The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-12-12
THE PEOPLE AND THE RAILROADS.

complaints made by James j. Hill an
E. H. Hartman that the railroad
are not getting fair play, that the
are being branded as '~'outlaws," ant
that the attacks upon them will hav'
the effect of causing investors to boy
colt railroad securities, the report o
the interstate commerce commission
showing net earnings of the roads il
the United States for the year ending
June 30 last to be $751;, 597,S77, pos
sesses more than ordinary interest.
With the railroads OF the country
able to pay dividends amounting te
1929, 406, 500 last year, and very close
ly approximate amounts in 1905 anC
1904, equivalent to over 5 per cent. or
dividend paying stock, aud with 9
continued era of business prosperity,
admitted by both MIR. Hill and Mr.,
Hartman to be practically assured,
capital is not going to be driven away
unless it be by the management of the
roads.
Both Mr.. Hill and Mr.. Hartman,
rivals as they are for control Of the
railroad situation in the middle and
western states, agree in asserting that
more capital will be needed to meet
the growing demands for t%ransporta-
ton facilities. They agree likewise in
complaining of the agitation for con.
troll of railroad rates. But they hold
radically opposite views as to what is
needed for the relief of the existing
congestion in traffic. Mr.. Hill says
more %trackage is required. Mr.. Harri-
man says the trackage is sufficient,
but o rolling stock is needed. Mr..
Hartman is more nearly correct,
though it is probable that no one
cause is responsible for the conges.
ton.
Mr.. Hill uses figures given in the
reports of the interstate commerce
commission showing that in the pact
decade railway mileage has increased
20 per cent, number of cars As per
cent. and number of engines - per
cent. He omits reference, however, to
the vastly greater burden put upon
the engines by the much larger cars
that r nov being built and the
heavier trains they are obliged to
haul. Mr.. Hill is an advocate OF q
policy Of large freight ars with maxi
mum loads. Moving at a low rate of
speed the cost Of transportation per
ton Is reduced to a minimum.
Other railroad managers also Geek
economy in this direction, with the
natural result that trackage becomes
If the loads were lighter
there might be q fractional increase
of expense, but trains could be'moved
more expeditiously, congestion would
be avoided, a greater amount of bust
Tess could be handled, and q normal
increase in trackage would be ade-
quate.
1t is not to be supposed that Mr..
Hill does not thoroughly appreciate
this. For the purpose of supporting
his complaint that the railroads are
not getting justice he advances fall
lacious and misleading arguments.
The railroads have not been injured
by the new rate legislation and are
not likely to be. The people do not
demand a general reduction of rates
to an Improbable basis. But gov.
eminent control to prevent discrimi.
nation and arbitrary manipulation of
rates is absolutely essential. If the
railroads will strictly comply with
the law, giving justice a S we'll Us ask
ing for it, making such reductions in
rates as the conditions justify, popu.
lar sentiment will no longer be ex.
%asperated, and the imaginary threat.
ening of capital will vanish.-Spokes-
man-Review.