The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-12-08
COMMUNICATION FROM
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION

THE RAILROAD COMMISSION
The Star has received the follow
ng communication from the railroad
commission. 1t is in regard to reduc-
ed train service, and so far as the
Star has been able to observe it is a
statement of facts. A number of peo-l
pie have run into the mistake of
thinking that the roads sometimes
lay off or refuse trains in order to
spite the people. Almost any reason
able person must concede, however,
that the railroad people are good
business men, and laying off a train
that paid would not be good bust
ness proposition. The letter follows:
A number of letters have been re-
ceived from along the line of different
railways in Florida, complaining to
the commissioners of reduced passen-
ger train service, and we have MOTTO
ed also, a number of criticisms in the
newspapers, with reference to these
reductions in service on some lines.
We therefore deem it advisable, to
make statement of existing condi-
tions, which have made it necessary
for the commissioners to authorize
reduction in the service in certain in
stances.
According to the records before
the commissioners there has been a
constant decrease in passenger earn
ings on all of the important railways
of Florida, excepting one, (the Flor
ida East Coast Railway since the
outbreak of the European war. The
losses in freight revenue have been
even greater than that of passenger
revenue. The result of these figures
is such, that the railroad commits
sioners found themselves compelled,
as matter of right and justice, to
say nothing of the legal phase of the
question, to authorize the curtail-
ment of expenses, wherever it could
be accomplished without seriously af-
fecting the public to be served.
The losses in revenue from freight
and passenger business, it must be
admitted, is due to present condi-
tions, which must have affected a
great many of the people of this and
other states, which condition has pre-
vented their supplying the usual
amount of tonnage in freight, and has
caused a decrease in the number Of
people who travel, and it is certainly
not just and reasonable for the pub
lie to ask or demand that maximum
amount of service be performed, for
minimum amount of business to be
cared for, which is exactly the condi-
ton of affairs we are confronted with
today, in not only Florida, but in
practically every state in the United
States. There are instances where
the figures show passenger train mile
earnings of only IL to Fl cents pei
train mile, during the period referred
to, when the cost per train mile OF
the service is several times that
amount.
The commissioners have been con
stantly urging the railways of the
state to give the greatest amount o.
service and as is a well known fact
the rates have constantly beer
shrunken, and facilities largely in
creased, but today the commissioner
are confronted with one of tw
things:
First. In order to maintain tn
maximum amount of service whicl
) has heretofore been rendered unde
z normal conditions to authorize highe
rates.
Second. To preserve reasonabl
: amount of service and reasonabl
rates by allowing a curtailment i
I. service which will help the railroa
: companies recoup some of the losse
r which they are sustaining.
We note some criticisms are, tina
the commissioners have allowed re
!. duction in train service, without giy
d ing the public an opportunity to b
e heard. All we have to say, with rel
+ erence TO that, is that if all the pee
n pie had been heard, it would not hay
: resulted in changing a single figu1
n before US or brought the carriers
: cent more revenue. The fact that
r community may petition in protest I
:, the commissioners, does not in an
y way affect the revenue which the raj