Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1913-10-30
Railroads High Cost Of Living.

In the arbitration of the wage dispute
between the Eastern railroads and the
conductors and trainmen, with the award
now due, the summary of the facts sub
mitted by the railroads shows how enor-
mously the cost of doing business has in
creased in the last ten years.
1t was submitted that while the num-
Der of conductors had increased only from
Is, TAI in 1902 to 10, 903 in 1911, the wages
of conductors had increased from $l5,-
627, sol to $27, 273, SOL. While the num-
Der of other trainmen had increased only
from "A, 900 to So, 600, the wages had in
creased from nearly S28. 900, 600 to nearly
$51, 900, 900. The number of all employees,
excluding the general officers, conductors
and other trainmen, increased from 4lS,-
600 to 54S, 600. Their wages increased
from $3.50, 600, 900 to 1898, 600, 900.
In the tables Tered as evidence the
average annual wages of conductors go
from 1898 to $3.50; of other trainmen
from 1923 to $949. The average annual
wages of all employees, excluding the
general officers, conductors and other
trainmen, increased from $3.50 to $727.
Singularly enough, it was shown that
in that time of greatly increasing labor
cost the "revenue train miles per con-
ductor" decreased from %, 406 to %, 437
and the revenue train miles per con-
| IL fra;,n,ar' frD,,, klD1
to 6095.
Of course, there had to be some offset
against this record of increased costs or
the railroads financial back would have
been broken. If there was no increase
of rates to speak of, there was an in
crease in the average trainload from 1854. 3
tons to 457.2 tons. The number of freight
cars "per freight train mile" increased
from q. 16 in 1902 to 49, 04 in 1912. The
number of passenger cars "per passen-
ger train mile" from 1896 to 5.23. The
tons moved 'per freight conductor on
fourteen railroads increased from $685.
443 in 1902 to 2,O6S, 29S in 1912. The rev.
enue "per freight train mile increased
from 81. 40 to $295. But the operating
revenue per dollar of wages paid con-
ductors and other trainmen' decreased
from SIS. 76 in 1902 to $l3. 26 in 1911. The
"revenue train mile per dollar wages,
conductor, from 1856 to 1914; of other
trainmen from 1873 to 8.8.
Intensified traffic enabled railroads to
meet vastly increased costs without much
of an increase in traffic charges anywhere
and with none at all in most places.
But it is an open question whether the
demand for these increases in wages,
especially, has been symptomatic of or
independent of prosperous conditions.
Unfortunately, prosperity cannot be fig
ured upon to continue indefinitely; nor,
were period of depression to come,
could second readjustment of expenses
to income be quickly accomplished.
The public has not felt the burden of
the increase as yet, because the railroads
have had money to meet the growing de-
mands upon them. But they have not
been able to set aside nest egg against
times of adversely, as would have been
the case were they private corporations
instead of common carriers. The tend,
ency is to deny them opportunity to aver
age their income and expenses; and we
cannot continue permanently to ride on
the crest of the prosperity wave.