The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-23

one of the common complaints among
American railway employees. Ihave known
engine drivers to work from Monday
morning till Saturday night continuously
without sleep or rest. OF course such cases
are rare, but they do occur. 1t would not
be permitted in England. Railroading is
much more dangerous employment in
this country than in England, and we kill
and injure a much larger percentage of
travellers.
"Let me give you the figures to show the
appalling extent of the butchery and MAIN
ing of employees that is constantly going
on in this country. Train service is, of
course, the most hazardous, and of 10000
trainmen employed last year on all the
railroads of this country, 1900 were killed
and more than II 900 injured. Of $1,000
switch, flag and watch men, 230 were killed
and 1900 injured OF the grand total of
725, 900 employees, 1000 were killed and more
than 10000 hurt. One employe out of 800
was killed and one out Of every IS was
injured. Among the trainmen the record
is astounding. One out of every III was
killed outright during the year, and one
out of every II injured In England, of all
employees, one is killed ont of every S75,
and one hurt out of every 158. OF the train
men in England, one out of every $50 was
killed and one out of every 80 injured.
las to passengers the figures are quite
as much to our discredit. Last year one
passenger in 1880 was killed in this
country, against one in 100000 in Eng
land. In the United States one passenger
out of every 10000 was injured, against
one in $4,000 in England. In considering
these figures it should be borne in mind
that for every ticket sold the distance trav-
eled is two or three times as great in this
country as in England"
as il true that we are the greatest trav-
elers by rail in the world?"
Without doubt, considering both the
number of passengers and distances trav-
eled. If every inhabitanU of the United
States travelled as often and as far as every
other, each would travel is miles in n
year Remembering that millions of peo-
pie do not travel at all, it is easy TO see
that those of US who do travel must travel
a great deal. The average journey in this
country per ticket sold, it may interest
you to know, is % miles. and the average
number Of passengers per train Is Il.
Every day Of the year our passenger trains
run 10000 miles. Freight trains run
more than loco 600 miles a day, and the
average number of tons carried per train
is 1870"
Now tell me something about the f.
nances of our railroads"
In round numbers the railways of this
country earn 81, 600, 000 900 a year, of which
$500 10000 is from passenger service and
$645 900. 600 from freight. Mail, express
and miscellaneous make up the remainder.
The operating expenses are S645, 100000, so
you see that the freight earnings run the
roads, leaving the passenger and other
earnings net. In addition 10 this $500. 0Q0.-
600 the roads have an income of Sl25, 000, goo
more from interest on bonds and dividends
on stocks owned by the companies, rentals
of tracks, yards, etc, and miscellaneous in
come. What becomes of this $40, 600 600
on hand after the operating expenses are
paid? Does it go 10 the stockholders in
dividends: Very little OF it. Interest on
bonds and other debt takes $500, OO0, 900 at
one swoop Niuety-six millions 20 TO
rentals for tracks. yards and terminals. and
S2So00,0O0 for taxes. The stockholders get
Just 81, o0O. coo in dividends, and $50 OO0, 600
is carried rs surplus.
The holder Of American railway stocks
is not always 10 be envied- There is out
standing a total Of s, PSI 600 600 of stock.
The dividends paid on this amount 10
fraction less than per cent. You wouldn't
like 10 lend money at that rate OF interest,
would yous On three-tifths Of the stock no
dividends are paid. On one-fifFh Of the
bonds the interest is not paid. On one-siXth
OF the stock dividends from 10 per cent
are paid. On one-eleventh OF it from TO
per cent. is paid. Our railway system as