The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-11-07

the territory served. East of the Rocky
Mountains there is a very substantial
business, but the volume is not so
large as the company has at times
handled in the past, due to causes that
are well known and are now being dis
cussed generally and which, for the
time being, are difficult and perplex-
ing and engaging the attention of all
interested in the present and future
welfare of this country.
Practically everywhere we went
there was a strong hopeful spirit very
marked ever in North Dakota where
there has been more or less comment
about difficulties, which / believe have
been exaggerated.
As a result of this $500 mile trip
and meeting a great many people, l
am as great a believer as ever in the
| states between Lake Superior and
Puget Sound, and while there may
have to be a period of re-adjustment,
I believe the future will show much
improved results for the country and
for the railroads that are so neces-
sary to the welfare of this country
! which has such vast possibilities.
Financial results on the roads in
the northwest have been unsatisfac-
tory. Take the Northern Pacific as
an example. In 1922, out Of every
dollar received from the public for
! transportation, it paid back into the
territory served 40 cents in wages and
81 cents in taxes. There were paid
"a cents for materials and supplies,
a large part of which in the form of
coal and lumber was purchased in the
states served. This total, 81h cents
out of each dollar, and then interest
on the bonds issued in connection with
the creation of this property took is
cents, leaving about 3h cents for the
owners. Too small a sum for healthy
development of the transportation
facilities in this growing country.
The reason for this is that in this
northwestern country, and on the
Northern Pacific particularly, the
rates paid by the public have increased
very much less than have the expenses
and much less than the rates in othel
parts of the country. Some time ag'
| had the Bureau of Railway Eco
, Monies prepare a statement showing
, relative rates in various parts of tn,
: country and on different roads. Tha
is an accurate and impartial Organiza
> ton. Taking the freight rate in 191'
as 100, the Northern Pacific rate thi
year is 128, while east of the Missis
: sippi River, the rate is IT'S, as com
pared with 100 in 1913. This increas
in the rate in the east is absolutel
necessary if the railroads there ar
to develop and furnish %necessar
transportation not only for that coun
try, but for the western country a
we'll, because many of the products o
the west find their market in the cas-
But in the west as in the east, a
q classes of expense due to highe
h wages, higher cost of fuel and ma
terials, have increased anywhere frOr
q so per cent to 100 per cent. Just a
q there has been a readjustment for tn
eastern roads of rates SO as to pa
higher costs and to support those road
so there must in due time be a reaC
! justment in the west if adequate trans
portation is to be provided for tn
q country which is such an impOrtar
&C part of the United States and whic
s will show great growth as time goC
on.
10 An increase in the average rate
l. only two mills for hauling 1000 pound
1T a mile, a very insignificant sum whe
r applied to any given shipment, won.
D. permit the railroads in the northwe
to go on with constructive plans f,
L. the future. Even with the two mil
20 added, the increase in rates on tt
w Northern Pacific in 1923 over 10.
would not equal the increase allow,
is by the Commerce Commission east
the Mississippi River.
" Using Northern Pacific figur
n again, in 1922, the 10000 employees T
b. ceived an average of $1,690 each; t
t. $4,000 bond holders of $454 each; t
ms $4,000 stockholders 1923 each; 8.
n 391 stockholders in the Northern P
de cific hold less than 100 shares
lis stock; 1889 of them are mn T
tn road is not owned by a few rich pc
tn pie, but by 1900 security holde.
I'M The employees are receiving go
wages and the public are getting go
4st service, in many cases at less tn
.er cost. The security owners, howev
he are getting a very modest return, I