White Pine news. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1920-1923, 1922-10-01
DAILY TRAIN QUESTION
AGAIN TO THE FRONT

The revival of business in this dis
trict, which has been the general
topic OF Of conversation recently, has
given rise to a discussion of the res
toration of a daily train service.
Anthony Zurich In his characters
tic manner has taken the initiative in
this important matter, which is Of
vital interest to the community.
After interviewing numerous busi-
ness men and residents and ascer-
tanning their views, which he says
are greatly in favor of the reestab-
lishment of the daily train service,
the local attorney has decided to file
a petition with the public service
commission of Nevada to the end
that hearing may be had and the
matter determined by the commits
sion.
The petition. which is now being
prepared by Mr.. Zurich and which he
says he will file during the coming
week, will ask the establishment by
the Nevada Northern railroad not
only OF a daily main line passenger
train service between Ely and Cobre,
but also of shift train service between
Ely, Ruth and Kimberly, as we'll as
between Ely and McGill.
General Manager George l.. Hickey
of the railroad company during the
week issued a statement for publica-
tion in the press and the same is
printed below.
In order TO give the readers of the
News the views entertained by both
sides in the controversy represents
tive called on Mr.. Zurich. who when
asked for an expression of his views
said:
II am of the opinion that business
conditions in the district justify
daily train service between here and
Cobre. I feel also that we are en-
titled to daily suburban service be-
tween McGill and Ely and Kimberly
and Ely.
Il have taken this matter up with
a numbe rof people interested. also
with the directors of the Ely Cham
ber of Commerce and with Mr.. Hick-
icy, general manager of the Nevada
Northern, and have reached the con-
clusion that the matter should be
taken before the public service COM
mission with a view of securing an
order compelling the railroad COM
pany to give us both daily mail and
suburban service. l do not know ct
any community the size of Ely which
Is uenlt0 udlly HAL StItlCt. UT AL
illustration take Eureka and Phoebe,
both considerably smaller than Ely,
! but nevertheless they have mail, pas
lseIger and express service six times
a week.
"Since the discontinuance of the
daily train business conditions have
improved considerably in the district
and there are hundreds of more men
employed today than at that time,
and it is my opinion that We have
reached the point where we can
show to the commission that We are
entitled to daily main line and sub
urban service.
"As to the figures given by Mr..
Hickey TO the press concerning the
expense of operation of the daily
mail and passenger train | will have
something to say later.
The statement made by Mr. Hickey
is as follows:
"It is natural that the business
men and others of this district should
desire more frequent passenger train
service, and | am on record as stat
ing that it would be my pleasure to
arrange this for them when and as
soon as passenger traffic would war
rant it,
Ill july we averaged Oh edC0
train between the Ely-McGill district
to Cobre and Shafter but twenty-one
passengers and between local points
seven. In August the figures were
twenty-four and six respectively.
"Our July earnings per passenger
train mile from all sources (inelud-
ing express and maiD we're S1.53
and our actual transportation ex-
penses S1.l7. leaving net earning
of 36 cents per mile.
Items charged to expense include
only actual out-of-pooket expenses
for:
Passenger locomotive repairs.
Passenger car repairs
Engine house expense (inciden-
tal to passenger engines).
Wages of passenger train and en-
gine men.
Coal
Passenger locomotive supplies.
Passenger train supplies.
mo charge is included for any pro-
portion of salaries of officials, dis
patchers, agents, station baggagemen
or expressmen, maintenance of track
or depots, maintenance OF shops, tax
es. etc. III a proper proportion of
thes expenses were charged to passen-
ger service IL WOulu SHOW lOSS IOT
every mile now run
ITO double our present passenger
service would necessitate $500 addi-
tional passenger train miles per
month at a cost of $4,563, with the
only additional revenue to be de-
rived about s275 from the United
States mai. There seems to be an
erroneous understanding as to earn
ings derived from mail and express
For the month Of July revenue from
both sources was only $1,157.
Surely there Is nothing in such a
situation tn indicate justification for
increased service at this time and |
have sufficient faith in the spirit OF
fairness in the business men of this
community that with a knowledge OF
the true facts they will not expect 1t.
II do not believe that any inter-
ests In Nevada have been more det-
rimentally affected than ours during
the period of ecohomic readjustment.
nor that any interests are at this