Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-31
Railroad Earnings and News


The gross earnings of the Memphis
L Charleston Railroad Company for
the year ending June 30, 1882 were
81 ,323,6l4, and the net earnings 1898
Ga. The fixed charges we're 1924 900,
leaving a deficit Of $l0,386.
The gross earnings of the Louisville
4 Nashville Railroad Company for the
third week of July were $249, ,480,
against $l92, 400 for the corresponding
week of last year, an increase Of $57, :
O8O, or 291 per cent on an increased
mileage of ten per cent.
Cincinnati Enquirer: The stock
holders-other than the Erlanger
Syndicate-of the Cincinnati, New
Orleans & Texas Pacific railroad, have
net a very cheerful prospect before
them. The road has just passed its
quarterly dividend. The probabilities
Of other quarterly dividends in the
immediate future are vague and in
definite. The stock is not marketable
at above 50, and now it is reported in
well informed financial circles that
scheme is on foot to bear it still lower,
in hope that its outside holders will
grow sick of it and let it 90 for what
it will bring, as a bad investment. 1t
will then have reason to make the
road something more than a mere
feeder for their Southern system.
The scheme may not work Just now.
owing to this disclosure, and may de-
velop into game of freeze. out. Held
fast to your stock and get no div's; let
60 and realize moiety of your invest
ment. These are the horns of the d.
lemms presented to the forty nine
one hundredths.
Poor's Manual: The progress Of the
rail construction business during the
year 1881 is one of the most remark
able evidences Of the advance of the
substantial prosperity oil the country
in its history. During the year 1881
no less than 1858 miles OF railroad
were built, being the greatest number
in any one year, The greatest previous
mileage for any twelve month was
1879 miles, and that was in 1871. Up
to the lst of June, 1882, there we're
3677 miles opened, against 1874 miles
opened by the same time in 1881, |
leaving it probable that if the same |
rate Of increase be maintained the in
crease of mileage in 1882 would be |
10000 miles.
The increase of population as
direct outgrowth o. the extension of |
the railroad system is strongly pre- |
sented. The following rates are given |
concerning the Northwestern States
and Territories for the ten years |
from 1870 to 1880. These States
had in 1870 a population of H.
LII; in 1880 they had |
1880, 200; had of railroad in 1870, |
q, 1913 miles, and in 1880, 44,647 miles |
of road; earned by railroads in 1870, |
Sl5S,549, AGO, and earned in 1880, |
$274, ,6l4,708. In 1855 the charge |
fer moving a ton of wheat by rail |
from Chicago to New York, 800 miles,
was $5l ~ IN 1881 the charge was
1851.
The railroads of the United States
have become an essential part of the
productive industry of the Nation.
All others are dependent on them.
The magnitude Of this interest is not |
only shown by the figures of its mile
age, of its receipts, earnings, expendi-
lures, its capital stock, or its debts,
but the wonderful growth of all these.
There are its receipts now exceeding
per mile what it received twenty-five
years ago, with the ratio of toll per
mile reduced to such figures as are now
only possible to allow the merchandise
to be moved at all.