The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-08
STRIKING DAY
IN RATE MATTER
CONTINUED From First Page

TN iii L NInl LII
Continued From First PagcD
Spencer, Of the Southern, ana hc asked
him as to the comparative cost OF carry
Ing local and through freight over his
road.
That Is q comparison which IL Is
practically impossible to make" was the
answer. "rhe cost varies for many rca-
sons. The cost OF moving local freight
In some Instances Is six or seven times
as much as that of handling through
freight"
Witness cited the wear and tear OF
stopping and starting. and OF additional
labor required for handling local freight.
Il ask YOU" inquired Mr.. Braxton.
chow can you give the average cost of
handling local and through freight, when
YOU say you do not know the cost of
both? You say the average cost Of all
is seventy cents on the dollar, and that
the local Is egllty-nlne cents. Now
what Is the cost OF handling through
freight?'
Mr.. Thorn. here came to the rescue Of
the witness, and said lie and Mr. Brax-
ton had evidently nos clearly Understood
each other.
FEeSScO LOT ANSWER.
Mr.. Braxton, however, pressed for his
answer.
Q. How can you got an average be-
tween two numbers, when you do not
know both of thcm2"
A. TT Ia impossible to give the actual
cost Of doing through business. We
cannot separate tho two propositions.
The Interstate Commerce Commission has
worked ovor the question and given It up
A brief colloquy took place between
counsel as to the probable understanding
between the witness and Mr.. Braxton,
and, finally, Mr.. Spencer reiterated that
1T would be hard to sny what was the
cost Of handling through freight.
Q. "Mr. Spencer, I ask as q most re-
sponsble RAILROAD man, whether the bulk
OF your local business In Virginia pays
more or less than tho bulk OF your
through business?"
Ar cannot answer. because these
items have never been kept separate"
@. What proportion OF your business
in Virginia is local. and what is
through"
A." could not say
Q. Are not tho conditions affecting
your through business In Virginia very
much more harmonious and homogen-
eous and those surrounding your local
sbuslness?"
IN n. ~ uoIl ekuCtly Ne now COrreCC
estimate could be made, as so many con-
dttions would have to bio considered
O.. "You have said 1t costs more to
handle local than through freight owing
to stops, starts, wear and tear etc.
ask you, therefore, II It Is not easier to
+. ascertain the cost OF handling through
freight?''
Hard to Determine.
A.. 1T Is almost Impossible to answer
accurately"
Mr. Braxton stated proposition OF
two freight trains going from Alexandria
to Monroe-one local and the other
tlrough-and he asked the witness which
was the easiest to figure on as 10 the cost
OF operation. Il, .,$
Under these conditions answered Mr..
Spencer. 1T would be somewhat easier to
calculate upon the cost Of the through
than upon the local train.'
Mr.. Braxton examined the witness at
great length as to tho cost Of the opera
ton OF the various terminals OF his road
in Virginia, and he desired especially to
know If any part Of this was included In
the 70 cents on the dollar consumed In
operating expenses, In some cases It was
so, and in others not, according to the
witness.
q. "Mr. spencer, suppose your road
acquires an old. worn,out limo, ana
eqlips it with new rails, stations &c.,
where would this expense go?''
A. I'm general, this would be considered
a maintenance charge. though there is
no fixed rulo with respect to It."
. Mr. Thorn said the old rails would be
credited to maintenance and only the
net cost charged.
Q.''Mr. Spencer. do the earnings from
the Virginia business go entirely to main
tenance in Yirginia?"
a. 1--WE take no account of state lines;
1t all goes into general fund and is
pro rated among the States"
Mostly in Four Years.
Q."TIas there been n gradual increase
in the cost Of labor In the last ten years,
or has tho increase come in q short
whilo?"
A. Most of the advance should say,
has been In the past four years. !
Witness said In answer to q question,
that the railroad employed It's own tele-
graph operators and sent commercial