| Show rate increase asked defended by warner in justification of the permission asked for by the railroad companies for an increate of 15 per cent in all freight rates effective july 1 william warner assistant general freight aad passenger agent salt lake route states that every single thing that a railroad rail roid company buys his increased on an average of 50 per cent over that obtained a year ago also that their payrolls have very largely ed that the increase in the cost of fuel alone will amount to over more in 1917 than in 1916 for all lines without a corresponding higher selling price of tation the price of locomotives has increased 90 per cent price of freight and passenger cars 50 percent and taxes 15 to 20 per cent over a scar ago last september the salt lake houte placed an order for 1500 deteel gondola cars at an advance in price ol 01 75 per cent ovet normal price three years ago the increased cost of equipment has advanced so steadily since that time that these cars could be sold for nearly profit before delivery of a single car is made mr warner further said over kilps of railroads today are in the hands of receivers representing securities of over two and a quarter billions of dollars it is a very sad outlook that tho biggest business in the country lio longer haa the confidence of investors and does not attract new money into investments by railroad stocks by which the country may be developed and new railroad facilities built credit forbids starving the camera down to the low limit of rates in prosperous times there must b a margin out of aich to build up credit for times of depression or aiu forever he lagging behind the shippers demand for service and the argument for investors and for shippers is also an argument for tho public at arge the consumer wants goods wants them delivered and he cui not get them delivered without cars motive power and terminal cicil alies sufficient for the aei vice the railroads are asking for a horizontal advance of 15 per cent in freight rates in order to retain the efficiency of their organizations and to give to the public transportation facilities adequate to their needa deseret news |
