Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-03-10
2-CENTS mile BILL ARGUED.
The Claim Is Made That, Except On
Main Lines. Passenger Traffic Is Not
Profitable.

The railroad side of the bill which
proposes fiat rate Of 2 cents n mile
for transportation of each passenger in
the state by railroads, was heard Friday
by the House Committee on Railroads
and Canals. Representatives of the
leading railroad companies Of the state
were present and gave their views.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company
was represented by James X. Wood,
manager of passenger traffic, and Charles
II. Carter, of Baltimore. Capt. Willard
Thomson represented the Baltimore,
Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway Com
pany.
The general argument was advanced
by the representatives of the railroad
companies that their average rate is less
than cents mile, and that if fiat
rate of 2 cents is charged. communication
and excursion tickets will have to be
raised in price. Statistics were given
regarding the passenger traffic Of the
Pennsylvania and other railroads in
Maryland, except the Baltimore and
Ohio, which is not affected by the bill.
Under its charter il can charge cents
mile. Ii is contended that the char
tyr is not repealable.
james X. Wood, manager of passen.
ger traffic of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, made the first speech, during
which he said that several of the branch
lines of the Pennsylvania Railroad in
Maryland are operated at loss.
Capt. Willard Thomson, vice president
and general manager of the Baltimore,
Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway Com
pany, said if the proposed reduction to
two cents per mile were made, 1t will
work such hardship that many local
trains will have to be withdrawn. He
said
In looking over the business of the
Baltimore, Chesapeake and Atlantic
Railway Company, which operates a
railroad between Claiborne. in Talbot
county, to Ocean City. in Worcester
county, about SS miles. ! find that the
total number of passengers carried for
the year was lS9, 575 The total num-
ber of passengers carried for three cents
per passenger per mile was 56,346; the
total number carried for two cents was
81, l46, and the total number carried Tor
less than two cents was l5, 0S3. The
average rate per passenger per mile on
all classes of tickets for 1905 was l.5S3
cents, and the net revenue was cents;
and for 1904 the average gross revenue
per mile was Leo cents and the net re-
venue 2 cents.
And on the Maryland. Delaware and
Virginia Railway, which operates line
from Love Point, in Queen Anne's coun-
ty. to Lewes, Del, about II miles, the
average earnings per passenger per
mile was lS5 cents, and the net deficit
was .5 cents.
would further state that the aver
age number of three cent and two cent
and less than two cent rate per passen-
ger per mile is about the same proper
ton on the Maryland, Delaware and
Virginia Railway line as on the Balti-
more. Chesapeake and Atlantic Railway
Company line: therefore. you will see
from these figures that the Baltimore,
Chesapeake and Atlantic and the Mary
land, Delaware and Virginia Railway
Companies are aboilt on the same pas
senger basis, and, | think, a fair sam
pie of the local railroads in the State of
Maryland, and that their net earnings
are very much less than they should be
from a business standpoint; therefore,
| would consider it great hardship on
railroad companies for the Legislature
To make reduction III lHe present pas
senger tariff. The time may come for
lesser rate than three cents per mile,
when the State of Maryland becomes as
thickly populated as many of the New
England States, where they now have
maximum rate of two cents per pas
senger per mile on railroads.
II may seem strange from this state
ment that there should be ar average
revenue below two cents per passenger
per mile, and. as an explanation, will
state that this revenue is reduced by
reason of the large excursion business
handled in the summer months. For in
stance. on the Baltimore. Chesapeake
and Atlantic Railway there were handled
in 1905, l3i, 200 excursion passengers
during these three months. These pas
sengers were carried at two cents and
less than two-cent rate per passenger
per mile. and the run was made with
special trains of from 6 to II cars,
Without this summer business the pas
senger business would be run ut loss
the entire year. using the present tariff