Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1907-02-16
PROFITS and The
PUBLIC POCKET

Inc last TepOII VI lnS OOulilClh
Pacific Railroad, as compared with
the year before, shows that the trans
p~ortation receipts increased $~11,665,-
532, while the cost to the road of
conducting transportation was ST.
323,050 less.
1t shows that it cost the company
that much less money last year to
haul %$97,106,073 worth of freight,
passenger and mail business, than it
did the yea before to haul $87,-I
7S7,39S worth.
During the fiscal year the cost of
fuel for locomotives decreased $685.
022, due mostly to the use of oil
in place of coal.
Substituting oil for coal and the
use of larger locomotives to haul
more cars net the company an an
nual saving of several million dollars.
But patrons get no benefit, in facU
the average rate charged last year
for hauling a ton of freight a mile
was 1.025 cents against LOLA cents
the year previous.
The report Of the Union Pacific
Railroad shows immensely increased
earnings; with substantially the
same mileage as in 1898 gross earn
ings have risen ~$34,649,774 or over
106 per cent. and net earnings ST.
266,291 or over 1872 per cent.
This increase in net earnings alone
Is equal to 5 per cent on a capitaliza-
ton of $345,000, 900. 1t is not due
to Mr.. Harriman's genius as a rail-
road man, but to the general public
creating new traffic owing to the
!, country's prosperity. All of the bene-
; fits are appropriated by the railroad
company, and none of it given to the
public.
/ The Union Pacific report, while
{ silent on the rate subject, makes
. much of economics in operation,
l dwelling at length upon the fact that
i the average train load has increased
Z from ESQ to $40 tons. While this
device is splendidly successful for re-
= ducing expenses. 1t usually means
. that the freight does not nov until
+ enough of it has accumulated to
S make a big t%rainload. hence it is
+ often delayed, rendering the device
by no means SC popular with the
L shippers as 1t is with the stock
d holders.
e The average freight rate per tor
per mile on lowest grade ore in thu
j. state of Nevada is 2.375 cents, Will,
without the state it is only 1.12!
O cents.
From such data as Is at hand /
le appears that the average commodit,
rate on shipments from Chicago t
San Francisco per mile per hundre'
pounds is six-tenths of a mill, Will
FL from Chicago to Reno, 244 miles o
II mountain hauling nearer, it is nine
tenths of a mill, or SO 1-3 per cen
ID higher, and the local rate in Ne
g. vada is nine mills or ten times a
" much as on the through haul. Thes
re figures are more significant whe
st compared with the average freigh
rate per ton per mile prevailing o
IN the Union Pacific Railroad. which
be a little more than 9 mills per 200
. pounds as against 8 mills per 10
he pounds in Nevada.
H. Figures are at present in prepari
re ton comparing the average rates !
a Nevada with that of other state
Nevada today. is struggling harde
he than any other state in the Uniol
We its wealth and population HAY
a trebled within the past three year
re If this could be accomplished und'
tie adverse conditions, how much mo
nd progress can the state make wit
M railroad rates at least as good
he other states haye?-Issued by Il
~ Publicity Bureau of the Commerci
M League,