVICE FIGURES.
Opinion Of Iowa state hon I'd of Rail-
road Comm issioners

/ VI idi' III ioNdf lilt cost 10 fdHfDA0S OF
carrying passenger mile: how the agri-
culturists may ascertain what rate would
De fair 10 both sdcF. and asking for the
opinion OF the commissioners on the sub
Ject.
In reply an open letter has been written
by w. W. Ainswo~th. secretary of the
commission. saying i'm part:
The questions suggested by YOU have
recently been considered by the board Of
railroad and warehouse commissioners OF
Illinois In response TO an inquiry made by
J the state grange Of that state. It's con-
clusion was that IL would be unwise I'M
warranted and unjust 10 the railroad inter.
| ests OF the state 10 comply with this re-
quest"
The matters suggested by you have re-
ceiyed our long and careful consideration.
and. unless the questions were presented in
more formal manner, we doubt the pro-
prety OF expressing our own opinion with
freedom. We VIII state some OF the more
salient facts, and these Will aid you I o form
your own conclusions in the matter.
From the statistics given in the report
OF this commission for 1855 IL appears the
average amount received by the railroads
doing business in Iowa for carrying one
passenger one mile during the year was
2.21 cents.
The returns from which these results are
obtained do not Include any passengers
carried free. The large number of passen-
gers who have Travelled upon reduc-
lions or rates as permitted by our statutes
ministers OF the Gospel orga nizations OF
our military, excursions on holidays, epe-
cial rates 10 meetings Of many oreaniza-
tlons, state and county fairs-are factors
that reduce the average fare TO the amount
above stated. Ii is obvious therefore, that
the aVcra xe must always be lower than the
rate fixed by law. The character Of the
business renders IL impossible to make any
rate that will be absolutely uniform
In arriving at the cost Of carrying one
passenger one mile, as above given, Moth
Ing is charged on account OF the expenses
OF the railroads flr interest, rents, taxes
and miscellaneous fixed charges, and Of
course. nothing for dividends on stock. Tho
passenger traffic should, of course, bear its
proportion of these expenses. which con-
stitute part OF the cost Of doing the hus-
ness. From statistics compiled by the in
ters.ate commerce commission II appears
that 10 charge the passenger business 81
the railroads with It's nroportionatc share
Of the fixed charges, not including anything.
however, on account of dividends and cred
iting IT with mail and express earnings.
would give us as the actual cost 2.51 cents.
The statement Of the Illinois commas
sion that there has been a general reduce
tion OF passenger business is undoubtedly
confirmed by the statistics. For the whole
United States the number OF passengers
thlIlfQ one Inllt lot tdtn fDllt OF TdllTOdu
In 1890 was 75.T5l: In 1895 II GS5I2.
Though the number OF passengers carried
was less, the passenger ear mileage was
greater In 1895 than In 1890, which. OF course.
increased the cost per passenger In 1879
the total number OF miles run by passen-
ger trains in the United States was
sss, 575. S04 In 1895 it was 81. SGT els. In 1896
the revenues from passenger service In
the United States decreased s35, 1903. 31s
compared with 1894, though the figures for
1896 include 2.05s 20 miles of road more than
in 1894.
The foregoing statements. which are
based upon the most accurate statistics OBJ
tainable. at this time Indicate:
/. That at the present time the average
fare charged in lows is less than the actual
cost OF transporting the passenger.
.. That within the last three or four years
passenger earnings have decreased without
a corresponding decrease in the cost OF do
ing the business.
Some Of the considerations tending 70
throw light on this subject are the rates
OF fare elsewhere. the density of popula-
ton, the earnings per mile OF road derived
fiom the passenger service, and whether
a decrease in the rates would increase traf-
fc so as TO render IL practicable to per-
form the desired service at the decreased
rate.
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:
England-First class, 10 cents second,
80 cents. third. 2 cents
France-First class, 4 cents; second
cents third. cents.
Italy First class. SO cents; second. 2s
cents: third. is cents.
Holand-First class, 32 cents; second.
&c cents; third, 1.e cents.
Belgium-First class. "a cents; second.
is cents, third, l.2 cents.
Except I'm England no baggage is carried
free. ami the accommodations in the small
or foreign countries are In every respect
much inferior to those furnished in Amer
lea.
The density OF population also affects
the volume of passenger traffic. Where the
popula ton Is dense there will be more travel
than in sparscly-settlsd districts. in Iowa
the population per square mile is about 80;
in England, al; Belgium, 5li; Holland. $50:
Italy, 26s; France, lSs; New York. 1872:
Ohio. ss New England. 80; Illinois, rs; Mis-
scLri, 49, Wisconsin. "a. Nebraska. n:
Kansas, 10; South Dakota. &.
The population per mile OF railroad In
Iowa is about 2f7, in Illinois II is about s95;
New York, sls New England. .is; Mis-
souri,. Az; Wisconsin. 306: Nebraska, 90:
Kansas. los; South Dakota. 129.
The average passenger earnings per mile.
as shown by the last report to this COM
mission. of the roads operating in Iowa are
$500. The Kansas report for 1876 shows
1914. the Illinois report 81 .5S2 and, AS shown
by the report of the interstate commerce
commission. they are ST. i22 in New Eng
land A.5i3 in New York. and i'm Ohio 81 ,s5i
1t appears from the report OF this COM
mission for 1926 that the average distance
travelled by each passenger over the Iowa
roads during the current year was 3i12
miles. The average fap therefore paid
ty each passenger was 10.s4 cents. ~ the
fare was two cents a mile the average pas
senger would save 50 cents. Whether and
to what extent this difference would induce
people to travel more than they do now on
account OF business. necessity or pleas
ure. you can determine for yourself
Other matters worthy OF consideration
In this connection are the present Ell
cheney OF the passenger service what ef-
feet, & any, decrease In passenger earn
ings would have upon the passenger service
generally. and especially upon the nun.
Der and character Of the local trains
IL Is evident that as yet the Iowa ran
roads have not been brought UP to proper
physical condition. With scarcely an ex
ception, every lire IN the state demands
large expenditures, ana some Of them In
the very near future. for ballast, ties new
~ q.