The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-03-01
SOPKANE 8 INLAND ELECTRIC
ROAD MAY BE SOLD FOR JUNK

SPOKANE.-Junkin of the entire
Spokane and Inland Empire railway
system, all traction and interurban
lines with the possible exception of
the Coeur d'Alene division, is in pros
pect unless the people of Spokane and
the Inland Empire give the company
their whole-hearted financial and
moral support.
Confirming the statement made in
yesterdays Chronicle by Traffic Man
ager Waldo G. Paine that the 12 city
traction lines of the company might
be abandoned if the streetcar merger
failed. Receiver Fred E. Corners of
the Inland today added that the whole
of the companys property might be
torn up in order to pay the bondhold-
ers without further losses.
Inland Division Losing.
''The Inland division of the rail-
road, which consists of the branches
to Moscow, Idaho, and Colfax, Wash,
is costing even more than the Spo-
kane city lines," he said, "and the resi-
dents of these sections are not giving
the S. & /. E. their undivided support.
Proposed boycotts on the city street.
cars, if the contemplated fare increase
from five to seven cents is put
through, have indicated that this will
give little relief on the city lines,
at least for the present.
''The combined Inland system dur
ing the year of 1918 lacked by so per
cent of enough net proceeds to pay
the taxes, to say nothing of the in
terest on the bonds or dividends on
the stock" Mr.. Corners stated. "The
taxes were $120,000, in round num-
bers, so the loss was approximately
$4,000 month;-a dead loss.
Il can substantiate the statement
of Mr.. Paine that in the event the
increased fare is not granted, we
would scrap the Spokane & Inland.
This not only applies to the street
car lines but also to the interurban
lines as well, especial some of these
lines.
COeur d'Alene Line Pays.
"The Inland division, to Moscow
and Colfax, is probably the poorest
paying property we have. think
the Occur d'Alene division, if oper-
ated alone, would pay expenses. 1t
is the only paying property OF the
railroad system"
The bonds outstanding against the
Inland amount to $4,500,000, accord
ing to Mr.. Corners, and the return
from junking the trackage, rolling
stock and machinery, together with
the sale of right of ways, would re-
imburse the bondholders for the
amount of money they have invested.
Besides the Spokane street car
system, the company operates a line
to Occur d'Alene, Idaho, with extern
sions to Hayden Lake and to Liberty
lake; line to Moscow, Idaho, with
branch to Colfax, Wash, and sub
urban line to Vera and Opportunity
connecting with the Occur d'Alene
line west of Greenacres.
"If we have the moral and finan-
cial support of the people of the In
land Empire, the whole system might
pull through" said Mr.. Corners.
"Otherwise we can not afford to keep
paying out this deficit. The bond
holders can get back their approx
mate investments by tearing up the
lines.
"Our employees are asking wage in
creases which would take more than
60 per cent of the potential revenue
again made by raising the fore from
five to seven cents. Personally l
think that the Traction men, at least,
are entitled to some increase, but it
is absolutely impossible for US to
give it.
"When the streetcar lines can not
make money when the power is fur
nished, as on the S. & l. E. at the
positive cost of production, there is
radically wrong. Our
power is supplied at $4,000 to $780,
600 a year less than it would be if
bought at commercial figures. And
yet our city lines are continually los
ing money. Is it right for the work
ing people to boycott US when this
condition is true, and when we have
not enough to give the men the wages
they are entitled to-"
The abandonment of the Spokane &
Inland system would mean that hum
dreds of men, most of them living IN
Spokane, would be thrown out of en-
ployment Hundreds of thousands of
dollars, spent almost entirely in the
Inland Empire, would cease to be
paid out each year. Occur d'Alene,
Moscow, Post Falls, Colfax and other
towns would be forced to rely on in
frequent service on the steam lines,
while Hayden lake and Liberty lake
would not have rail service of any
kind.
There would be no Communication
service between Spokane and Vera
and Opportunity, and several sections
of this city would be deprived of
streetcar advantages.
G. f. Burr Dead at Genesee