The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-15
Passenger Service Is Generally
Ahead of Demands.
Roads Contend, With Good Cause,
That Rates Are Low.
FACTS ABOUT THEM.
Average Fare Quite a BIT Less
Than Cents a Mile.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

In view of the general agitation now
in progress throughout the middle
west for lower passenger rates, some
facts regarding passenger traffic may
not be lacking in interest.
The agitation referred to already
has succeeded in bringing about reduc-
lions in Michigan. in Ohio and even IN
Texas, where a maximum rate Of 2 II
cents a mile has been ordered into ef-
feet on portions Of the Southern Pacific
system. Indiana, Illinois, Iowa. Mis-
souri, and Wisconsin are agitdtng for q
similar reduction and contending that
the time has fully arrived when they
should have it.
From the railroads side of the case,
however, 1t is doubtful If this conten-
ton fairly can be maintained when all
the circumstances are taken into ac-
count and the cost of the services is
set up against the returns received
from it. Density of population and
the number of people travelling are es-
sentiaI elements entering into the
problem to be solved. At present it
cannot be denied by the most bitter
assailant of the railroads that the ser
vice furnished by them is away ahead
of the actual demands or necessities of
the community.
Foreigners travelling in this country
frequently have expressed surprise
that so many and so luxurious trains
are run as every road furnishes for the
DGuGul Oh 50 lew passengers AOOdIQ u
them. Taking the interstate commerce
commissions report as authority, in
1904 the average number of passen-
gers on each train run was 1929 In
1898 the average wassonly thirty-nine,
so that it cannot be denied there has
been a healthy growth in the last few
years. Still the figures do not come
anywhere near those of older foreign
countries, where passenger fares are
no lower than they are here when the
quality Of service is taken into ac-
count.
In Germany, for example, the aver
age number of persons in each train is
seventy-one, while in India it is 1S9.
On each of the 212, 900 miles of Amer
lean railroad in 1904 there were car
ried 104, 19S passengers on the aver
age. In Germany in 1898 the average
was $4,000 persons; in France it was
2S3, 1000; in Austria, PA, 1872; in Prus-
STA, in 1897, 202, 639; in Holland in
1903, 235, 900; in India in 1893, it was
100000.
Passenger earnings of the New York
Central last year were $25,761,3
there being carried 45,5O7,0 persons.
The average earnings for each passen-
ger were only 55 cents. and the aver
age earnings for each passenger for a
mile were 1-73 cents Passenger earn
ings of the Pennsylvania last year
were $26,282,196; the number of per-
sons carried 55,7S1,S0 and the earn
ing for each passenger for a mile 2.014
cents. The average number of passen-
gers on a train was fifty-eight. On the
Southern railway passenger earnings
last year amounted to $12, ,572, the
number of passengers carried 1861
440. The Union Pacific last year car
ried 4 12S,435 passengers, receiving for
the service $11, 343, 1913. Its average
number of passengers on train was
1911 and its average rate for each
passenger for a mile was 81 cents.