The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-28
WILL THE. RATES
BE REDUCED?
CONTINUED from first page.)

gross and net earnings of each one OF
the divisions of the SeabOard system in
North Carolina.
There had. he said, been q very slight
increase in both gross and net earnings
of his roads during the past five years,
also some increase in wages Of en-
ployes during that period. Mr.. ST.
John said there had been no change in
passenger rates since he had been con-
nected with the road.
The condition of the Raleigh and
CASTOR is now such, he said, as to re-
guire an enormous expenditure to keep
it up. He did not think passenger fares
i'm the South were now as high as they
were five years ago, or that they ought
to be. Along the Raleigh and CASTOR
Railroad line, he said there We're indica7
tons of some very great improvements
being made, though at very great OK
pense to the road, but they are of such
a character as to yield a very small re-
turn to the road in the near future.
Mr.. Have you a record of
the passes issued over your lines"
Mr.. st. joint have and | don't
suppose there will be any objection TO
furnishing it"
The general officers of the line, he
said, were paid by all lines in the sys-
tenn on n per centage basis. The South
ern railroads today, he thought, were
not equal to what the western roads
were twenty years ago.
Neither of the Seaboard roads, he
said, had been able to pay n dividend
within the past few years, all the profits
going to the making of improvements
and giving Il better service. eff rates
are reduced we shall have to economic
in order to live and the travelling public,
the employees and the people along tn
line will be the sufferers, and not the
stockholders. The thing that the rail
roads of the South need is a few years
Of prosperity to enable them to make
improvements, give better service and,
pay something to tlteir stockholders.
If we depended entirely on the business
of any one State, even now we should
have TO reduce operating expenses very
materially. The new anterprises-fac-
tories-that are built up along our lines
get reduction of 1-3 on their freights"
DIR. Abbott-'When a new hotel is
opened do you give special rateY'
'We do not"
This caused much amusement for
everybody knew DIR. Abbott had in
mind the Round Knob Hotel, where
the Southern trains stop for meals
lgwine and acomin'
Would not the rule apply that the
over the rates the more passengers
'0u would haul -
1T will apply if you will furnish
the population. We haven't got the
,eOple to haul. You must get the peo-
ne and We all must join in getting
chem. Once we get them they become
producers and rates adjust themselves.
Though the west is building up rapid
Y and the number of passengers hauled
very largely in excess of anything we
know here, still the rates there are the
same they were five years ago" sag
What effect would the reduction of
lne-haf cent on passenger rates over
yOur line have on your reyenueY
II can't tell just now, bnt I'd be
glad to furnish you with the figures
Would it effect your through |
tates?' "'' ~
1T would usually, through rates are1
based on the local travel with certain
amount added"
This completed the Seaboard's case,
70 respond to the rule.
President Elliott was present and
stated that he had no written statement |
70 file as the other roads had, but that
Mr.. Emerson, his traffic mana ger was |
present and would furnish amy mf9rnm
ton the Commission might desire touch |
ing the part of the Atlantic Coast Line
in North Carolina.
Rafarn taking tho ctaOI a1-ifOaS1
Mr. Emerson made an argument. The |
passenger rates in North Carolina, he |
said, We're as low or lower than in any
other Southern State. South Carolina |
has the same as North Carolina. In
Virginia there j. only one rate-3 cents,
and the second class travel is 60 per
cent of the entire travel. This gives
Virginia a slightly higher rate thlnI
North Carolina has.
1.-The receipt per train mile for pas
;engers over the Wilmington and Wei
Ion is GIG cents; the receipts for pas
'engers, mail and express 81 cents: The
operating expenses per train 81 cents
ger mile
I'VE are losing money on passenger
trains alone. We have several passen- |
ger trains that We would turn over
20 anybody if they will pay operating
expenses. The Norfolk and Carolina
branch is even worse off than the Will
nington and Weldon. Its receipts from
Ill sources are only 80 cents, while the
operating expenses are over dollar.
Eve do a very much greater through
business than local business on the Pc
tersburg road, also larger through
business than local business on the Will
nington and Weldon, but larger local
than through business ON the Norfolk
and Carolina"
"What is the lowest rate per mile
but we receive an average of 2 40
'"That is a question | can't answer,
but We receive an average of 2 4.1OI
cents Il mile ON all through business
over the Wilmington and Weldon, and
2 $40 on the local"
President Elliott being called to the
stand said he had in his possession ii
record of the passes issued by him over
the lines of which he was president.
IF called for could it be SEEM?
II don't know why the Commission
sho1ld NOT have II IL thay Jyontnd If for