Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-31

that out of this number, II killed were
railroad employees and 14S injured were
railroad employees. This is quite q re-
duetion both in killed and injured from
the previous year of 1912, which is
testimony of the increased faithful
ness OF the servants Of these railroad
companies.
/ also note that the grade crossing
Is one of the most fruitful sources of
the roll of both dead and injured, and
I believe one of the greatest demands
for the future, both for the railroad
companies and for the public, and the
railroad employees, is the doing away
OF the deadly grade crossing. l find
there were 1865 unprotected grade
crossings in Maine on June 80, 1913.
and 305 protected crossings, and that
ii persons were killed and 1876 injur-
ed at these places. including stations.
The public may like to know that the
average passenger rate per mile on all
standard gauge railroads, doing bus
mess in Maine for the year 1913, was
.0i 500 cents per mile. This is slight
decrease over 1912, but in 10 years,
since 1902, Is a decrease from .01, 1870
cents, and the average freight rate
per ton mile was OF ,0S2 cents, a re-
duction from 1912, but an increase from
1902 OF .eSe2, vet the dividends paid to
the stockholders by the 10 dividend
paying companies averaged only 0371
per cent. and only two companies paid
. per cent, none over that. The 9TH
ers from to 5 per cent.
l find the gross earnings to have
been increased about $13,000,00o but
the surplus of these companies was
reduced about S2,00O.oO0. showing
that the net result was against the
corporations operating steam railroads
in this State in 1918 over a previous
year of 1912. The first railroad built
in Maine was in 1886, twelve miles; in
1913, we had 2301.03 miles operating in
this State, using a combined capital
or gross assets of over s22S, 900, 900.
These figures furnish food for
thought The building and operating
of railroads is like any other business.
First, it must have men, and second,
it must have capital. The one is jusr
as important as the other The net
thing of Importance is that business
must pay Any business that does not
pay quickly finds a bankrupt court.
Railroads are no different than other
enterprises. The money furnished by
these corporations comes from the peo-
pie. Some from individuals direct.
Other from individuals indirect,
through the medium of the banks and
the trust companies where the people
have deposited their money for secur-
ity and income. Many times unthink-
ing people look upon a railroad as the
property of its managers, including
ticket agents conductors and brake
men. l have heard brakeman round
ly abused because train did not stop
ct station passenger wanted to get
OFF at. and a ticket agent damned to
perfection because a ticket to a GER
tam point cost him more than he
wanted to pay. Neither the brake
man nor the ticket agent had anything
more to do with the stopping at the
station or he rate the ticket was sold
of the track the road ran over. and
IN both cases, was more than graft
ned to note the patience with which
these officials stood the abuse.
1t Is popular with a certain class
in the community to damn a railroad.
They seem to think it is smart. II is
in keeping with their conception of
public affairs. but it is perfectly adj
mirable to note the indifference of the
average railroad employee to such i'm
paclle raving about railroads. 1t
SHOWS them to be class of men that
not only realize their obligations to
the travelling public, but possess an
understanding and breadth of view
which qualities them for public ser
vice. They possess intelligence and
patience and are guided by them in
stead OF Ignorance and prejudice.
I have been pleased to note. with
few exceptions, how harmonious and
agreeable the employees of our rail-
roads get along with those in charge.
or the managers. They are both en-
ployes, but the one has a greater
charge OF responsibility tina nthe 9TH
err and 1t is only with the best feel
ing on the part of both, and the best
understanding that justice can he done
both to the public and to the work
men.
The question of wages.--for the final
test Earnings must be enough to
meet the Wages,-for if you will ex-
anime the railroad commissioners re-
port again, you will find out of a gross
income of over s69,000,000, that about
soZoo0000 was expended in operating
expenses and less than S1,500,oO0 in
dividends, where almost IS, 900, 600 was
expended for taxes.
You have your labor organization
by which you protect yourselves with
fair wages. Like all the rest of man
kind you are anxious to earn all you
can. This is right, and SO far as your
abor organizations treat this subject
Of wages, intelligently and fairly the
public, without prejudice and without
you are of great benefit not
only to yourselves, but to the railroad
and to the public, but when you per-
NIT your united efforts 10 be led by
u.