Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-22
CHEAPER RAILROAD FARES.
Wisconsin Commission Evolves Plan
for Reduction of Rates.

of railroads and the issuing of stock
road officials or employees from having
| any financial interest in grain eleva-
tors and other business enterprises
| shipping over their lines are the chief
recommendations made by State Rail-
road Commissioner John w. Thomas
/ of Chippewa Falls in his biennial re-
port just submitted to Gov. Davidson.
| This is the last report to be made
| by the state railroad commissioner,
as his Office will be abolished at the
| end of his term, the first Monday OF
next month. The functions of the Of
flee will be thereafter performed by
the state railroad commission, consist
ing of three members, which was ere
ated by the legislature two years ago,
and which is just getting into working
shape. Commissioner Thomas will
probably be appointed to the position
of state superintendent of public prop
erty, which pays $4,000 a year.
In his report Commissioner Thomas
gives a long account Of his investiga-
ton of the books and records Of rail
road companies for the purpose of as
pertaining whether they reported
their full gross earnings to the state
| for taxation purposes. The investi-
cation of the Milwaukee, 500, Omaha,
and Northwestern roads covered a
period of ten years, and Of the other
roads seven years, running back from
| 1904 There has been found up to
| this date" says the commissioner,
"$12,499 ,028.59 of gross earnings not
included in the reports of the railroad
companies to the state treasurer"
About two-thirds of this amount has
| been previously reported to the gov
ernor from time to time, as the inves-
tigation proceeded, and some of the
information was used by Gov. David
son in his last gubernatorial cam
paign Only a small part of the taxes
due on these earnings has been paid
by the roads. 1t aggregates about
| 100000, and is expected to be paid in
a short time.
Regarding the 2-cent passenger
rates, Commissioner Thomas says:
Owing to the fact that the several
political parties in this state adopted
in their party platforms for the year
1904 a demand for 2-cent passenger
rate, this department devoted some
time to the study Of that question pre-
vious to the enactment of chapter 1862,
Laws of 1905, which practically legis-
lated it out Of existence.
''In considering the question of 2
cent passenger rate, it becomes appar-
ent at once that it is necessary to d.
vide the roads into two classes, the
second class to comprise all new
branches, all branches hereafter con-
structed and such portions of the old
branches as are not self-supporting
| Roads of the second class should be
transferred to the first class after a
certain period, or at the option of the
railroad commission.
"To ascertain the earning capacity
of the passenger business on the first
or second class branches so establish
ed, or to be established, it would be
unnecessary for the commission to
demand annual or semi-annual reports
from each station agent in the state
| of the total receipts for passenger
tickets, conductors collections and
| mileage books, the latter only to be
! based on the net receipts to the COM
pany, all refunds being deducted; also
| the receipts from excess baggage and
the revenue from carrying express
On divisions where the earnings, cou-
pied with the receipts from the United
| States government for carrying the
mail, equal or exceed $4,000 per mile,
| there can be no doubt of the reasona-
bleness of a 2-cent fare. In fact, such
a rate would increase the earnings on
some of the lines"
Commissioner Thomas has the fol-
lowing to say in favor of his cOnten-
ton that the state should assume
some control over the construction
and repair of railroads:
"Glancing back over the railroad
problem, the growth of railroads has
certainly been surprising, considering
the extent of the makeshifts that were
duOptCu Ill l1C VI SOAlAC vi tHC
lines. In early days when new line
was contemplated streams and val
| legs were followed to get away from
any expense of grading and in the lay
ing of rails and building of bridges;
| the future development or increase OF
| traffic on road was never considered.
Some railway companies were more
| fortunate than others, because they
were more far-seeing and looked to flu
ture development But even to-day
railroading in Wisconsin is still in it's
infancy, and the field for the profes-
sional promoter should be curtailed
by requiring to be filed with the state
railroad commission every detail of
| Improvement or extension contem-
plated by road, both steam and cleo
! trio.
There can be no doubt but that the
interurban lines will be much used for
Learns Loss in Dream.
| Deadwood, S. D., Dec. Is. - Frank
Vetri, after dreaming that he was in