Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-01-13

the individual passenger. 1t has, If
possible. to make its trains pay expenses.
Mr.. Davis has asserted that if the Santa
Fe road put its fares lower it would in
crease its business. Railway men do
not agree with this. In most lines of
business the men who are in the BUSH
ness are accepted as authorities. The
grocer or a hotel keeper is expected to
know best at what figure he will do the
most business. But it is possible that
MIR. Davis knows more about what rail-
way fares ought to be than railway men
who spend their lives struggling with
the problem. On behalf of the Santa F6
road am entirely willing, and make
this now as an official statement, to let
MIR. Davis or anybody else who pleases
carry out their theories and get az the
profit from it. l do not believe that
anybody has ever figured the cost of
passenger service as being less than
one dollar train mile. At three cents
mile it takes thirty-four people con
each train to Fay this; at two cents
it takes 80 people; at one cent it would
take hundred people and at half cent
it would take two hundred people. Now
the Santa Fe road is entirely anxious TO
make whatever rate will most surely
produce this one dollar per trainemile
return. To sh ow that we are in earnest,
the Santa Fe road will lease to AIR.
Davis. if he can assure us OF his re-
sponsibility. or to any other responsible
person, party, syndicate or company in
the state of Kansas, a train to run from
any point in Kansas on our lines to any
other point every day in the year at a
rental of one dollar mile. The parties
renting the train shall receive all fares
and farm the travel out TO suit them
selves. They will only have to pay MS
ten dollars each way if the train runs
ten miles, or one hundred dollars each
way if the train runs one hundred
miles. They can make the passenger
rate so low that everybody will travel;
or they can do with it as they please.
This offer is not made as bluff but is
a serious business proposition. If it is
fact that somebody else can make
more money out of the passenger SER
vice on the Santa Fe road than we can.
by charging lower rates, We are entirely
willing that they should make it. L
shall be very glad to have this offer
taken up. YDu Will understand that L
am not now offering ito put on special
train for single day or a single run at
that rate. The train must be scheduled
and run each way every day, rain or
shine, and whether there is anybody to
90 or not, just as our present trains do,
but the lessee may Tx the running time
and place.
There is nothing that 1 can think of
that would not do, which could legiti-e
mately be done, TO induce the people of
Kansas to become personally familiar
with the workings of the road. Our
interests are Identical and we ought to
be friends. If 1 can bring it about we
will be.
appreciate, Mr.. Editor, that this is a
very long letter and that it is much to
ask of you to give it space. Yet L
assume that the subject may have some
interest for your readers and that they,
as we'll as you. are willing to hear both
sides of any matter affecting the public
interest. 1 may or may not be able to
reply to any further articles by MessIs.
Brown and Davis and 1t is quite pos
sible that your readers may be tired OF
The subject. Yours truly,
f. Z. RIPLEY.