The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-29
A. E. SWEET HERE
Assistant to President of Rock
Island Visits in Topeka.
Was at One Time an Official in
Local Offices.
ROADS ARE HOPEFUL.
Mr.. Sweet Says Rail Men Want
Increase in the Rates.
No Unusual Retrenchment on
Rock Island Now.

A. E. Sweet, assistant to H U.
Nudge, president of the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific railroad and the
Rock Island lines, and well known
man among local railway officials, was
in Topeka this morning.
Mr.. Sweet came in over the Rock
Island last night from New Mexico,
where he has been visiting his brother
and making a business inspection of
the lines of his road. He stopped also
at Herington, where he has another
brother in the railroad work.
Like all big railway officials who
have been interviewed in Topeka the
last few months, Mr.. Sweet was in
doubt about the probable result of the
freight rate fight and he was in doubt
about what would be the result to the
prosperity of the country and the rail-
roads in case the rail lines lost the case
now before the interstate commerce
commission.
1--WE can't tell how it will come out,
said Mr.. Sweet in speaking of the mat
ter in his customary genial manner
this morning. cit seems as though no
one is able to prognosticate the result
with any degree of satisfaction; that
is, no one places enough confidence in
their ideas.
1.-THE railroads are all hopeful that
the rate question will be decided IN
their favor. They believe honestly and
sincerely that they are entitled to the
increase asked for and they base the
hopeful results on the good judgment
of the persons in whose hands this
matter rests. We believe that we have
proven that an increase in freight rates
is necessary for the welfare of the
country and the railroads.&c. least,
that it is necessary that we have more
earnings in order to carry out our i'm
provement and maintenance plans"
"What is the Rock Island doing in
the way of improvement work at this
timer" was asked.
Nothing Along Improvement Line.
Nothing was the quick answer of
the executive official. "AIl improve
ment work of an important nature has
stopped on this road and on most of
the roads until we find out definitely
what will be the result of the rate
question:
'Do you mean that the Rock Island
is retrenching?" the reporter asked
Mr.. Sweet.
mo, don't mean that. I don't
think that the retrenchment at this
time is any more advanced than it
was three months ago. And good
part of this Is the natural cut in ex-
penses and in improvement work made
by the railroad for the winter. This
is more noticeable in the north, where
the weather hinders improvements of
any kind.
'I don't mean to say that the Rock
Island is retrenching any more than
usual=the cut of the last three
months has been natural and Is ex-
pected every year"
When asked concerning the pros
perity of the Rock Island at this time
| and the business of the last fall, Mr..
Sweet was cheerful again.
I'VE have had an excellent business
i-eVerythiQg has been running
smoothly and the earnings have in
creased, but" (and here is the turn
| ing point of every interview and state
ment made by the railroad men of to-
day)-"but our net earnings have fall
en- off to great extent. The increase
| in expenses has sliced millions from
our earnings compared with last year
and the years before. The business
we have had does not make up for the
enormous advance in expenses.
Engineers Raise Big Expense.
For instances" continued the as