The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-04-16

an average for the six trains, from
passengers alone, of $3.50 per train
mile.
These figures show that these fast
mail trains are now earning an aver
age of s1.22 per train-mile, compared
with 92 cents per train-mile in 1900,
an increase OF 33 percent, while the
passenger earnings average $3.50 per
train-mile. compared with SIPS per
train-mile in 1900, an increase of 80
percent, and that passenger trains on
the c., B. & @. railroad, between the
same points, earn one-third mora than
the government pays for the special
fast-mail service.
These special fast-mail trains are,
moreover, unusually expensive. 81
Mr. Frederic A. Delano in 1900 was
superintendent of motive power on
the Burlington road and was invited
before the commission to discuss
speed in its relation TO expense, as.
shown from his study of the question.
in connection with these faN-mail
trains. He estimated that, in view Of
the extra expense and the high value.
Of the service, the government ought
to pay a bonus of 81 per train-mile in
addition to the So cents per train-mile
that 1t was then paying.
Mr.. Delano named several elements
that enter into the increased cost Of
the fast-mail service as compared
with the slower moving passenger
trains, among which are the increased
fuel consumption Of locomotives, <ow-
ing to Increase in train resistance, less
economical burning of coal and the
less economical use of steam; then
there Is the higher grade of service
, required in all departments and the
increased cost OF failures in opera
lions from hot-boxes and increased liza
bility to accidents and the added cost
Of operating other trains in getting
! out of the way Of these special trains.
! The average speed of passenger trains
lis about 30. miles per hour, but these
special fast-mail trains run 4S miles
per hour. The most important eIe-
ment, in Mr. Delano's judgment, Is
the increased cost due to delays and
detention Of other trains, incident to
sidetracking in order to clear the
tracks for these swift mail trains.
The service on the Burlington,
which carries the heavy mails west
of Chicago. is similar in character to
that performed by the Pennsylvania,
New York Central, ST. Paul, Santa
Fe. Missouri Pacific and other roads.
The aggregate compensation to these
companies sounds large because OF
the concentration Of weights in order
to induce companies to furnish spe-
cial fast-mail trains. But it IS the
most economical service which the
postoffice receives from anybody and
is probably the least remunerative to
the railroads of any service they rem
der, owing to the very low rates re-
sulting from the sliding down scale
in the law and the extremely light
loading possible in postofice cars,
and the unusual expense Of tho spe-
cial mail trains which carry two-thirds
of the mails on these heavy routes.
II the question is asked why COM
panies continue to furnish this great
service to the government for made
cuate compensation, the answer Is,
this: The companies are contendinS
for better compensation and hoping
that congress will grant 1t. Besides,
thes., trains earn something above the
hare cost OF running tn en-, and what
ever railroad can save above such
cost contributes something toward
the payment of taxes, interest and
maintenance expenses, which would
largely continue if they should refuse
to carry the mails.
But is that any reason why the gov
eminent should not pay a fair COM
pensation for the service?
To government receives from these
railroad companies that carry the
heavy mails the highest class service
performed anywhere in the world. NO
such mail service Is rendered IN any
other country, and the bulk Of the
vast income of the postofhce is earned
on these heavy mail routes. "A
A policy which results in either the
destruction or serious impairment of