The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-14
RAILROAD NEWS.
Treasurer Copeland on High
Cost Of Living in Kansas.
Santa Fe Official Says Railway
Is Not to Blame.
COST TWO MILLION.
Wages Of Employees Increased
to Meet Conditions.
Other Items of General Inter-
est to Traffic World.
COST TWO MILLION.

The high cost of living is a constant
problem with the people of Kansas
as well as the people all over the
United States. Realizing this, E. L.
Copeland, secretary and treasurer OF
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, has
made this a strong point in his talks
to the people of the state on the Get
Acquainted Trip of this system.
In his speeches to the people Mr..
Copeland claims that the Santa FNe has
in no way contributed to the cause of
the higher cost of living. Furthermore
he states that the Santa Fe has been
on the under side of this catastrophe
IT has raised the wages of its en-
ployees costing the road more than
100000 a year.
His talk concerning this subject and
others in connection with the "har-
mony tour as follows:
I'VE feel that we are among our
friends, who would like to know the
real condition of the railway companies
and their side of the important ques-
tion now before the interstate COM
nerce commission, as to the needed
increase of rates. At the close of the
fiscal year, June 30, 1910, the Santa Fe
Railway company showed gross earn
ings of one hundred and five million
dollars, which was ten millions more
than the previous year of 1909, but the
operating expenses for the year in
creased to a large amount and left us
with a decrease in net earnings of one
and One-half millions.
Now. what caused this large in
crease in expenses? First, was the in
crease in wages paid to labor. The in
creased cost of living made it neces
sary to increase the wages of all en-
ployees.
Second. was the increased cost Of
all supplies and material. The factories
and shops producing railway supplies
were compelled to increase their
prices, and everything used by the
transportation lines cost more money.
Taxes increased over the previous
year.
LAS the roads had but one thing to
sell-transportatio became neces-
sary to increase the rates if they con-
tinued to give to the public good ser
vice; if they kept up the Physical con-
dition of their lines, and furnished
suitable cars for he milling the business !;
ST they retained sufficient force to keep
the track in condition; adopted the
safety devices used for the protection
of the lives of their employees and
patrons. In fact. if they kept up the
high standard Of service required by
the people and desired by the railway
companies, it was absolutely neces-
sary to raise more money.
THE system of bookkeeping EN-
ployed by the railway companies is in
accord with the rules of the interstate
commerce commission, and their ac-
curacy is verified by the special ac-
countants of the commission. A re-
port of the monthly earnings and ex-
penses is sent to the interstate COM
merce commission, and it is an exact
transcript of the company's books
Now, the railway companies are in
no way to blame for the high cost of
living, and realized that their en-
ployees were paying more money for
living expenses than ever before-so
they advanced their wages last year.