Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1915-02-10
COMPARING EASTERN AND
WESTERN RAIL WAY RATES
IOWA RAILROADS PAY OUT MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS ANNUALLY FOR LABOR,
FUEL, SUPPLIES AND TAXES

pie of the average state have not re-
garded their railroads as an indus
ltry''-and yet there is hardly a state
| in the Union in which the railroads
do not pay out more money for labor
fuel and supplies than does any other
single enterprise, however large. We
brag about our fertile farm lands
and rejoice that our cities are filled
with big factories with big payrOlls
which create market for farm pro-
ducts-but we forget that more
workingmen' families depend upon
the railroads for a living than upon
any other one industry in either the
average state or the nation, and that
their welfare is therefore closely
linked to that of the farmer, manu-
facturer and merchant-not merely
because they furnish freight and pas
senger service, but because the mil
lions they disburse in one way and
another contribute tremendously to
the prosperity of the state in which
we live. Thus, next to real estate,
the railroads are the largest tax pay
ers in the state of Iowa-their taxes
| for 1914 having aggregated $3,13S,-
| 50427-and this tidy sum did it's
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 1913, 969,24S-
money which in years gone by was
invested in these great arteries IF
commerce by thousands of men and
women who live all over the United
States and in Europe, and without
whose assistance the wonderful pro-
gress of our great state would have
been impossible. If, thirty or forty
years ago, these people had invest
ed their money in Iowa farm lands
instead of Iowa railroads-would
not the investment have proven infin-
itely more profitable to them? On
the other hand, if somebody had not
furnished the money with which 20
build the railroads, what would be
the present value of Iowa farm
lands? Is it not therefore apparent
that the people of this and every
other Corn Belt state owe much to
those from the outside who furnished
the millions necessary to industrial
and 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 $31 1922, 523.22
and these millions did their full
share to create a profitable market
for Iowa farm products and to up
hold 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 public, fore
ed economy has compelled the rail
roads to discharge several thousand
employees in this state-but the fact
remains that even at this time they
are scattering more than 100000
900 per year throughout Iowa in sal
aries to their employees, as well, AS
paying millions 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-
ronds disburse to their thousands
of workingmen and the millions they
pay out for taxes, coal, and other
supplies, it can readily be seen that
they constitute an industry which
deserves the friendship and consider
alton of every thoughtful citizen in
the state.
The Branch Lines of Iowa.
1t is a well known fact that it Is
ordinarily much more expensive to
operate branch lines than main lines,
and this is true because of the heavi-
er volume of business and the long
err hauls on the latter. The total
railroad mileage of Iowa is 1898. 10
miles. or this mileage, the four lar
ger companies, the Chicago, Burling-
ton & Quincy Railroad, the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, the
Chicago Il Northwestern Railway,
and the Chicago, Milwaukee & Saint
Paul Railway own and operate 7,037
miles, of which 5,502 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 it is impossible to operate
profitably, 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 vital
ly essential to the agricultural and
commercial interests of the hundreds
of communities which they serve.
Surely a railroad has just as much
fright to expect a fair return upon
the money it has invested in ii
branch line as upon that which it has
Invested in it's main line which is
largely supported by interstate bust
ness-and when existing rates rend-
er this impossible, it means that 1T
cannot give to the people the ade-
quate and efficient service so neces-
sary to agricultural and commercial
lgrowth and development No other
central state is so we'll supplied with
railroad facilities as is Iowa-there
being few points in the state which
are more than dozen miles remoy-
ed from steam road facilities-and
that it is of the highest Importance
to the people that this network of
railroads be given sufficient income
so they may be maintained in a hign
state of efficiency should be appar-
ent to every thinking man.
Ac IN whatb the railroads of