The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-03-09
HEAVY LOSS EVERY
MONTH,THE CLAIM
Plea Was Made By North
western At Hearing
TRAINS BIG BURDEN
Reinstatement Strongly Op-
posed At the Hearing In
Rochester

That a loss of approximately 49,
900 would be sustained monthly by
the Chicago and Northwestern rail-
road company If the two afternoon
trains were ordered restored to Ser
vice, was the contention of the off,
Gals of the railroad at the hearing
before Commissioner Ivan Bowen OF
the State Warehouse and Railroad
commission conducted al the Civic
and Comemrce association assembly
room, says The Rochester Post and
Record.
These figures were based on an
average obtained from the traffic
on the two afternoon trains during
the months of March and April pre-
vious to the time that they were
taken off last July.
G. B. Violet, general superinten-
dent OF the Northwestern, testified
at the hearing that the cost of op-
eraion for the present train service
OF three trains each way totaling sos
miles per day at cost of two dollars
per train mile was over $4,000 a
month. Additional expense incurred
by restoring the two afternoon pas
sengers running 1852 miles a day
would be nearly $4,000.
According to the figures pres ented
on the traffic on these trains in the
months of March and April, an av-
erage of 139 persons used the west
bound train daily paying S109.41 in
fares. while 127 persons journeyed
on the eastbound and paid s7S.23 for
the privilege. The total revenue for
an average month was said TO be
received from the government for
carrying mail. This sum subtacted
from the $4,000 expense of giving
the service, leaves deficit of near
ly $4,000.
In arguing against the granting of
the petition that the afternoon train
service be restored, the railroad Of
ficials also contended that the bus
lines had cut down the traffic To
such an extent that such restoration
would be Improbable from that
standpoint. A distinct decrease in
short haul traffic was easily notice
able they said.
A ID. McGoon, ]. p. Clarkson and
l.. Van Tassel, local operators of bus
lines between neighboring cities and
towns were called by the railroads
attorney. l.. l.. Brown of Winona, to
describe the service that they are
supplying places served by the
Northwestern. They attempted to
ternoon trains are not a necessity
since sufficient service is already
being supplied by these bus lines.
other People Testified
In the cross examination OF the
bus owners by Richard Manahan ii
developed that the buses had no
facilities for sick persons and pas
sengers could not take trunks. The
ousmen stated that they did not no.
annroriahla m
their traffic after the trains were
taken of.
Further testimony in behalf of the
Rochester citizens and those of sur
rounding towns was given during
the afteroon. W. II. Richardson Of
Elgin, in the grain, feed and coal
business, told Commissioner Bowen
that it was impossible for Elgin
resident to go to either Rochester
of Winona and return the same day
The bus service plying through FL
gin was inadequate, he said.
He related that the afternoon
Rochester papers did not get there
until 1890 the next day and that
the farmers being served by the Ell
gin post office did not receive them
until the following day, citing as AN
example that a Monday paper did
not reach the farmer until Wednes
day noon.
At this point he was interrupted
by Mr.. Bowen who said:
1T would be better if they never
got them at all"
NJ ]. Manchester, a Plainview
grain, feed and coal dealer, said
that the majority of the people Of
that town traded at Rochester where
there were larger stores and larger
stocks.
L. H. Bechtei Of the z. L. Lyman
company stated that he had to cut
down on his advertising because of
the fact that the local newspapers
did not arrive in these cities until too
late. This had been verified by mail
orders and telephone orders that he
had received from customers in
these places. Travelling statesmen, too
he said were inconvenienced through
the train service.
Banker Gave Testimony
c. G. Palmer, Kasson banker, tes-
titled that the taking off of the aft
ernoon rains was very detrimental to
his community, and gave various in
stances substantiating his state
ment
c. A. Bolton, secretary Of the Wi
mona Association of Commerce. said
that the principal objection that WI
mona citizens had against the pres
ent train Service was that the citi-
sons of Elgin and Plainview branches
could not conveniently come to that
place to trade and get back the same
day. Also that connections for
the south points were bad, be-
cause the traveller either had to go
another way or have long stop
over at the junction point.
The statements made by Mr.. Boil
ton, brought forth a hot retort by l..
L. Brown, attorney for the railroad,
who alleged that the Winona mer-
chants had supported the striking
shopmen in their recent strikes by
displaying placards in their show
windows. He said:
While. the North Western dumps
about 100000 clear in your city
yearly, your merchants go and place
these cards in their windows for 70
days giving the shopmen their sup
port. Now, here you come in behalf
of these men. Aren't you ashamed
of yourself?"
Gregory Gentling described what
the transient population of Roches-
ter thought about the train service.
declaring that they ridiculed local
citizens for not making strenuous