The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-11-19
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
Synopsis ~ The Animal Report Lately
do 90 Nha

lowing facts are gathered from the report
of the Railroad Commissioners:
During tire past year there has been
general falling off of railroad revenue or
earnings, although the traffic returns show
avery considerable increase in the volume
of freight hauled. The reduced tariffs for
the leading lines operating in this State did
not 90 El;o effect until five days prior 70
the clese of the fiscal year 1854, and the
effect of those reductions appears for the
first time in the reports of the year ended
June 30. 1855.
Tl.e Atc!iison, Topeka & Santa Fe re-
por. SHOWS an increase in tons per mile
oyc- last ysAr of S6,97O, 29S tons, and
decrease in freight ezrningsOf 1922, O3326,
from which II is seen that although the vol
zIne of freight traffic increased nearly
zbjrtv-seven millions OF tons HAILED one
emile the revenue derived from it was less
by S427, O3S.26. Applying the tariff OF
1854 to tie freight traffic of 1855, and the
earnings would have amounted 10 the sum
of SII. O37. 46I-Ie. OF 81. POS. 693 GO in excess
of the earnings actually received under the
present traffic; and this last sum represents
the aggregate amount saved TO the people
upon one wears business upon the Atchl-
son, Topeka 6; Santa Fe Railroad. The
operating expenses for the year 1885 were
1859, COS. Tan increase over the same
class of expenses for i8S4'Of S520,97l.27.
For the Kansas Division Of the Union
Pacific Road the freight tonnage for the
wear ended June 80, 1884, WAS 1913, OSO,O32
tons hsU!ed one mile; for the year ended
June 30, 1855, the freight tonnage was $780,
497, g24 tons hauled one mile-an in
crease in the past year, over the previous
wear, Of 21,4lT, S92 tons. The freight earn
ings for 1854 were -, 2O7, 36S.54; for 1885,
81, 357, 4GS.S6. If the tariff rate for 1884
had been charged on the freight tonnage Of
1855, the freight traffic would have yielded
4 revenue upon this division OF 81, 513,-
514.50, or a sum of s2l6,045.64 IN excess of
the actual receipts. Upon the Kansas part
of the line. the earnings from all sources
for the year ended June 30, 1885, were
SIS, 32S. DO 49-an increase over the year be-
fore of S95, 415.19. The operating eX-
penses in Kansas, on the Kansas division,
for 1884, were 81, 9s4, 694.02; for 1885. ST.
736. notwithstanding a reduction of S24S,-
615.15.
The Central Branch reports 3ss miles of
road all in Kansas. The traffic on this
road has rapidly and largely increased the
past three years. Its tonnage of freight
for 1884 was 46, LOIS, S91 tons hauled one
mile The tonnage hauled one mile over
this line in 1885 was T3, 202, 10l, showing
an increase of 81, 123, 21O tons. This is the
greatest ratio of increase in freight ton
mage that can be shown by any road i'll
Kansas. The freight earnings upon this
road for 1884 were 81, 222, 247.S7; for the
year ended June 30, 1855. 81, 444, 742.6T.
Computing the tariff rate in existence at the
time the present board came into Office,
upon the freight tonnage of last year, and
the freight earnings would have Amounted
to 81, 939, S55.6S. This denotes difference
saved 10 the people of Kansas on this
road i'm one year, by tariff reductions,
amounting to $3.50 1901.
The Missouri Pacific Company reports
the gross freight earnings for the year end
ed June 30, 1885, were 5,46S, 391S2,
falling off in the revenue derived from its
freight traffic compared with the year 1881
of S923, 239.33
Computing the tonnage of the last year
by the rate OF 1854. the freight earnings OF
that system woald have amounted 10
sc. 0S2, 931.Ol. or S614 ,533.19 in excess of
actual receipts. This last amount shows
the aggregate saving to the shipping inter-
est by the reduction of the tariff upon the
last years business.
The Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad
shows decrease in freight tonnage the last
year, as compared with the previous year,
of g, 500, 573 tons. The tariff for 1884 was
Obj cents per mile, and the total freight
earnings for that year amounted to 5,4S2,-
603.S5. The average freight rate per ton
per mile for 1855 was .0l.24 cents, and the
total freight earnings for that year were
81, $50, 559. As - showing n falling off in
freight receipts for the year of S53l.944.3O.
II the rate of 1854 had been charged upon
the freight tonnage of 1885, the freight re-
ceipts for the past year would have eX-
ceeded those derived from the business
that year by S2S5, 740.5S. This last sum
represents the appreciate reduction in the
freight charges of shippers the past year
over that line.
The Kansas City, Fort Scott e Gulf Road
reports its freight traffic for the year 1884
as represented by tonnage of %, 750,215
tons hauled one mile. The tonnage for
the year 1885 was 136,210,265 tons hauled
one mile. The rate charged per ton per
mile upon the tonnage of 1884 was OILS
cents, which produced a revenue of $751;,
S01.25. The rate per ton per mile charged
OH the increased tonnage of last year Was
-01.2l cents. This produced revenue of
81, 735, S09.SO. The rate charged IN 1884
upon the last years tonnage would have
swollen the freight receipts upon the bust
ness of 1885 to 81. O03, 571.52 or $780,, 1882
in excess of the actual freight receipts.
The ST. Louis, Fort Scott & Wichita
Railroad reports that the amount of freight
traffic the past year has very materially i'll
creased over that of the preceding year. In
1884 the amount of freight tonnage over
the line was Is, $40, us tons hauled one
mile For the year ended June 80. 1885,
the tonnage was 20024, 267 tons hauled one
mile. The rate per ton per mile
charged in 1884 was, .02.39 cents, and
the freight earnings for that year
were 1881, 1888. For the ,year ended
June 80, 1855, the average freight rate
charged was .0L996, and the freight revenue
was SS99, 6G3.9S. If the average rate for
1854 had been charged upon the tonnage of
lSS5 the cOmpany'S receipts from fTeigh,S
would have been larger by S7S,91G. This
last sum represents the aggregate reduction
of the freight charge upon that road for the
past year.
The total tonnage reported at this office
by the railroad companies operating in
Kansas for the year ended June 80, 1885,
is 2TS9, 314,544 hauled one mile2 the amount
of the tonnage for the year ended June 80.
1884, was s6s2, 644,551; increase IL 1885
over the year 1884, loo, 669, 1898 tons The
freight earnings for 1854 were Sai, IS3 029.-
'O1: for the year 1855 the total freight earn-
ings were S42,05I, 2T5. 75-shoSing "a de
Grease for 1885 compared with 'the year
1854. Notwithstanding the largely increased
freight tonnage for 1855, of 81, Isl 1882.
strike Threatened.
RICHMOND, No., November 12.-1tnotAet
strike is threatened hs- the coal miners here
They demand an advapce for thaiE WOrk
during the winter, which the operatasS re-