New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-30
STATISTICS OF RAIL VA US.
FACTS CONCERNING OPERATION AND EARN
INGS
AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED TO THE INTERSTATE
COMMERCE LAW.

AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED TO THE INTERSTATE
COMMERCE LAW.
Washington, Nov. 2o.-There viii be issued this
week from the statiscian's Office OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission the third annual report the
" Statistics of Railways in the United states This
report gives comprehensive statistics covering the
operation Of roads for the year ending June 3c $780,
and statement of earnings. operating expenses and
fixed charges for the nine months ending March 81,
1901 marked feature Of this report Is the division
Of all statistics into ten territorial. groups.
Mileage-.Ralvay mileage in The United States on
June 80, 1890 was 163, J97 .Oj miles the Increase in
railway mileage brought into operation during the
year was GO30.GO miles, Michigan shows the largest
increase, 450.08 miles, and Georgia comes next with
an increase OF 49, "a miles Kentucky. Tennessee
Mississippi Alabama Georgia and Florida, show an
increased mileage of ,370.32.
T. Number Of corporatons-The number OF railway COZ
poratlons on June 80, 1890, was 1791. OF these,
eighty-seven are classed rs private roads, with
a total mileage OF SIG miles. Nine hundred and
twentyseven of these corporations operating
companies and 735 are subsidiary companies
Forty railway corporations operate 77.s72.63 miles
OF line, 47.51 per cent of total mileage. There
are seventy -four companies whose gross income is
S3I,OOO,OOO, out Of total gross income OF all rail
ways in the country Of 81 051 ST. ,632.
Equlpment-The total number OF locomotives is
29,929. The number OF ears used is 1,164 l3sy Of
which 26511 in the passenger service. The num-
Der OF tons OF freight carried mile by freight
engine is 4,721 ,627, and the number OF passengers
carried mile by passenger engine is ,413142.
The larger portion OF equipment is found on railways
in the Eastern and Middle States The number Of
locomotives fitted with train brake is 20,162, and
the number fitted with automatic coupler $50. The
number Of fitted with train brake Is 1924,
and the number Of fitted with automatic coupler
ic A m Ia dor IN he
OF train brakes and automatic couplers.
Men employ ed-The total number of men employed
the railways Of the United States is 74o,30l being
an increase OF 45,556 over the number employed in
1850.
Value OF railway propertyThe 1864 LOG miles OF
line is represented by capital to the amount OF 80
459, 44417o which is equivalent TO SG0,4S1 mile
Assuming that the remaining mileage is capitalized
at the same rate, the total capitalization Of railway
property in the United States would be $0,S9f 49,
400. The increase in railway capital for the year
ending June 80 1890 the previous year Is
S44f PCS T0s. OF this amount S2500CO 900 at least
is due to the increase in capitalization on lines already
in existence. The proportion OF capital represented
by stocks IS 1852 per cent OF the total capital The
capitalization is largely In excess Of The market va'e
The amount paid in interest was $22G,4l7 ,937; the
final net earnings were S1OG 967 9Sf. II the sum Of
these amounts be capitalized at per cent it shows
that the value OF railway property, considered rs al
Investment, estimated the operations OF railways for
the year ending June 3d. 1870, was $685., ,4:O
which IS equivalent to $i2,G31 Il mile Of line.
Public service of TaTays-Thc number OF passen-
gers carried was 49,, 430sGJ The number of miles
travelled By all passengers IL ,G17 show
Ing IN average journey OF - OG miles passenger
Tie number Of tons OF freight carried was G33,441
Gl7: the number OF tons carried mile was
762O7 O47 20S. This shows the average per ton
10 have been 1874 miles. The number Of passengers
In. Tho Nntr EnOl and
States was $50 and in The Middle states 1s3,l2l.
The number Of tons of freight carried mile per mile
of line in the Middle states was 1,34s,1O7 ard In
Indiana, Ohio, and In the Southern Peninsula OF
Michigan it was 1913, 7G3; in the Gulf states it was
304. s65 and the Pacific slope 1t was 19l SOC The
cents the average cost Of carrying passenger one
mile was 1917 cents. The revenue for carrying q
carrying S n ssa ton 0O O freight on: ' mile ' was go
The revenue from passenger train run one mile was
mile was sO954 cents. The revenue from a freight
train running mile was IL 05.434; the average cost
OF running freight train mile was 81 Oo111. The
lowest receipts per ton mile are in Indiana Mlchl
gan and ohio being S cents s s the highest ae is on
sep for carving phSsengeT one oI e are ba e
receipts In Louisiana, Texas and Mexico, being
Accdents-The total number Of persons reported as
killed during the year was G.320, ard the total number
reported injured was 20O34. OF the total number
killed 245l were employees. 2o5 passengers and 33sI
classed other persons OF the total number
injured 22.30O We're employees, 2.444 Passengers be-
sides 1900 unclassifed. II appears that one death
occurs for every @06 men employed on the railways
and one injury for every thirty three employed.
The most common accident to which railway employees
liable results from coupling and uncOuplng cars
The total number of casualties that I've traced 10
this is S,2l0 Of which 800 were fatal Railway
travel is found 10 be the least safe IN the states south
of the Potomac and Ohio Rivers.
Suggestions for amendments TO the law-The report
suggests that the Commission recommend that Congress
amend the law 50 far us statistics are concerned In
three particulars. 1t suggests, first, that statistics be
collected from express companies, which under the
present Interpretation OF the act free from control
1t Is suggested. I'm the second place that the Com
mission should have the right TO call for reports from
corporations engaged in the transportation Of pasSen
gers and freight by water. The third suggestion is that
reports be called for from all companies furnishing
rolling stock to railway corporations. and from all
panes providing terminal facilities