Arizona republican., 1909-03-26
ICES PHOENIX ARIZONA FRIDAY MORNING. MARCEL 26 leOe

FdOEN1A, AklZON.
 would insist that he be given time to bring witnesses concerning the trans
 action. At the suggestion of the spe- cial examiner MT. Costigan withdrew the question.
 The Physical S. F., p. & p. A highly technical but interesting physical description of the Santa Fe.
 Prescott & Phoenix railroad was fur
 nished by General Manager Drake. who preceded MT. Murphy on the stand. MT. Drake. who had had charge of the con struction. said that the system con- sisted of 257 miles of most expensive construction and expensive operation. The grades on the main line were as great as three and one-half per cent. and there were four per cent grades on one of the branches. So heavy were
 the grades that over 31 3-10 per cent
 of the mileage the use of helper en-
 zines was required. The difficulties were made still greater by the curva- ture which was exceeded nowhere.
 On account of the nature of the traf
 fife. there was a larger per cent of emp ty cars lAuled on this line than on any other of which MT. Drake knew. He submitted some statistical infOrma ton on this subject. showing that out of every fourteen cars hauled over the line, only eight were loaded: while on the Illinois Central. of every thirty nine cars hauled, thirty were loaded.
 Fuel oil. which constituted nine per cent of the cost of operation, mad in- creased in cost 25O per cent within the last five years, within which time there had been a great reduction of rates. There had recently been an increase of wages, and MT. Drake presented statement showing a comparison of wages of the employees of this line with the wages paid in the middle states. Those of the employees exceed those of eastern employees by an average of nearly forty per cent.
 Mir Drake furnished figures as to comparative density of traffic, that of his line being about one-third as great as that of the lowest other road in the comparative list.
 He also presented figures showing the increase in the cost of materials. 1TpSS-llCS lletu tdN dAANth OV RNl NNhNs bridge timber. 10 per cent; car timber. 40 per cent: spikes. 6 6-10 per cent.
 Mir. Drake described also the grades and difficulties encountered on the main line. one great item of cost being water.
 At the conclusion of an exhaustive description of the road, the special ex- aminer asked Mir. Drake if he could name the value of the road. He re- piled that he could not off, hand, but he could collect the information.
 Have they worked out a basis for this?' asked MT Norton of the exam iner This thing of physical valua- tion is one of the questions of the cen tury." The examiner replied that he did not know. and the matter was dropped.
 Branch Line Rates.
 General Freight Agent Paul r. Hast ings of the g. F., P. & P. presented ! nineteen tables of rates. with accom- panying comments. which. with the l question: by MT. Norton and the brief oss-examination. took up four hours | of the afternoon session. These state | nents and comments covered practical ] Iy every point concerning which infor- nation had been sought during the last | four days. One statement showed all | class and important commodity rates ! from eastern cities to Phoenix; also the l proportion of the through rate received | by the Santa Fe system lines and the | from Chicago and Kansas City | on business from points east thereof.
 Other statements were as follows: | Showing class rates between Phoenix | and eastern points and a comparison | with what the rates would be on the | Los Angeles or Fl Paso combination.
 Showing minimum carload weights | 1n principal commodities from eastern | points to Los Angeles, Phoenix and Fl | paso, and showing that Phoenix is not | against in this respect.
 A list of important commodities shipped from eastern points to Phoe- nix and Los Angeles in carload lots. with descriptions of the commodities IS shown in the tariffs or classified ions under which shipments move, | showing that Phoenix is not generally against in the matter of mixtures of articles that may be ship ped together at carload rates.
 A statement of the principal reduc- ions in west bound freight rates by Santa Fe lines from eastern points to Phoenix from May II, 1908, to March 70. 1909.
 A statement showing the rate per on mile received by the s. F., P. & P. md connecting lines on many com nodities of importance to the com nunities served and constituting a arge part of the tonnage handled.
 A comparative statement of the less han carload class rates from Phoenix o points on the s. F., r. & P. lines md on the Southern Pacific lines.
 A statement of rates on hay and ,rain from Mesa and Tempe to points ,n the Santa Fe main line. showing hat the present rates are less than the ormer through rates.
 A statement of class rates from the ;ame points to the same points, show ng that the present rates are less than he former through rates.
 Rates on live stock published In the atest tariff of the system.
 A statement of the reductions Tn reight rates made by the Santa Fe ines between California and Phoenix rom May II of last year to April 20 f the present year.
 There were some very interesting statements, one showing ates on lumber in carload lots from