The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-06
TIE NEW RATES.

The coming advances in railroad
rates promise to be mere BardensoH4e
tesithe travelling public than to- ship
lpers and consumers. But many per-
sons who have been accustomed 10
move about the country by means OF
railroad trains can refrain from doing
so in the future. at little inconvenience
to themselves, and at a considerable
saving in pecuniary outlay -
In the early days of western rail-
reading. fares sometimes were as high
as 10 cents a mile and 4anid cents
were not unusual. With the increases
planned. the cost of travel still will be
below that Of a few decades ago.
The railroad statisticians have fig
E@1red that on account of the higher
freight rates the consumer ought to
pay a quarter OF a cent per pound in
crease on meat. A suit of clothes
could.be raised ten cents and the ship
per would have balance at the end of
the year saved on freights. If the
shoernan charge five cents a pair
more for shoes on account of the new
freight schedule he is making addi-
tional profit on the shoes. A loaf of
bred costs fraction more. due to the
increase.
\ Coming to- the heavier freights the
total rs high but to the individual not
so much. Charges on coal ought not
to he high when most of the. fuel
comes from close at hand.
Freight experts take the position
that the improved service which can
be given by the roads under the new
schedules. permitting them to contract
for rolling stock and other things. will
more than make up to shipper and
consumer the increased freight
charges.
When hezcountry has adjusted it.
self to the new rates probably there
will be no more complaint than there
always has been.
The St. Louis Times sees the matter
Of higher passenger fares this way:
Railway passenger fares are to be
much higher, to be sure, than this gen
Grafton has ever before paid. Still, it
is to be doubted whether a. ride on a
train will, even under the new sched-
ule of rates soon to go into effect,
bear So heavily upon the average trav-
eler as did the oId-time Scents mile
on. him or his parents.
r. For passenger fares of thirty years
ago had. to be paid by the workingman
from a daily wage of about $3.50. The
farmer travelled on the sales of 81
wheat, 50-cent corn and scent hogs,
while if his wife took trip ''of her
own,'' she got the money from selling
eggs at 10 cents a dozen. butter at 5
cents 4 pound and chickens at a quar-
ter apiece.
The merchant made buying jour-
neys to metropolitan markets in those
days, and paid his fare from the prof
its of his business-which were con-
sidered very good, indeed. if they came
from a gross margin of rs per cent
times went ,a-traveling, too, after a
long winters fight against the mala-
dies of his, patients, whom he charged
81 for the first visit and 81 a day
thereafter while they required his per-
sonal attention.
All these folks will desire, doubt
less. to still go about occasionally by
the railway method of journeying,
even tho the interstate commerce COM
mission, has authorized such a hike in
charges for fares. SO the same jour
ney ofS100 miles which the carpenter
or the mason or the machinist for
merly could enjoy on. payment of So
will now cost him $3.50. Quite an ad-
vance, isn't it? But whereas in the
old days this traveller had to work a
little more than q day to get money to
pay for that 1O0-mile trip, he can OBJ
tain the necessary $3.50 now in half a
day. The farmer and his wife are as
happily situated with respect to their
ability to raise required railway fare
with less sales Of their products than
formerly. and in a like degree the mer-
chant and the professional man must
give up to the ticket-selleF at the sta
ton a smaller share of their respective
earnings than was demanded in the old
days.
Railway fares are up-way up.
There will be much objection to the
new rates. Still, it is rather comfort
ing to know that more people who
Will be called upon to travel will have
the money to pay their way than was
THE nTRE(yr PRIMARY