The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-08
Chicago shipper Answers Presi-
dent Winehsll Of Rock Island.
Says Railways Should Improve
Service and Make Lower Rates.
RAILWAYS BENEFITED.
Revenues Largely Increased By
Provisions of New Law.
Gossip and Matters Of Interest
In Railroad Circles.
RAILWAYS BENEFITED.

HICAGO. sept. Prominent
Chicago shippers yesterday
took sharp issue with the as
sertion of President B. L.
~ Wincheu OF the Rock Island
lines that the shippers or
ganizations should demand Of the rail-
roads not lower freight rates but bet
ter service They contended that the
roads could and ought to make the
many improvements in their faciltties
which Mr. Winchell mentioned and
also lower freight rates. The shippers
position was defined by w. B. Conkey,
who is a director in both the Illinois
Manufacturers association and the
American Shippers association.
ut is notorious" declared Mr.. Con-
key. that the railroads for years paid
enormous sums in the form OF re-
bates to many big business concerns.
Tt is also notorious that they issued
tree passes and free transportation to
thousands of people. Rebates and
passes have been cut of noN-s and the
result must be a colossal increase in
railway revenues.
Enormous Profits Of Railways.
Besides this. the business of the
country is growing al a rate the like
OF which never was known in the his
tory of the world. This also is adding
enormously to the railway revenues
Meantime many economies have been
and are being introduced in methods
of transportation. The railroads were
able to make extensions and improve
ments In the past when they were Civ
ing rebates and passes and when their
business was much smaller than now.
w ny, then will 1t be necessary for
them to have all this increased reve-
nue. in order to make improvements in
the future2
1.-THE shipping interests Of the coun-
Hrsea r4r-9f f.-f7 p iii
We believe part of the benefit result
ing from the abolition of rebates and
passes and the growth Of the trans
portation business ought to go to the
railroads patrons and the public. We
believe rates not only ought to be
edualized but that they ought to be
lowered on the average, If everybody
is to get q fair deal and the railroads
are not to derive the lions share of
the advantage from the enactment of
the new rate law"
The statement of Mr. Winchell which
called forth the above, follows:
The chief need of the country, so far
as the railroads are concerned, is not
lower rates, passenger or freight but
better railroads and better and more
adequate service. Rates are lower in
the United states than In any other
country in the world. and they could not
be reduced materially without so inn
pairing railway revenues as to arrest
the EALEIS4Oll ana Improvement on rail-
ways and their service. which must
continue to be pushed rapidly forward
If the Industrial development of the
United States is not to be hampered
by inefficient and insufficient transpor-
tation facilities.
THE interstate commerce commission
being composed Of intelligent and able
men, hardly can fail to see that this is
true and therefore It appears improba-
Die that il will take any action looking
toward general reductions.
Many Of the railroads Of the United
states, Mr. Wincheu continued. are
skeletons Of what they must be event
ually. There is public demand that
travel be made safer and faster This
cannot be done without continued large
expenditures for heavier rails, from
ballast double tracks and complete sig
nal system.
Revision Of existing lines and reduc-
ton OF grades, to enable economical op-
Grafton, viii call for hundreds of mil
lions of dollars. Every year at certain
seasons there is a congestion of traf-
ne which causes great annoyance and
neaNy losses to the railroads shippers
and the entire public The indefinite re-
currence of these conditions can be pre-
vented only by the enlargement of
terminals, the construction of many
thousands of miles of additional main
and passing tracks, and the purchase
OF vast amount Of new and improved
equipment
Demands are coming In. from towns
and cities for new passenger stations
and freight houses. and many must be
built If shippers and travellers are to be
auorded satisfactory treatment.
The making Of these and many other
needed Improvements will be far better
for everybody than reduction Of rates.
They cannot be made without the ex-
penditure of many millions Of dollars.
The necessary money can be had in only
one of two ways-by earning it or Dor
rowing it. It cannot be earned If rates
are generally lowered, and such action
borrowing powers.
The business Of the western rail-
roads-which have the greatest necessi-
ties-is doubling every ten years or less,