Arizona republican., 1907-02-12

nounced the rate to be an equitable one. If it is an equitable rate there. it certainly cannot be so in Arizona, said MT. Cox.
 It had been argued on the other side. that the railroads of this territory would carry enough more passengers to more than make up the difference in their receipts? Where are the pas sengers to come from? asked MT. Cox.
 The hardship which it was proposed to inflict upon the railroads would fall heaviest upon the Arizona roads. those which had been built for the develop ment of the territory, and which had increased the wealth of every region penetrated by them. The main lines the bulk of whose traffic originated outside of the territory and again passed out of it, would be less disas- trously affected.
 Mir. Cox believed that the sense of justice was so strong in the legisla ture that he could not bring himself to think that the three-cent fare bill could become a law. But. he said, if 1t should do SO there was but one thing for the branch lines to do. That would be to reduce their expenses fin the handling lof passenger traffic, and that could be done only by reverting to the mixed and infrequent train. He did not think that the people of Ari- zona wanted that. He knew that the merchants and business men of Phoe- nix. the farmers of this valley and all those who expected the city to grow In population and wealth, did not want it.
 MT. Cox spoke more warmly the far ther he proceeded. He did not think that this proposition originated in the democratic party of the territory. for the democratic party had always stood for justice between men. There had come into it though, a strain of pop ulism. of demagoguery, responsible for this measure.
 He again asked the committee to consider and ask itself soberly if it thought that the passage of this bill would help the farmer. the merchant, or anybody else in Arizona. Compar- atively few citizens. ne said, are ire quent travellers. Many go from this valley annually to the coast, and many others in the summer months visit Prescott and northern Arizona towns. But. would they be benefited by the bill? Certainly not. for during the summer months. the excursion season. the rate is always less than three cents a mile and on occasions of assemblies of moment within the territory. a rate of from two to two and a half cents a mile and frequently much lass, has been made for years.
 Messrs. Burks and Chalmers in strong address. rendered stronger by the fairness with which it was pre- sented. pointed out the seriousness, es- pecially just at the present stage of industrial development, of any legis- lation Of a nature antagonistic to in vestors of capital. It was shown that any disturbance of present relations and the business of railroads would indicate to foreign interests and inn press-upon local capitalists that the spirit of cooperation. which has made the construction of many miles of rail- road into unproductive sections in hopes of stimulating and building up traffic. is changing to an attitude of
 
 show how many if not all railroads building into sparsely settled sections are compelled to look far into the fu- ture for sufficient business to pay even operating expenses, and that practic- ally all branch lines are operated at a loss until business has been created.
 It was stated that in spite of the fact that every item of expense con- nected with the operation of railroads has within the past few years increas- cd from 15 to 125 per cent and up wards, passenger rates were vOluntar- fly reduced last July 10 per cent; that in Arizona the cost of operating pas senger trains over heavy grades is greatly in excess of that which pre- vails in other more densely populated sections. where passenger rates are higher than that which the bill pro- vides: that in Arizona the number of persons per square mile is one and siX-tenths as against an average pop ulation of over two hundred and thir- ty perple per square mile in many of the eastern states. which have not yet reduced the maximum fare tO three cents.
 The increase in price of wages was l advanced as a reason why passenger rates should not be reduced ana in | .hs connection it was shown how the | cost of steel rails had advanced from | s17 at the mill in 1897 to $30.SO in | 1906. or an increase of 71 per cent; | lies from IS cents in 1897 increased to j6 cents in 1906 or 211 per cent; high | grade yellow pine from s1O.50 per M | in 1897. increased to s22 per M in 1906 | pr 11e per cent; car wheels increased | from S6 in 1907 to $S.55 in 1906. or 43 | per cent. and in spite of this fact the | mittee will recommend that the bill he | ger rates forty per cent
 It was shown by compiled statistics | that in Arizona there are less than 75 people per mile of railroad as com | pared with 1414 people per mile of in some of the eastern states | and that in Arizona it costs $l32 for | every mile a passenger train moves | on the Santa Fe lines south of Ash | Fork. which cost would be increased | to S2.C5 if depreciation in rolling stock | wear on roadbed and equipment and | interest on cost of construction were | taken into account while the actual | anlIartino nm tba Samp limos for tho |