The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-04
sCost of Living" to
American Railways.
Wages Have Been Raised in
Every Glass Of Work.
MATERIALS HIGHER.
Market Value in Every Depart
ment Going Up.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad World.

Edward ". Harden. well known
financial writer, recently contributed
an article in the Outlook on The Cost
Of Living to Railroads which brings
out some information that is surpris-
ing to the average reader. 1t is evident
that hostile legislation is not the only
harassing element that the railroads
have TO contend with from time to
time. Quoting from the Outlook. Mr..
Harden says, among other things:
No one who gives the subject serious
study can avoid the conclusion that the
railways of the United States have
been affected by the increased cost Of
living TO quite as great an extent as
has any individual, and, moreover, that
they are subject to 4 variety Of in
fUences tending to increase the cur
rent cost OF their existence which do
not affect the individual That any
large number OF corporations find
themselves between the same upper
and neither miIIstones of rising prices
for the n-cessaries Of life and rigidIy
fixed income as does the individual
VIII strike perhaps nine readers out Of
ten as z biased, II not wholly unWar-
rauted. assertion
If one should say that the most i'm
portant single class Of corporations in
the country has for years been less able
IL ACAE ALSCAL II Ills ElGlAAG1lLl6LL
the least skilled Of its 150O. 600 en-
pIoyes, his unsupported statement
would be almost everywhere dismissed
with q. laugh Yet It is proved by an
abundance Of quite unfnpeachabIe evi-
dence that. whereas the ouIv variation
worth Mentioning in the general level
OF railway, compensation for the last
Two decades has been downward. the
railways have not only had to come
70 the rescue Of their own en-
ployes with repeated increases of
wages but have had TO bear. through
the increased cost of materials and
supplies OF all kinds, q large proportion
Of the related increase in the market
value Of labor in all other industries
NOT IS this all The owner Of timber
lands has advanced his prices for cross
ties, car siding. and bridge tfmbers out
Of all proportion to the higher cost Of
the labor entering into their produc-
ton; the owner Of the iron IN the
ground and Of every other raw ma
terfaI Of which railways are made and
maintained has done the same"
In giving comparisons Of costs to the
railroads for materials and edufpn ent
at present prices and those Of ten Or
fifteen years ago, the writer cites in
c1derts that are almost startling For
instance. the cost Of fuel which is
big item with the roads, has increased
1853 per cent since 1897, while the gross
earnings Of the roads have increased
only 52S per cent per rlfIe-hardIy
enough to Offset the increase Of railroad
taxes. which was 55.3 Per cent g mile
new feature Of expenses has de-
veloped in the operation Of the roads
since 1897. and that is the heavy cost OF
elaborate reports now required by the
Interstate commerce commission This
latter IS not only q permanent cost. but
is one that grows as the business Of the
road grows The higher the cost OF Nv
ing for employees invariably means
demand for higher wages, which. OF
course. is a drain upon the railroads
themselves