The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-10
RESTORE THREE CENT
PASSENGER RATE
PrOyidingThat Receipts From
Extra Cent Charge Be FIX.
pended 10 DettermentS

" Nj
To the Honorable Corporation Commits
sion, Guthrie, Oklahoma.
lGentlemen:
II is apparent TO every one that
Oklahoma Is face 10 face with a new
railroad problem. We have reduced
the passenger rate from cents to 2
cents per mile Some reductions have
already been made in freight rates and
others are in contemplation. The re
lduction in the gross revenues has GER
ltainly been great, and the reduction
in earnings must have been much
greater. II the actual cost Of furnish
| ing Transportation Is one cent per mile
the net receipts have been reduced 50
per cent II the cost is Y cents,
which some say Is a close approx
nation, the net receipts have been re-
duced from u cents to Is cent per
mile--a reduction of 66 2-3 per cent in
net income.
Whatever the reduction, It has had
certain unpleasant results The build
| Ing of railroads in Oklahoma suddenly
ceased This was calamity TO many
communities, as yet unproyided with
railroad facilities. Their care a num-
Der of counties in the new state with
out a mile OF railroad. There are
many other large sections where the
whistle of the locomotive would be
sweet and welcome music. There are
many small towns which have strug.
gled long aud patiently to get rail
road They are really discouraged now
for the first time In another aspect
we have all suffered. The service has
been poor The road bed OF several
lines IS In a bad condition Wrecks
are frequent and delayed trains are
the rule rather than the exception
The work OF ballasting the lines has
come to a standstill. The roads say
that they have not the money for nee.
essary improvements. At any rate
lthey have much less than before. A
humber OF other states have imposed
2-cent rates but they usually waited
luntil the state was well equipped with
lines of railroad.
The following is offered as a solr
tion for this problem. The corpora
| Ition commissioners have power TO re-
lieve any railroad from the cent rate
under proper conditions. Let the com
mission authorize every railroad e
charge cents per mile on condition
that the company eXpend the addit
| ional cent on railroad extension and
roadhed improvement in the state OF
oklahoma.
The additional one cent per mile
would mean one thisd of the gross re
ceipts from all passenger business
within the borders of the state II
might apply Thy agreemenD to inter
state as well as intrastate business
/ III would be a large sum- All OF Al
lI would be expended for Oklahoma, am
most of it Ia Oklahoma
Il should be acceptable TO the rail
lroads II would furnish them tunt
lfor extension and improvements. Il
would enable them 10 reach o"t for
lnew husiRess Every milo of new roa,
ladds to the value and the earning
power OF the system
Non resident travellers and forcisr
corporations pay a large part OF pas
lfenHer fares they would not obiec
ito a three eeht rate
Il should be acceptable TO the peo
pie OF She state A LARGE part Of th'
travelling public would cheerfully na,
Ithe additional / cent for the better ser
lvice that would result from a bette
lroadhed. 1t Is said that the traYelini
linen depIore the cent rule. Probah
Inv so per cent of them draw expens
lmoney from outside of the state any
way. Most people would pay the
lcent fare willingly realizing that IN
lsmall mcreace TO them menat lary
material things to the state they love
Those without railroad faciliue
would give Instant approval to th
plan. n would awaken a new hope
Those with railroad facilities cartat'
lly should make a little sacrifice io
the benefit of those less fortunate.
The material results would be I'M
meuae. The railroad Is the symbol q
progress. Il would furnish constan
employment To a large army of labor
erg and mechanics Outside OF th
steel rails the bulk oI the materip
yould be purchased in the state.
would render new committees acce'
sihle 10 the homeseekef and investor
. II would Increase iaHm values. and AZ
! lhance the values OF icfm products.
, would build towns open mines an
lquarries. and set In motion the whesl
( lof industry Our great state MGni
soon be ribbed with bapds OF stee
Her resources second 20 none. wuul
liapidly develop and her product
would crowd the way into The market
Of the world
Every mile of new failro9d al
10 the taxable wealth of the state,
Il adds not only rs own value, 9r
J many iimfs that sum IN the Increase
values oi the property Ia The commuI
lity II serves.
II we are sufllciently fafsighied /
adopt this policy Il win not be mar
years until Oklahoma viii exceed hs