The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-10
ARGU MENT BEING HEARD
THE WILMINGTON AND WELDON
CASE POSTPONED TO JUNE %.
INFORMATION NOT AS REQUIRED
And Time Is Given to Make New and Fuller
Reports.-Argument in Favor of Re-
duction on the Seaboad
Air Line.


State library yesterday morning at 10
o'clock. The matter of the reduction of
passenger fares TO and 215 cents a mile
was continued from yesterday. No
counsel was present for the Seaboard
Air Line but their answer was filed.
Mr. Hill. an employee in the office of
the Southern railway, accounting de
partment), was the first witness cX
amined. He said he had thirteen years
experience in the railroad business;
couldn't say how many dead heads rode
on the North Carolina railroad last
year, but the conductors always report
them to the head office.
The next witness was Mr.. Frank ).
Cannon, third vice president and general.
manager of the Southern railway. His
principal experience had been i'll operat-
ing railways The following question
was asked him by Col. Hinsdale:
''In your experience in operating rail-
ways, please state the relation of OK
penses as to the local and through bust
nessg counsel for Southern railway OBJ
jected, but was overrued.
''All railroads are not similarly stu
ated like the North Carolina railroad
First, the relation of the local and
through business will vary almost CON
stantly. 1t depends. largely on the
traffic of the road. The local business
may be 10 to % per cent. heavier"
What is the relation of local business
to through business on the North Caro-
lima railroad?"
Between Greensboro aud Goldsboro
there is one local passenger and ten
through passenger trains. There are
four freight trains, three of which
handle through freight and one local
business. The through trains have a
crew of five men each, work eight
hours and handle about ninety cars per
day. The local freight run six men to
train; work eight to ten hours per day,
and haul sixty cars. In other words.
one engine and crew can move thirty
through cars. while it takes the same
crew longer time to move twenty cars
of local business. Men on the local
trains are paid better wages than those
on the through trains. The coal con-
sumption is practically the same. In the
passenger service the local business fir
ures out practically the same. 1t costs
30 per cent. more to do the local than
the through business. All stations out
side of Greensboro, Goldsboro, Durham
and Raleigh, do local business. Between
Greensboro and Charlotte, the condi-
tions differ There are two local and
two through passenger trains. Expenses
70 all practical purposes the same. The
through trains carry seven and eight
cars; the local three and four cars
Frequent stops at small stations make
the expenses greater The expenses Of
the local is 80 to 40 per cent. greater
as result of frequent stops. If the
through business can be handled at go
to 20 per cent. it will cost 20 to so per
cent. to handle the local in the train
service alone. These are the usual ex-
penses, incident to the through business
not charged to the account of the North
Carolina railway. The cost of equipment
and maintenance of way can't be arrived
at. One half of the freight shipped over
the road is merchandise received and
shipped by merchants. One fourth of it
comes and goes out of the State.
Thirty-two per cent. of the passenger
fares are Interstate. Local trains ham
die some through, and some through
trains some local business. The local
trains from Godsboro to Greensboro
carry more through passengers than the
through train carry local passengers, as
the former stops at only a few places.
Mr.. w. w. Finley, second yice-presi-
dent, was next placed on the stand He
stated that he was in the revenue de-
partment and had general supervision of
the traffic Management Of the Southern.
He was asked: ''What in your opinion,
If any, would travel be effected in the
proposed reduction of rateSY'
There are times when abnormally low
rates are made, known as railroad wars,
that travel increases for a time, but soon
settles down to the normal conditions
again. 1t would not make travel in
crease. Have had quite an experience
in the rate question. Reference has been
made to, Of the small rates charged by
European countries as compared with
America. Cannot explain, but impress
sion is they are higher. DO not think the
agricultural population is a travelling
one. Lowering Of rates would not help
agriculture.
CHAIRMAN CALDWELL'S STAIN
MENT.
Chairman Caldwell stated that by CON
sent either party could read reports filed
with the Commission. 1.-THE quarterly
reports sent in by the railways are not
in compliance with the order made by
the Commission. There are a number
of items Of information in regard to the
through freight and passenger expenses,
mail and passenger service and miscella-
neous items, in the operating depart
ment in the reports Of the Raleigh and
Augusta, Southern and North Carolina
Railways that are not filed out The
Atlantic Coast Line complied with the
order except local and through and dead
head passenger item"
THE w. & w. RAILROAD.
The case of the Wilmington and We
don Railway was taken up. Mr.. w. II.
Riach, general auditor, was placed on
stand. He submitted an exhibit
Which he says is the kind the Whining