St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1915-01-02
Some Comments BY the Editor as to Its Probable Results

is shown to be done at a distinc
loss, provided always that sufficien
service is rendered to reasonabl,
and fairly accommodate the passen
ger travel.
Railroad corporations have not the
latitude enjoyed by private corpora.
tions, in that they are compelled te
continue operation of their lines, al.
though at loss, while private cor
porations may close down their
plants or curtail their operating ex-
penses in any manner they see fit
without official interference, but the
Commission cannot within its au-
thority require the railroad com
pany to do that which is unreason-
able, and in the light of the facts
presented in this case, it would be
unreasonable in the extreme to re-
quire the continuance of the opera
tion of all of the passenger train
service which has been previously
operated, and which was necessary
when conditions on the line were
prosperous.
should bear their burden of the de-
pressiOns which now and then over
take the country. as they likewise
share in its prosperity. But when a
railroad company has acted in per-
feet good faith, and before coming to
the Commission has exhausted every
means in its power to reduce its
operating expenses, and is still able
to operate its service only at loss,
thereby facing a deficit which will
eventually prevent it from properly
performing its functions, or perhaps
throw 1t into the hands at receiver,
the Commission is constrained to
grant its reasonable request to dis
continue some Of its train service,
which, while it will result in incon-
venience, will not deprive the pub
lie of a reasonable means of travel
on other trains which will not be dis
turbed.
The Commission has already rec
ognized the necessity for reducing
train service on two important trunk
line railroads in the State of Lou
isiana. In the matter of the appli-
cation of the Southern Pacific Lines
for a reduction In passenger train
service, this company was permitted
to discontinue several trains on
branch lines. and on the main line,
until such time as the present con-
ditions improved, to such an extent
as to warrant their re-esta blfshment.
The Vicksburg. Shreveport and Pa
rific Railroad Company has been CIV
en- permission to take of local
train running on its main line under
The same conditions. We cannot
ieny to the New Orleans Great
Northern Railroad Company some re-
lief to which it has plainly shown
itself to be entitled. As to which OF
he two trains now operated on the
Bogue Chitto Branch should be dis
this Is matter which
he Commission will leave to the
business judgment Of the compang;
md the company will be expected to
either trains 81 anc ". /;
,r trains 33 and 54. operating cn I'll" ..
3cgue Chi.to Branch. "r on tEe main
;7e between Rio and Jsogalusa j
The premises considered, Il IL
therefore, i
Ordered, That the application of
ne New Orleans Great Northern
abroad Compan5 ;"r permission to
the operation OF trains |
lumbers 21 and % on the Shore
.ire, be, and the same is hereby or
lered granted, effective January 5. .
L.15. /
II is further
ordered, That. tha New Orleans
treat Northern Railroad Company
,e, and it is hereby granted permis-
ion to discontinue either trains
numbers 81 and 90, or trains nnn,-
,e1s 33 and "a, on the Bogue Chitto
and on the main line be- ,
ween Rio and Bogalusa, effective /
January 3, 1915, whichever may D. /
emoyed with the least inconvenl-
Ice to the greatest number of Their
,Etrons.
It il. .ndrstood that if trains NUM-
,ers 81 and 90 are discontinued
rains numbers 33 and "a must be
ontinued in operation: and it treins
,umbers SO and "a are discontinue
rains numbers 81 and 81 must be
ontinued in operation.
BY order of the Commission, Ba:-
n Rouge, La. December II, 1914.
SHELBY TAYLOR,
Chairman.
B. A. BRIDGES,
JOHN T. MICHEL.
Commissioners.
HY. JASTREMSKI,
Secretary.
fsEAI) ,4.-