Page:The truth about the railroads (IA truthaboutrailro00elli).pdf/94

Rh do better work if not too much hampered and discouraged. The railroad-owner, by his courage, energy, and intelligence in adopting advanced methods, has been able to improve the railroad system of the United States steadily in the last forty years and still maintain and operate his property in spite of the reduction in rates. If the railroad-user had paid in 1910 the same average freight rate as in 1870, he would have paid $3,092,662,300 more than he did pay; if he had paid the same average rate per passenger-mile in 1910 as in 1888, the additional payment would have been $163,023,000, the two amounts being $837,007,762 greater than the entire earnings of all the railroads in the United States in 1909.

The individual citizen who by his voice and vote makes or permits to be made the drastic laws now applicable to the railroads must remember that the railroads must either earn or borrow the money needed to improve the existing roads and to build new ones, if adequate service is to be given. In the face, however, of constantly increasing wages and taxes Rh