The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-11
Witness In Rate Hearing Says
Railroads Lose Money
LOSS ON FREIGHT ALSO
Answers of the Witness Are Very Un-
satisfactory, as He Cannot Offer
Figures to Prove State
ments He Makes.

Kansas City, Mo-, November 1O.-Alex-
ander Douglas, fourth vice president and
general auditor of the ST. Louis and San
Francisco Railroad company. proved an
unsatisfactory witness, so far as the state
was concerned. in the Missouri rate hear
ing in the federal court here today.
Douglas was on the stand practically all
day, and he was cross-examined by San
ford B. Ladd, ad ing for Attorney Gem
eral Hadley.
Mr.. Douglas made the general state
ment that the earnings of the passenger
department of his road were 10 per cent
less under the 2-cent rate than for a cor
responding period under the s-cent rate.
and that it cost $l5 more to earn 800 by
carrying state freight than by hauling
interstate freight, but he was unable to
give any comparative figures to prove his
statement.
What does it cost the railroad to earn
800 in hauling state freight?' Mr. Laid
inquired.
Haven't figured it, Mr.. Douglas re-.
| Piled.
! Can you figure it?''
Yes"
Douglas looked over some records and
! figures. After Is minutes the attorney
became impatient Judge Mcpherson was
also becoming Impatient. Finally it was
agreed that Douglas could give the an
swer to the problem later SO that the ex
animation might proceed.
How did you determine thai ii cost s15
more to earn 800 hauling state freight
than to haul interstate freight? Give US
figures"
Cant do it, said Douglas.
How did you arrive at the result?p
That's my personal opinion"
| "You guessed at them?"
| Yes"
| Some Figures Given. =
What were the passenger earnings of
the Frisco road in Missouri for the
months of July August and September.
1902"
They were s59s, ,O5O5O'
What were the passenger earnings for
the corresponding months of 1906p,i
Don't know"
| what were the total passenger and
! freight earnings of your road in Mis-
souri, Tor July, August and September.
1902"
Mine hundred and sixty-seven thon-
sand seven hundred and thirty-nine dol
lars and two cents"
And for the corresponding period in
1862 psi''' ~
| Don't know: haven't computed it,"
! cant you give US those figures? They
| are important
| Yes but it would take weeks and
weeks and cost us hundreds and hundreds
of dollars
! so that it is impossible" continued Mr..
Laid, to give us a comparison between
your earnings under the 2-cent passenger
rate in July, August and September. 1907.
and under the Scent passenger rate for
the corresponding period in 1862"
Smaller Earnings.
II can't tell you, but l know that our
earnings were less under the 2-cent rate,
How much less?'
About l3 per cent less"
How did you figure it?'
II did not figure IT, that's my esti-
mate"
do you consider that the financial de-
preston of last fall had anything To
do with decreasing your earnings?n
'1 believe not CO rried as many
passengers as usual. but we did not mako
the usual profits"
But you have no figures at hand to
show it?''
Mo-
Does your road charge the same tariff
on state and interstate business?'
81 don't know
You are the general aditor OF the
road and have the records
Yes; but 1 can't answer your ques-
tions.'