Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-06-22
RAILWAY NET -vCGaIhS
BADLY CUT Ia A. IL
PRICES DUE TO WAR

In the solution of the problem
which is now facing the railroads, the
public is even more vitality interested
than are the railway managers who
are calling attention to the very seri-
Gus situation now existing.
roads have for years been getting
worse, instead of getting better, and
because of these strained financial
conditions, it has been impossible to
build the new lines and extentions
that are vitaly needed at this time,
The exception was the year 1916,
which brought unusal good returns
to the railroads as a result of the war
prosperity in which everybody shared.
War prices are now beginning to cut
into these returns, however, and the
supplies and pay nc more wages than
the dollar in your pocket. AS a nat
ter of fact, the American dollar of
today is in reality a fifty cent dollar,
as far as its purchasing power is
concerned.
War Prices Have Cut Hole
AS an instance of what the war
prices have already done to railroad
earnings. the returns to Interstate
Comerse Commission show for the
first three months of 1917 that rail-
way operating increased
81 per cent, operating expenses
increased 15.5 per cent, as compared
with the corresponding months of the
preceding year. In other words al
though the railways handled over
$36, 800, 900 more freight business and
business in the first three months
of this year than in the correspond
ing quarter of 1916, the expenses OF
operation and taxes increased to such
an extent that net operating income
fell off nearly $25, 900 900.
Comparing the first three months
of 1917, with the first three months
of 1918, which was the last good
year. for the railroads, we find that
operating revenues had increased
1913, $1SO,400 900 or 25.S per cent;
24.3 per cent; taxes $11,225 900, or
1865 per cent.
In connection with recent figures
that even with Is per cent increase,
freight rates will mean a total in
crease Of 1915, 00O, 900 the following
estimated figures in expenses for the
comming year, which estimate has
been filed with the Interstate Com
merse Commission. It would seem
that with even with is per cent in
that even with 15 per cent increase
the railroads are going to have a
hard getting by"
Eight Hour Law Increase Only a Part
Train service employees
wages (due to Adamson
act) .................$. &c, zoo, 900
Other employees wages :. 10000, 900
Fuel increase in price
SOC a toni ........... 100, OOO, 900
Taxes (increase 1900 =. $4,000, 900
Rails (3,00O,O 900 tons, in
crease in price per ton
500 ................. $1,000, 900
Locomotives $500 at in
crease in price Of 9096) $4,000, 900
Passenger cars $1,000 at
increase in price Of
5oeS) ................ 100000
Freight cars (175,000 at
increase in price of
50T) los, 600, 900
Total increase in these
eight items .$447 ,OOO,O OO
Here is another thing to bear in
mind: On April 1, 1917, the farm val
ue Of wheat avesaged, throughout the
country, $3.50 per bushel. The farm
value Of corn $1.13 per bushel. The
farm value of oats 81 cents per bushel
farm value of oats 81 cents per bushel.
Freight Rates Lowest in History
In contrast to these increases which
are going to the farmer, the railroads
during the year 1916, carried the
freight of the country for TOT mills
per ton mile. The lowest in the his
tory of American railroads.
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