Evening journal., 1920-05-08
roaErcN RAILROADS. AnvANcE RATES.

~ E freight and passenger rates OF the railways OF the
Emitted states have been advanced average OF
about per cent since pre-var days. However large
additional in rates be made in this country
says the Railway Age, people congratulate them
selves that the in rates necessated In this coun
try by The war government operation viii be much
less ihan those that have been made in many foreign
countries
The railways OF Great Britain were placed under
government control at the beginning Of the aud
stl thus operated During the the passenger rates
were advanced 30 per while The freight rates
all and because the in expenses
greatly exceeded the increases rates the government
incurred large deficit To reduce or wipe out this
deficit the freight rates OF the British rail-
ways ranging from 25 TO 400 per cent made effective
January i5 1890 and extra charges were added to
which the collection and delivery Of freight
stations well as its transportation In March, 1920
the demurragc charges imposed for holding ode day
beyond The period OF free time increased 400 per
cent and the charges OF subsequent days 200 per cent
During December 1919, and January, 1920, the Italian
railways advanced their nrs class passenger fares 20 per
cent their second class fares GO cent and their third
per cent freight passenger rates
already had advanced 20 TO % per cent The de-
OF the railway workers for higher wages and The
question OF freight increases taken under con-
siderstion by the government Il decided that the
freight rates high to be raised further and that
taxation would have 10 be utilized to meet the deficit OF
The railways, which are owned well as opreated by
the government The Italian railways before the
war incurred large defcit each which had TO be paid
by the taxpayers In April 1870 order issued by
The Italian State railways imposing 100 per cent super
tax the rates for foreign merchandise entering Italy.
The passenger rates or the French railways, two oi
which are owned by the government and all OF which
arc being operaled under government control ad-
Vanced 40 per during the and the freight rates
30 to per cent Because OF the deficits which have
continued to be incurred proposals for further advances
have been under consideration.
The advances in rates The Austrian railways since
pre-war days have been The increase OF 30
per cent February 1920 made he total
about $50 per cent Doubtless the immensits OF these
increases Is largely explained by the depreciation OF ihs
country's currency
In september 1912 freight and passenger rates in Bel
gum had been increased 20 to 10 cent since pc-war
times Further have been made since then but
me amount OF these increases IS moi known
In September 1919 freight and passenger rates IN the
Netherlands were advanced 20 per cent.
Very much The largest advances reported any
try have been made in Germany where, 10 is well
known practically all the railways owned snd opera-
ed by the government Repeated advances were made
during the stl further very advances have
been made since The signing OF The armisce. The pas
senger rates according to The Ages European editor
who recently visited Germany about 200 per cent
higher than before the and ihe freight rates abou
500 per cent higher The enormous advances ex
planned only by The fact that the operating expenses
OF the railways have Increased very greatly, bal
by the fact that the value Of the countrs currency ha
greatly deprecated Even measured in Sic prewar Naiu
OF money the passenger and fresht rates in German
apparently have been increased much more than in an
other country
Large advances In rates have also had to be made d
many countries which remote from the seat OF hos
lnes. For example. in December 1919, all freight an
passenger rates on the South African government rail-
ways were advanced % per cent while August i9i
IA rrnIa
was made Brazil and October OF the same year ad
diilona increases proposed. In Canada the rail
ways have made the advances in rates as hsV
been made the United states. and Il is assumed iha
they viii duplicate any further advances which may b
made IN this country. Even Australia, which was abou
as remote from me theatre Of hosiiies any part
NE world all the government railways have suffered So
vcrely the effects Of the and have had TO max
advances their rates. although have detailed In
formation as TO The exact percentage Of increase.