Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-10-29
Big Increase ,r Railroads.

Big Increase ,r Railroads.
Des Moines.-An increase of about
twenty per cent in the passenger reve-
nue. of several of the Iowa railroads
during the year 1907, is disclosed by
the official reports filed with the state
railroad commission.
The Rock Island, for instance, shows
an increase of S537,0 in passenger
revenue, alone. which is almost twen-
ty per cent of the s3,23S,000 earnings
Of the previous year. The Northwest
ern increased it's earnings from carry
ing passengers. $4,000 and had
taken in $3,314,000 the year before.
Increases of conspicuous character
were observed in the reports of the
railroads in the case of the North
western, Rock Island, the Burlington,
which increased S277,000, the Illinois
Central, which increased S132,O00, the
Iowa Central. which increased $1,000
and the Omaha which shows an in
crease of $4,000. The Minneapolis &
st. Louis also disclosed a small in
crease. $4,000
The figures given include only the
revenue from carrying passengers.
Mail, express, etc. are not included in
the figures.
Below is comparative statement of
the passenger revenue of the diff
ferent roads which have made reports
to the railroad commission disclosing
the enormous increase in earnings Of
this branch Of the service.
Lines 1906 1907.
Tabor & Northern. 4,79u 5,43s
I Willmar & Sioux
A. T. ( St. +. ii pro 00's '
rata) 49,. 80. 5s,1oO 6s,5lS
Colfax Northern :. 6.566 S,474
N. st. L. ...... 299.2l6 3lG.9G4
c.. ST. p, NJ & o.. 27O,aG5 310,2l3
Crooked Creek -. CPL l.O35
c. & n. W. ...... 3.314.S44 3.746,935
Rock Island ...... 3,43S,3T2 3,TT5254
burlington 2,4S1,G5S 2,l64,34l
Illinois Central -. 1,151,ISl 1,2S3,342
Manchester 4
D. o NJ. I. +. NJ. 4a a,7G:' 55 ',e
Chicago. A. Y NJ. s.241 3,s44
Wabash 80. ..... 21O,332 212.06i
This showing Is of interest, not
alone in disclosing the prosperity OF
the railroad and the immense increase
in passenger traffic on the verge OF
the abolition OF passes and the enact
ment of d 2-cent fare law, but because
in the estimate which is about to be
made by the railroads as to the eff.
feet of the 2-cent fare law, the in,
crease OF revenues of about 20 pei
cent in 1907 over 1906, must be taken
into consideration.
A natural theory Is that the enor.
nous increase of travel in 1907 would
make the increase under the 2-cent
fare law appear to be less than 1t
actually may be. That is, in the year
beginning July the travel may have
dropped back to the normal condition
of the year 1906 had it not been fol-
the 2-cent fare law.
Stop Guard Election
1t is probable that the Nationa'
Guard will abandon its scheme Of
electing al Its officers when the bri
gade organization goes into effect
Jan. 12
The plan Is to put the organization
on the regular army footing. giving
indefinite commissions to officers ant
providing for their promotion exactly
as 1t is done in the regular army
where election of officers is never per
mitted
OF course the constitution of Iowa
provides that the officers of the mill
, tia organization of the state shall b.
elected by the men in it. But it il
proposed to have the companies cleo
the second lieutenant. Second lieu
tenants, in this way, would eventu
ally be majors and colonies, and on
eventually, would be the brigade
general, 30 that the exact terms o
the constitution would be satisfied
for all officers would have been elect
ed
Many advantages have been sug
gested for the system adopted in tn
regular army. There would be bette
discipline in all probability, thai
now exists in the organization. Whel
officers are beholden to the men TO
election to their commissions, Their
may be temptation to play favorites
But the chief value would be tn
elimination of politics from the guard
Must Pay for Fish Car.
State Fish Commissioner George A
Lincoln has been unable to max
terms with the railroads and he ha
to pay to have his fish car transported
If the car is moved around tn
state much it will have to he at tn
expense of local people Interested i
fish culture.
THE railroads are charging one far
for the car and the crew." says MI
Lincoln, land it will make the mileag
and charges figure up SAT 20 Ceda
Falls. for instance and could stan
SIT of this out of the appropriation
3 If you folks think they can help GU
IS with the remaining $50 ! VIII do al
in my power to get you car of ifs
this fall. | have written all who dt
sire fish this fall and am awaitin
their reply before deciding where t
60"
WilIouehby Not Indicted
The Polk county grand jury ha
y decided to ignore the charges brougt