Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-31

the stronger roads while such splendid
but weaker lines a. the Wabash didn't
earn enough to pay interest on it, re-
ceiyers certificates. Thus 1t can bo
seen that on the basis OF the present
rates the railroads pay back to the
public in one way and another almost
every dollar they receive Tor the SER
vices they render to the people.
Burning Candle Ut Both Ends.
As matter OF fact, IL every railroad
in the country had charged OF = prop-
er percentage for depreciation. instead
OF having had a surplus OF $lS3.0O0.0OO
left in 1913 they would have had an
actual deficit running ::.:o The millions
Some Of the larger systems have q
fixed yearly depreciation charge-but
scores Of the weaker lines, In their
frantic endsavor to pay the interest ON
their debts and maintain the standing
Of their securities, use every dollar OF
their income to this end, and hence one
Of the most alarming phases OF the
present railroad situation Is that this
process of burning the candle at both
ends" means q deterioration OF rolling
stock and roadbeds which will render
the continuance OF adequate and SAFE
service for the public impossible. In
q recent article. James ]. Hill. the great
Empire Builder OF the North" points
out that American railroads should
spend at least S500.00o.000 annually IN
improvements and betterments-and Il
is therefore NO exageration to say that
rapidly deteriorating equipment ID one
OF the ghosts which haunts hundreds
OF railroad managers thruout the coun-
try at the present hour.
AS was stated In last weeks article,
the operating income OF the railroads
for the fiscal year ending June 30.
1914, was $11S.554.S75 less than for
1913. while expenses and taxes were
$l0,535.653 greater. 1t can therefore be-
seen at glance that unless the rail.
roads are given some increase In rates
in the very near future the time when
many Of them will go upon the rocks OK
financial ruin Ii not far on-And yet
the slight increase necessary to save
them is so small that the average citi-s
zen would not be conscious of It after
it had gone into effect. In future
article this question will be more fully
discussed.
| A Barometer Of Prosperity.
! It II an old saying that whom tho
railroads are prosperous everybody II
| prosperous, and the manner In which
| their income is disbursed, as above ex-
planned, tells the reason why. In short,
for years they have been regarded a.
the great business barometer Of the ma
ton. No other industry in the country
employs so many men as do the rail-
roads, and furthermore, 1t 10 high
grade Of labor employed upon az lucrA-
tive basis as obtains In any other
large industry When times are good
nearly two million people. first and last
are employed by the railroads, ana
when this vast army Il working full
time and Is contented the millions they
pay out for merchandise and for the
living necessities produced on the farm
cannot help but have tremendousSsf-
feet upon the commercs and aSricuI-
turei OF the country.
But this Is only half the story. Aside
from the nearly two million operatives
directly employed by the railroads IN
normal times. the hundreds OF thous-i
ands Of men who work In the great
steel mills. the coal mines. the lumber
industry and In the big car and loco.
motive shops are equally vitally affects
ed, for when che railroads are making
extensive improvements and buying
heavily OF these supplies II means that
these great Industries are running full
shift, while when the railroads are SUBJ
sisting only upon absolute necessities
It means that many Of them are only
working half shift and this II the state
Of affairs which has prevailed for some
time and which u responsible for the
thousands Of unemployed who crowd
every city in the land at the present
moment.
Farmer vitality Concerned.
That the farmer has very vital and
personal interest in this situation
should be apparent at glance. When
the millions OF laboring men In the
United States are probably employed
and when all our great Industrial en-
terprises are running full shift Il
, means that ne will have 3 la larger ass-
mand and receive q higher price for
the things he produces on his farm.
for his corn. wheat, pork, beef, NUT.
!. ton, cotton, wool and other farm pro.
ducts. In other words. 30 interdepel,-
. dent have we become, and 50 closely
allied are the interests OF the farmer.
. the merchant. the manufactures. the
! laborer and every other great national
! interest. that the prosperity of one has
become the prosperity Of all. (Fafd "A.
; vertisement. TO be continued ncxts
week.