Bisbee daily review., 1906-08-08
PRESIDENT RIPLEY HAS l. WRITTEN ID PEOPLE
 OF KANSAS


 Fe. has addressed letter to the peo- pie of Kansas in which he protests against the proposed 2-cent fare bill, which he declares would be equivalent to confiscation of the property of the railroad. He says many passenger trains in Kansas are operated at a loss, for the accommodation of the people. The letter follows:
 To the People of Kansas:
 The company now owning and op- erating the Santa Fe railway is lit tie more than ten years old.
 Do you know that in that ten years the road has been largely rebuilt and largely re-equipped?
 Do you know that the track on the main line is as good as any in the country and better than most, and that the branches have also been im- proved in condition and service, as fast as men and money could be ob- tained for the purpose?
 Do you know that in order to ac- complish these results the Santa Fe company has spent in these ten years in Kansas alone not less than seven teen millions of dollars, part of which was taken from earnings that might have been distributed to stockholders and the rest borrowed?
 Do you know that the road is fully worth today the amount of its total capitalization?
 Do you know that in these ten years the preferred stockholders have re- ceived total dividends of only 29 3-4 ,Nnr . 10 mum, and that common stockholders have received but 21 1-2 per cent or a little over 2 per cent per annum?
 Does it strike you that these pay, ments are excessive, or that those who risked their savings in the enterprise have received too great a reward How does this return compare with those of the farmer or business man on his investments? s
 Do you know that in Kansas the passenger train mileage of the Santa Fe has about doubled in the last ten years and that its trains are as com fortable and luxurious as those run anywhere in the world?
 Do you know that the passenger rates are as low as they are in any state west of Ohio and Michigan, not withstanding that you have only eighteen people per square mile, while Illinois has eighty-six, and Iowa forty, Missouri forty-five? Do you know that many passenger trains in Kansas are run at an actual loss and solely for the accommodation of the public?
 Do you know that while the people NF ir1 fr-ii h,,4 little money by a reduction of pas senger rates, the effect of such reduc. tion would be keenly felt by the rail- roads. because it would reduce nearly all interstate rates. so that for every dollar saved by a citizen of Kansas the railroad company would lose sey. eral thousand dollars?
 If you know all these things to be true, what reason or excuse is there for demanding that your legislature pass law attempting to reduce the 1 passenger rates?
 We think we can demonstrate to any court or other tribunal that a re- duction in passenger rates is unjust and is equivalent to confiscation of our property, but we do not want to conflict with our patrons; we dc not want to be continually Mitigating in the effort to preserve our rights We believe that when the people know the facts the misrepresentatiOns ot demagogic politicians and a sensation al press will not be regarded. The Santa Fe desires to conduct its business fairly and with due regard tc the rights of the public; it raises nc objection to public supervision and reasonable regulation; it desires above all things to keep out of politics, yet when attacked it must defend itselt and when the sole platform of a can | didate is that he is "agin' the rail roads" we are fairly justified in pro testing against his election. That i: what every man and every interest 1T the state would do if attacked l If my statements are true you can not believe that the agitation for { two-cent bill is justifiable; if you doubt the statements or any of. them can prove them correct.
 I do not desire to be drawn into z newspaper controversy with politi clans or demagogues, but should thiI fall into the hands of any honest vo | ter. who doubts my statements, or de sires further information, I hold my self in readiness to answer any com munication addressed in good faith 1 E. P. RIPLEY,
 President A, Tss& s. F. Ky Co. Chicago, Aug 14, 1906,