The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1913-09-12
# discrimination in furnishing equip

1t will at once put the government
all freight traffic
1t will at once give the railroads all
the capital they require for increased
terminal facilities, additional motive
power, and general improvements.
1t will not affect the present rail-
road officers and employees.
1t will not materially change the
present method of operation.
It will not change the present ex-
listing freight rates.
1t will not affect present earnings
and dividends-except to increase
them.
1t will not affect the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
1t will not affect the present owner
ship of railroad tracks, locomotives,
or anything else connected with rail-
roads other than freight equipment.
At the present time there are in use
approximately 100000 freight cars
which should be purchased by the gov
eminent at an average price not to ex-
coed $500 per car. This would result
in an investment of $4,000, 000,OOO and
to this should be added approximately
$1,000,000,000 for storage yards MAX
ing the total cost to the government
approximately $3,O00,000,000
The storage yards should, of course,
be located at various points through
out the United States and accessible
to all railroads, SO that cars could
be furnished to any line promptly up
on request and returned to the gov
eminent yards by the railroads when
not in use.
The charge to be made by the gov
eminent for the use of equipment is,
of course, matter of detail to be
worked out. But l personally consid-
er fifty cents per car per day, plus
one cent per car per mile, fair
charge. CAT the present time the rail-
roads have in effect a per diem rule
whereby they pay forty-fice cents per
car per day for all foreign cars on
their line; and they pay owners of
private car lines three-fourths of a
cent or more per mile for the use of
their cars.)
| The charge of fifty cents per car per
day would be sufficient to insure the
| M hov 1t,,c ,e all a.,
railroads; for the transportation de-
partment of the various lines would
be anxious to get the cars off their
rails at the earliest possible moment
in order to be relieved of this charge.
The average movement of freight
car Gncluding periods of idleness) is
about twenty-four miles per day;
based upon this, and assessing charges
as mentioned above, the earrings of the
government would be S675, $50, 900,
while the total operating expenses,
including interest on original invest
ment, are only s20O,OOO,O0O. Thus the
net revenue accruing to the govern
ment, after deducting all expenses,
reaches the stupendous total of $475,-
| 100000 per year.
This would at first appear to be an
excessive charge, and you might infer
that the present earnings of the rail-
roads would be greatly reduced. Such
is not the case, as the earnings would
| be considerably greater than at the
present time: for sufficient equipment
could be had at all times by the rail-
roads, whereas under the present sys-
tenn the loss to the lines each year
through lack of equipment is enor-
nous.
This loss to the railroads also means
great loss to the shippers and con-
sumers: The shipper loses the sale of
his goods or, should the goods be per-
ishable, loses the goods themselves;
while the consumers loss is measured
by the difference in the price he is OBJ
liged to pay on account of the demand
for the article he desires being great
er than the supply, and this condition,
when traced back, is found to be due
to the fact that the railroads were
unable to furnish equipment to bring
the goods to market.
In addition to this the railroads and
the public suffer a great loss every
year on account OF insufficient ter
minal facilities. This is due in large
measure to the lack of sufficient
funds; and many are the companies
who are today endeavoring to increase
their capital stock, or issue bonds and
notes, to invest in Improved terminal
facilities.
Government purchase of freight
equipment would at once give the rail-
roads ample capital not only to in
crease their terminals, but also to
meet all demands in the way of i'm
p,yS ,%r, e..