The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1919-02-07
NEW MEXICO NEEDS A
TIIREE-CENT FARE
Corporation Commission Argues for
Reduction il Appeal 10 People.

Reduction ig Appeal 10 People.
J.. n. Blair. mayor of Columbus.
who Is now IN Santa Re on business,
sends the Courier the letter pub
lished below from The State Cor
poration Commission, and urges that
the people express their views on
the Scent rate Of fare IN New Mex
leo. Some Of The newspapers are
not IN favor Of the reduction and
the commission Il anxious Ia know
what the people think about a.
Hugh n. Williams of Dcming. chuir-
man OF the commission. writes us
that be very much desires 10 know
what the people here think about ii.
n you are In favor Of this reduction
write Mr.. Williams at Santa Fc. TITO
letter follows:
80 the people Of New Mexico. uir
state corporation commission. b'.
lirvinR Il was serving the best n-
leresis Of New Mexico citizenship,
has been lending its efforts IN behalf
Of securing for the travelling public
Of our state the same basis " pas
sengcr rates that h IN force upon
federal controlled railroads IN every
state Of the union except Sikonn.
New Mexico aud Nevada.
This concession, as a factor An
the total earnings Of any railrugd
system Is negligible. yet 10 the local
travelling public NJ the state 81
equals a reduction of 70 percent
That this rate. II made effective.
viii discourage the building Of rail-
roads Is nonsense. No projected rail-
ruad will estimate passenger earn
ings a. any considerable factor in
determining profitable operations.
Furthermore. the three-cent rate
would not necessarily apply Ia new
and short lines of railroad whose
business would not justify the
ihree-cent basis. a. l. evidenced hS
the policy Of allowing the Rocky
Mountain to charge live cents. New
Mexico Central lve cents. u. a n. q.
live cents. and Arizona and New
Mexico five cents.
such eminent authorities a. T.. l..
Chambers. former vice president Of
the Santa Fe system. and Judge e..
\ Prouty. former member Of the
interstate commerce commission.
INV both directors of divisions Of
the United States railroad admins
iration, agree that New Mexico is
entitled 10 three-cent passenger fare
rate for local business.
rs there any sense IN saying that
II should cost one cent per mile
more Ia carry passenger between
Trinidad Colo. and ~ paso. Texas.
than between Las Vegas. New Mex
ico, and Las Cruces, New Mcxico2
'lh" state corporation commits
sion earnestly desires io fulnll the
wishes Of the people OF this state.
II has noticed some adverse news
paper criticism as 10 the advisable
iiy Of securing the reduction Of the
present passenger fares ON trunk
line railroads from four cents to
three cents. We will be- glad Ia act
along lines agreeable to the wishes
Of the people of the state. whom We
recognize A. possessing the dirrctinr
authority
"ll the commission mas acted un-
wisely IN this regard, and II is the
desire of the people Of the state that
passenger fares should remain as
at present We would be- glad to be-
advised of that fact that We may he
governed accordingly, to which end
We invite the attention Of CONNER
cial organizations and citizens gen-
orally that due consideration be-
given and communications be- sent
In this office, which will be- cordial,
received"