Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1921-12-14

practically twelve hours in time from
the present schedule.
The statement filed by the petition
ers was attacked by the respondents,
claiming that many items jim the
statement could not properly be
to these trains. The most
being charge of some
thing like $4,000 for track main
tenance. They also claimed that in
stead of losing money these trains
were paying their way, and that the
statement was unfair on account of
using the months of August and
as a basis which they
claim were the most unfavorable
months of the year.
They also stated that if these
trains were operated differently, the
receipts would be materially in
creased They especially advocated
that the morning train leave De-
corah an hour later in order to make
with the Milwaukee No. 8
going west at Ossian, and that by
so doing it would bring large
amount of business from that ter
ritory.
Station Agents from West Union
north testified that the combined
freight and passenger revenue, in
Guiding freight forward and freight
received from all stations north, in
Guiding West Union, Appropriated
S450,000.00 for 1920.
Section 5019, Supplement to the
Compiled Code of Iowa, 1921, pro-
yides that "every railway corpora
ton owning or operating lines OF
railroads of more than seventeen
miles IN length within the limits
Of the state of Iowa shall maintain
a service of not less than two pas
senger trains each way every TWEEN
ty-four hours, over the entire length
Of each division of such line or lines,
when so ordered by the board of rail-
road commissioners. Passenger SER
vice of less than the number of
trains provided herein shall be pre-
sumed to be unreasonable within the
of section fifty humid
red sixteen of the compiled code"
The line of the C. R. |. & P. Ry.
Co., extending from Cedar Rapids to
DEBORAH, is 118 miles in length. That
part of the line from West Union
20 DEBORAH, from which it is pro-
posed TO remove from operation
trains No. 446 and No. 447, is about
i3 miles in length. Under the stat
ate quoted, it is within the power
IF this board to allow the removal
IF the trains in question.
The board of railway commission
FRS realize fully the condition OF the
carriers. Their rates are made by
rate making bodies, the wages OF
heir men are set by the Labor board
and the public is continually de-
better service and during
he summer months they suffer
greatly from automobile competition.
Not only this, but the public is de-
handing heavy expenditures for new
7iaducts, subways,- and other inn
all of this calls for the
almost diligence on the part OF the
operating department in order to
Keep their trains moving. In this
.ase, however, the commission does
lot DeUeNe LndI SIdIeHutilI lOi ola
weeks in the summer time properly
reflects the average earning of these
rains, as it has been shown by COM
,etent testimony that the receipts
turing the winter months are much
heavier than during the summer.
There was no statement filed to show
he complete cost of operation of
his particular portion of the line,
but it would seem from the state
nents made that it was fairly well
patronized both by freight and pas
sengers.
1t is the judgment of the board
that the discontinuance of these
trains at this time would be a severe
hardship upon the patrons of the
road. That considering the amount
Of freight and passenger business
now being offered, and considering
further that the comparative months
are the two most unfavorable, that
the general business of all roads as
we'll as the Rock Island is much i'm