The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1897-07-15

oseb t5.pb, DOT less eo1n a. co should
charge not over AZ cents per mile
and oil others not over . cents. The
same or similar reduction and grading
should Be made in freight rates, tie
object being to allow . fair, just Der
censa&e Of net prodts on the actual
value Of the plant"
There are ls0. 900 miles Of railroad q
the United States. They have been
ouiis with great difference Ia coat and
through sections differing vastly In
the amount Of travel and freight. 10.
genious tables could be nsds which by
skill in grouping would make almost
any given rate the average. There are
roads charging less than I cent Der
mile and few charging ~ high "a the
highest rate allowed in this state. The
German government recently cent .
commission to this country to irvesti-
gate our system. With German pati.
ence and Flooding thoroughness a. to
detail, they reported that upon q fair
average
TWO CENTS PER MILF WAS THE AyKxAGR
AAEkIcAN RATK.
Lloyd BFice in An article written for
the corporation side in the March No.
Of The North American Review also
says that cents per mile 10 the
average American passengers rate.
AS far As can Judge it 10 about the
figure, and considering the enhanced
value OF money about the same guam.
tity Of cotton, corn, or labor viii buy
. passage for 100 miles now 1T 2 cents
per mile as would . few years back
have bought passage for 100 miles at
3l cents per mile.
1t 10 true that there are States which
have more population than this, but
they have more railroads too. Only
twelve States have as many people to
the mile Of railroad ~ North Carolina.
l hope your commission will
see proper, to grant the public
this concession which is so emf.
nentIy just. l am confident that the
railroads would make more money as
we'll as more friends by themselves
voluntarily cOnceding this reduction.
These agitations for two (2) cents
fares, wherever they have been begun,
have never ceased till the demand has
been granted. The demand is so Just
and reasonable in itself that it could
not be otherwise. l have preferred
the above methods, which demonstrate
clearly from your own reports that the
rates here are too high to entering into
. comparison with rates elsewhere,
which are so various and 80 numerous
that contention could easily be raised
on this collateral question by railroad
advocates, anxious to divert attention
from the real issue. That inter state
rates to North Carolina are higher
than either to Virgins or South Caro-
lima,
WAS CLEARLY SHOWN BY TWO LATE
CONVENTIONS OF MANUFACTURERS
at Greensboro and Charlotte, and it is
not to be supposed that these CORPORA
tions in their local rates have been
more considerate of q people who have
been 80 forbearing and patient under
corporation imposition as those of this
State have so long been. But my own
Investigation has been thorough and
has satisfied me that the railroad rates
in this State, everything considered
ARE THE HIGHEST ON THE CONTINENT
learn that the answer filed by the
Seaboard Air Line, when it was con.
tending against an Injunction brought
by a rival ine) for the privilege of re.
ducing their rates, set out this fact
But, however, it may be as to the an.
swer, am confident as to the fact that
our rates are the highest. Wherever
the rates elsewhere Approximate our
it will be found that they are in those
States where the railroads have almost
undisguisedly.
| TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE GOVERNMENT
The taxes paid by the railroads herr
are admitted by one Of the officials o
the lines in this States, who is perhap
best acquainted with the subject, to b.
THE LOWEST PAID BY RAILROADS IN ANY
OF THE STATES.
The property tax paid by them herr
j, not supplemented by any tax OF
gross earnings, or stock as is usua
elsewhere.
| know that there is always tn,
threat that we will drive capital from
the State. That was threatened if tn
per cent law was passed, but tO-da.
North Carolina As are at par ant
Raleigh per cent are So. above PAL
What we need is to keep our own CAPT
tai in the State and with $4,000, OO(
saved every six years as above show
could be done, we can build railroad
and get US q good school system upol
our own money. Foreign capital vii
not come here because we are humbl,
respectful and submissive to the owner
of it, but because per cent ne
above taxes and all other charges i
more than can be had by investing il
U. s. 3 per cent bonds. In converse
ton recently with q director on on
of these lines, though North Caro-
linian himself he said, "The truth i
this is getting to be an old country
Our laborers must come down
European wages and our farmers mus
live cheaper and be content wit
European small profits. They canno
; help themselves" That is the wa
the Banker owners of our railroad
and all within their influence look
with perfect complaisance too, upo
the situation. But if it is true tina
our farmers must surely and steadil
be turned into peasantry and tenau
holders, and our 1aborers into semi
serfs, then the reduction should be q
rOund-tOp rs we'll as bOttOm-an
the capitalists who have sac, OOO, 900 II
vested in our cent system
. SHOULD rAKE2 PER CENT NET PROFIT
for 2 per cent per year is the ban
rate in London and Paris. But tai
,, it the railroad owners would now /
perfectly satisfied with the 4 per Ger
net which the Vanderbilt roads
. New York pay. They would not grun
BILE at that. What they strenuousl
object to is getting 4 per cent only 9
: their investment. They would be 50
listed with 4 per cent ON the Sc, 600 Ok
8 hut they want you to 60 on and sllo
D them per cent on something whie
+ you and they both say does not exii
e j. e., their property In these roa'
| above $2e,OO0,0OO. There is the so
t point. They want dividends on tn
4 sec, 900 900 which they say is even mo
q than they have invested here, Al
: which your Commission says is evel
q cent they have here, and then th'
d wish to tax the people fares ~
9 freights high enough to pay per Gel
e on, on, on up to 80, 600 cool. e. on 81
e 0O0, 900 for which they
= HAVE NOT PAID CENT NOR STRUCK
~ LICK OF WORK,
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