The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1923-08-24
GREAT NORTHERN PAYS
MORE: PUBLIC LESS

transportation of the superior
grace required to meet the needs and
demands of the travelling and shipping
puplic costs the Great Northern Rail-
way more today than double what 1t
oiu ten years ago, while the increase
IN revenue for the use of these greatly
| improved facilities nas been far less,
IT Is emphasized in statement by
chairman Louis w. Hill of the board
| Vi directors. Official reports disclose
| mat the increase in the prices which
the great northern must pay now for
passenger and freight equipment and
the cost OF operation is from 100 to
lou per cent greater than decade
ago.
In discussing this handicap under
which the railroad is laboring, Chair
man Hill called attention to the public
need for adequate transportation,
pointing out that all work involves
the moving OF persons or objects and
that the factor of cost always is DOM
inant. Because of the necessity of
transportation, individual effort would
be futile without the railroad and
therefore 1t is important for the public
10 know what it costs to provide this
service, he said.N
The railway traveller today enjoys
the advantages of nigh class hotel"
said Chairman Hill. Trains are fully
equipped for dining, parlor and sleep
atv,t 90,
such as will meet the demands of the
travelling public, Naturally this is ex-
pensive, yet the cost to the traveller
Is far less than the charges Of the ho-
tel with corresponding facilities.
Every item in the provision of both
passenger and freight service costs
far more than it did few years ago.
Passenger and freight shipments
speed over mile of track in a minute
or two. Undoubtedly few persons are
aware that this mile of track, exclu-
sive of the grade and right of way,
which cost $4,000 in 1913 now costs
900. Other costs of railway service
have increased as much more.
Locomotives which cost $24,0 in
1913 now cost $4,000 Sleeping car
costs nave increased from $4,000 to
$4,000 each; dining cars from $14, 200
to s31, 800; day coaches from $4,000
to S20,250; refrigerator cars from
$1,000 to $4,000; ore cars from $500
to $1,S00; box cars from $500 to $500
and flat cars from $3.50 to 81 ,462.
"Taxes have increased more than
one hundred per cent during the same
ten years and are big item of operat-
ing expense on evry railroad. Yet at
the same time railroad freight and
passenger rates paid by the public for
this much more costly service have
increased only about 40 per cent.
1T is obvious that we must pay for
every thing we have. for food, shelter,
clothing and transportation. PrOduc-
ton and distribution of these and
other essentials require transporta-
ton. which made possible the develop
ment of our country. And when trans
portation is impaired the whole coun-
try suffers. AS matter of self interest
alone. as well as matter of justice.
this is worthy Of deep thought. When
there is talk of railroad rates it is to
the public interest to give careful con-
sideration to the fact that this service
is being given. under cost conditions
most unfavorable to the carrier and
growing more difficult every year, at
a price to the public so little over that
Of ron wars ago"