Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-14
HARAHAN DISCUSSES
REASONS FOR INCREASE
President of Scaboard Air Line Ont.
lines Attitude Towards
Freight Rates.
CHAMBER or COMMERCE. ACTS


for Whole Southeastern Section
Provided There Is No Discrimina
ton Against Richmond Shippers.
Colonel II. NJ. Boykin, assistant gen
crai freight agent of tho Scaboard Al,
Tine Hallway, received vest erday from
President llarahan, of the Scaboard /;
| statement OF reasons why it is mpcra
tive that railroads operating in thi:
section he given an Immediate incrcaS,
| in freight rates.
The application for Il IL per con,
general increase in freight rates ha.
been approved by tho committee or
| inland trade oC the Chamber of Com
! mcrcc. representing the chief shippers
\ of Richmond. The action of the com
! mittcc was indorscd by tho board oi
directors Of the chamber last week in
| resolutions which made il clear that
whilc the chamber approves Il general
I increase for railroads in the south
eastern section, il is opposed to any
! discrimination against this city and
wanted tho blanket increase made with
out prejudice to tho appeal of this city
| now pending with tho Interstate com =
merce Commission against certain Spe-
cIal increases granted during the pa
year and which arc held TO work Il
| hardship on this city.
President ITarahan's statement fol-
| lows:
The efficiency of the railroads. as
an arm OF the government in tho pres
| cnt war, must not only he maintained.
but Increased. If possible. II they Tail
10 measure up to their full RESPONSE
bIl'ty as result OF not being pro-
ridcd with ample revenue for tho e.
hcicnt maintenance and operation OF
their properties, their dcrclictiona will
DC reflected in proloncation Of tho
war. and paid for by The public in
continued and increased war taxes. far
IN cNcess OF the increased rates ask cd
for by them.
COST OF ALI. MATERIALS
AND LABOR ADVANCED
The railroads, no more than the in
diNiduai. can escape the effects Of con-
uitions that have doubled the cost of
living, and advanced tho price Of every
thing they have to buy They have
but ono commodity to SclI-na,ncIy.
transportation--and it's price is rcSu-
lated by law. The farmer. who paws
more now than he did a year ago for
fertilizer. seed and farming utensils.
hnds compensation in tho advanced
prices OF his products The manufac-
turcr and builder, to whom the cost
OIL raw materials has advanced many
told. guards against loss by advance
ing ms price TO tho consumer or pur-
chaser. Why should not the railroads
that must, in order to continue their
service to the public, purchase these
ra" materials, such coal lumber
ana IRON, at the advanced prices. be
permitted TO protect not only them
selves, but the shipping public, by
advancing the price Of the only COM
modify which they have TO seIl-namc-
~. transportation?
me public are the direct benedict
aries of efficient TRANSPORTATION ser
h. Sltf
adequate and inefficient service. If
the railways cannot handle promptlv
the 1000 supply and other commerce
OF the country, that fact. in itself. will
decrease the available supply and as
result advance prices. If the farmer
cannot. as the result Of the shortage
OF cars and inefficient service get his
products TO market promptly would II
De the part of wisdom uDon his mart
10 plant larger crops, and are we ius-
Tined IN urging him to do so unless
the necessary transportation facilities
are supplied? II the railways are TO
render the service that is both neces-
Sary and Imperative, they must no mo
Nided with funds not only to keen tho
locomotives and cars they now have az
wen AS their terminals, tracks and
bridges, in such state of repair a.. viii
enable them to efficiently and promr,Iy
serve ooth the producer and consumer
20
ana enlarge their present facilities.
WILL BE ONLY ONII-THIRD
OF INCREASE IN EXPENSES
mat an increase in rates is neces-
a"ry Tor the public good to saw noth
ing OF the railroads, is demonstrated
o| inc testimony recently given to the
interstate Commerce Commission NV
inc president OF the Seaboard Air Line
hallway Company, in which il apncars
thai FOR the year ending December 81
1916 this road had IL net incoo,. of
Si.ei-clo62. while during the year
i'i'' itt the present cost OF labor and
material, the operating cost of mis-
line. which is fair criterion of other
southern roads, will be increased as
follows:
Increase in wages Si5.1,.
increase in cost OF material
Such as steel coal, lumber
and the like. ...... l75336o
Increase III taxes. not includ-
ne those that will prob
ably be levied for war pur-
roses ................. IIs.3Os
increase III ear hire. ........ 29S,55l
Total .......... s3,Ol6.a6l
Detailed figures were given, under
ohth, by the President of the Scaboard
showing that il. as we'll as other sim
mar Southern roads. is being ope-
rated economically and their expenses
"'iS'"h'iH StrutlnlZcd by the Inter
SKATE commerce Commission. The fore
gong hGurcs Indicate that even should
'hiS road be granted an increase of
80 per cent on it's interstate rates, that
inns alone would only represent an
increased revenue of approXimatcly
*i'ooo.ooo. while its expenses a $ shown
above, Will probably increase more
than $4,000. 900"
DEFENSE COUNCIL TO MEET