The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-06-01
ROADS WILL FIGHT
UNCLE SAM TO FINISH

y CHICAGO, May 3l-"They'v We got
the pins set against US was the first
comment of +. P. Ripley. president of
the Santa Fc system, when Informed
today that the government would seek
TO enioin the railroads Of the Western
Traffic association from putting into
effect the advance In rates scheduled
for tomorrow.
Mr. Ripley's subsequent remarks left
no doubt that the railroads will fight
the government with the full force of
their qreat resources.
1.-THE shippers who have attended
meetings TO protest against the advance
have no personal knowledge of the
subject the Santa Fe president con-
tinucd.
"They have been deceived by the
ringleaders of the movement, who have
distorted the facts and have iuggled
with the figures If they will take the
trouble to ascertain The truth-which
is easily obtainable-the deception viii
become apparent.
"There is no chance for Juggling fig
ures, or deception on the railroad side
every item of our business is spread
before the world our offices arc full
of government inspectors to see that
all income and outgo are proper, and
properly accounted for. Our gross
earnings are increasing, but our net
earnings are declining.
Predicts Bad Result.
who. among the shippers. would
view such a state of things in his own
business with eQuanimity9 But that
Is not the worst of 1T; such results as
are now being obtained-poor as they
are-arise from policies that Will re.
suit in evil for the future-because the
properties are not being improved or
being kept up to the proper standard
and If we are fortunate enough a few
years hence TO have full crops and act
i've business, and If the railroads are
then unable to do what they are ex-
pected TO do. these same shippers Will
perhaps perceive that they ought TO
have seconded, rather than opposed, the
efforts OF the railroads for better con-
ditions. And again, that is not the
worst of tive have recently increased
wages TO a large amount, and the de-
crease III net earnings will surely be
greater.
81 am not especially abiding to
Atchison conditions Our directors have
| been very conservative and our stock
| holders have spent on our property
much money that they might have prop
erly claimed in dividends, but even
the strongest among us cannot stand
under present conditions-the weaker
will. of course, drop first. -
Denies Accusations.
Mr.. Ripley branded as utterly false
the statement made in resolutions
adopted by shippers in this city on
May Z, ''that the income per mile Of
railroads for 1907 has decreased 345
per cent over 1897 and that the re-
turn for the first seven months Of the
fiscal Year l909-l0 "show a substan-
tlal increase in net operating income, -
thus indicating a healthy growth of
business and relatively cheapening op,
Grating cost. -
On the contrary, Mr. Ripley de.
clared, the returns for the year 1908
showed a decrease Of "net operating
revenue" of $525 per mile, despite
drastic economy.
50 Instead Of increasing 345 per cent
between 1897 and 1907, as falsely rep
resented by the shippers, the income
from operation increased only SO per
cent, and if the comparison be made
between 1898 and 1908, only So per
cent. where the units OF service in the
first comparison increased l4G per cent
and in the latter 81 per cent? said
Mr. Ripley.
The Santa Fe president admitted tEaf
the first nine months Of the present
fiscal year show substantial recovery
from the slump in 1908, but declared
the. recovery was far from sufficient
to Justify the roads in spending none
for much-needed rehabilitation.