Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-28
COMPARING EASTERN AND
: " WESTERN RAILWAY Rates
IOWA RAILROADS PAY OUT MILLIONS, OF DOL
LARS ANNUALLY FOR LABOR, FUEL,
SUPPLIES AND TAXES.

1t is a strange fact, but neverth >
less true, that in times past the peo-
Pile of tie average state have not re-
sarded their railroads as an INDUS
t,-y"-and vet .he-e is hardly a state
in the union in which the railroads DO
not pay out more money for LABOR
fle, and supplies than does any other
single enterprise. however large we
brag about cur fertile farm lands and
rejoice that cur cities are filled with
big factories with big payroils which
create a market for farm products
but we forget that more working
mems families depend upon the rail-
roads for a living than upon any other
enc industry in either the average state
or the nation. and that their welfare
is therefore closely linked TO that OF
the farmer, manufacturer and merchant
rot merely because they furnish
freight and passenger service, but be-
cause the millions they disburse In
one way and another contribute ire
mendously to the prosperity of the
state in which we live. Thus, next to
real estate, the railroads are the larg-
est tax payers In the state OF Iowa
ed s3,13s. 504.27-and this tidy sum did
its full share toward the support OF ev-
cry public school. public highway and
other revenue expense OF the state.
In round figures, the railroads OF
Iowa are valued at s313. 96a.24s-
money which in years gone by was in
vested in these great arteries of COM
merce by thousands Of men and wom-
en- who live all over the United States
and In Europe, and without whose
assistance the wonderful progress of
our great state would have been i'm
possible If. thirty OF forty years ago,
these people had invested their money
in Iowa farm lands instead Of Iowa
railroads would not the investment
have proven infinitely more profitable
to them? On the other hand, II some
body had not furnished the money
with which TO build the railroads, what
would be the present value OF Iowa
farm lands? Is 1t not therefore appar-
ent that the people of this and every
other corn belt state owe much 70
those from the outside who furnished
the millions necessary 10 Industrial
ard agricultural development and
without which their remarkable pro-
gress would have been impossible?
According to the last report OF the
Iowa state railway commission the
railroads OF Iowa employed 46,476 men
during the fiscal year ending June 80
1912, and paid out to them in salaries
the sum of 1892, 523.22-and these
millions did their full share to create
a profitable market for Iowa farm
products and to uphold the volume Of
business Of Iowa grocers, clothiers dry
goods men, and others who depend
upon the patronage Of the public
Since the above report was made pub
lie. forced economy has compelled the
railroads to discharge several thousand
employees in this state-but the fact
remains that even at this time they
are scattering more than $50, 900
per year thruout Iowa in salaries to
their employees, as well. as paying mil
lions of dollars for Iowa coal, Of which
they are the heaviest purchasers in
the state.
Thus. when the people look at the
other side of the ledger-when they
think Of the millions which the rail-
roads disburse to their thousands OF
workingmen and the millions they pay
out for taxes, coal, and other supplies,
1t can readily be seen that they con-
stitute an industry which deserves the
friendship and consideration of every
thoughtful citizen in the state.
The Branch Lines Of Iowa.
1t is a well known fact that it is
ordinarily mucn more expensive t.
operate branch I:r.s than main lines
and this is true because of the heavier
volume Of business and the Longer
iis.ris on the after. Tie total RAILROAD
| mileage of Iowa is S.S9s45. OF this
mileage. the four larger companies. the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail
road, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pa
cific Railroad. The Chicago & North
western Railway, and the Chicago
Milwaukee & Saint Paul Railway owr
and operate 7,o37 miles. Of which $50:
miles-or practically GO per cents
what would be termed branch lines
/ and which, upon the basis Of present
/ freight and passenger rates in this
state il is impossible to operate profit
ably, while in many instances they are
being operated at big loss; and yet
all of these $500 miles of branch lines
| which belong TO only four OF the larger
systems are vitality essential to thu
agricultural and commercial interests
Of the hundreds of communities which
they serve. Surely a railroad has JUS
as much right to expect fair return
upon the money it has invested in {
branch line as upon that which 1t fia
invested in its main line which Il
largely supported by interstate bust
ness-and when existing rates rende
this impossible, it means that 1t cal
not give to the people the adequate an
deficient service so necessary to agr1
cultural and commercial growth an
4 development. No other central state !
so well supplied with railroad facili
ties as Is Iowa there being few point
Tin the state which are more than
dozen miles removed from steam roa
facflities-and that 1t is OF tn
highest Importance to the peopl
THAT this network OF railroad
he given i sufficient income 8
lthey may be maintained in q high sta1
lof efficiency should be apparent
every thinking man.
AZ to whether the railroads OF low
Il are justified in asking Tor some sui