The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1917-05-12

Washington, ID. Z.
Dear Sir:
Some time ago my attention was
called to an order that was made by
the Postmaster General ordering a
mail service route to be installed on
the Eureka-Nevada Railway between
Palisade, Nevada, and Eureka, Ne
vada, six times week.
For your information ! beg to ad-
wise that the Eureka-Nevada Railway
Company, to whom the order was di-
rected, is not now, nor never has been
common carrier" or operated the
Eureka-Nevada Railway, but that the
road has at all times since owned by
the Eureka-Nevada Railway Com
pany, been operated by the Nevada
transportation Company. an inde-
pendent contracting common carrier.
who alone has filed tariffs and sched-
ules. AS such common carrier it has
conducted the operation of said Eu-
reka-Nevada Railway since May 9th,
1912, until April 30th, 1917. when it
will have ceased to be common car
rier of interstate freight. notice hav-
ing been filed with the Interstate
Commerce Commission to that effect.
Several different causes have con-
tributed to the necessity of my quit
ting business. the principal one being
that | might expect an order to be
made against the Nevada Transpor-
tation (of which | own an so per
cent interest of the S2500 capital with
which it is operated) requiring that
carry the mail six times weekly.
which would send me into bankrupt
cy, when / know that semi-weekly
has been and is sufficient to care for
all of the needs of the community.
While the people are very anxious
to obtain their mail by train, | do
not see that | should be expected to
carry it even tri-weekly for approxi-
mately $3.50 per annum in 8 hours,
while the horse drawn stage line is
allowed $597O to carry it between the
terminals in 35 hours.
This property has been in bad
shape for a number of years. 1t is
narrow gauge $50 inch gauge) road
constructed of very light rail rang
ing from 25 to 35 pounds per yard.
1t has been twice in bankruptcy
courts in 80 years, the last time in
1910, when it was partially destroyed
by floods, and had crept about $780,
600 in debt.
1t was up to me to say after being
requested by two of the stockholders
to say whether it should be operated
or torn up, with the result that after
some discussion of the subject final
ly agreed to lease it. Since the lease
became effective. it has suffered from
floods, the last one having just passed.
and it is doubtful whether / will fully
repair it again.
The year 1916. is the only one that
produced enough revenue to pay a
full rental, and it is very certain that
the present one will not.
After a discussion with our rail-
road commission, / may under cer-
tain conditions resume operations.
for the reason that / know the own
ers will not. preferring / think. while
metal prices are very high to dispose
Of the railroad rather than take a
chance of lawsuits. leases and other
misfortunes.
One of the things however, is sure,
and that is ] will not again become a
common carrier and transport the
mail for less than $4,000 per annum
for three trips weekly. and unless the
Railroad Commission Of Nevada. can
assure me that | will either get
$500 or that will not be requested
to carry 1t at all. will leave the job
to some one else, and will take my