Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1910-11-11

LuoOO W OhO Nv u o6N AdAAON W
fetal can be verified by the book
and records of the railroad COM
pany.
"When it is made known to
the people that the returns upon
such railroad properties as the
Santa Fe, do not yield the In
veStOr in Santa Fe securities, In
tereSt in excess of six per cent,
covering the most prosperous
years of its history, why should
MOI the people reflect upon such
conditions and give credence to
the information as presented for
their consideration by those who
hav,9 to- do with the management
of the railroad property. COnsidr
Grafton of the question in all of
its phrases is what is most deSir-
able, and that is the purpose of
the campaign, as inaugurated by
the Santa Fe management.
"Much has been said as to
the bases for determining freight
rates heretofore employed by the
railroad cOmpaniS. 1t has been
cOntended, and quite vigorously
that the railroad rates in one sec.
ton of the country do not com
pare with the railroad rates ih
another section of the country.
The defense of the railroad Off
Gals for such varianceS in rate
adjustment, is that the density
of tonnage and commercial COLI
ditiOrS and requirements of one
section, produce rates which
would be Improbable for anOthe
section of the country, where
density of traffic was not SC
great or commercial conditions
and requirements not the same.
"The contention of the railroa
man who has to do with the max
ing of freight rates, is that if
the lowest of his rates are to be
the bases for all of. his rates,
then necessarily his company is
brought to a StandStill so far, as
further growth and development
is concerned. In fact, his COM
pany is confronted with a retro
erosion which would mean in
TIE go of any number of rai-
roac ard bankruptcy
and in the case # well intrenchr
ed railroads, retrenchmentS and
curtailments in order to NEST
new conditions.
"The railroads operating be-
tween Chicago and st. Louis and
the Missouri river Cities have
had In effect for a number OF
years, rates which were abnOr-
mally low. These rates were
based upon conditions created by
lines which had in mind but one
thing, the Securing1 Of the great
est possible tonnage without re-
gard to revenue. These rates
were gradually met by all of the
lines operating between the cities
referred to. Within the past yea
the rates in question we're advanc
ed to a basis which approXimated
probably from ten to twelve per
cent. The rates between Chicago
and st. Louis and the Missouri
river have by way of comparison,
been used for a basis for a reduc-
ton in the rates in other sec
ton, of the country, served by
the SANTA Fe rails. 1t has been
the rates east of the Missouri ri
yer were too low, or the rates
west of the Missouri river were
too high, The railroads having
been confronted with the neces-
sity of securing increased revenu
on account of increased expendlE
lures, sought to- advance the
rats east of the Missouri rlv-
er. mis- advance has been a sub
jet of a very spirited figght be-
FORE the Interstate Commerce
commission, and arguments and
facts have been presented by bot
shippers md railroads. Both
sides of the case have been heard
by the commission.
"NOw here is where the case
assumes a most peculiar aspect;
The shippers in the State of Kan,
sas have complained as against