Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-12-15
RAILROAD PROGRESS.
SMALL INCREASE IN MILEAGE DUR
ING THE PAST YEAR.
Number of Casualties During the Year
Greater Than Usuai-Interstate Com
merce Co m ission Makes RECON- IN en-
dstions Tending to Lessen the Number.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The fourth sta
tisticai report Of tho interstate commerce
combustion, prepared by the statistioian,
MIR. Case, which has just been submitted,
gives q complete epitome of railroad prog
ress in the United States for the period
covered. Railway mileage in the United
states on June 80, 1891, mot counting
double tracks, was 1863, 402. IA miles, an In
crease during the year of 1895 miles. This
was less than the average Of several years
past The greatest activity in railway
building seems to have been in the States
lying south Of the OHIO and east OF the Mis-
sissippi. The number OF mon employed on
railways In the United States during the
year covered by the report was
7S4, 2S5, an increase OF "a, 9o4. The
extent to which organized industry has
increased the efficiency of labor is shown
by the fact that every engineer during the
year has on an average carried BOY, 01
passengers one mile and 2, 329, 639 tons of
freight one mile. The capital of the rail
ways in the United States is 50, S29, 4I5.O
This shows an increase in outstanding capt.
tai Of 1902 per mile to line as compared
with the previous years report. The gross
earnings from operation during the year
were s., 096, 76l, 305, or S6304 per mile of
line. The operating expenses were S'3l,
SS7, S93, leaving a net income from opera
ton of 1854, S7S, 502 net income per mile
of lire less than the net income of the pre-
vious year by $37. The number Of pas'en-
gers carried during the year was DBL, 1885,
9SS. The number of tons of freight carried
was go, COS, 1923.
The report shows that the casualties dur
ing the year were greater than in any previ-
Gus wear covered by reports to the commits
sion The number killed during the year
was 7020 and the number injured 80, SSl.
OF these the total number of employees kill
ed was 1860, injured 26, 140. Tbs number
of passengers killed was 293, in jLred 1912.
.. The report emphasizes more strongly than
previous reports the necessity OF legislation
compelling railways 10 adopt train brakes
and automatic couplors and suggests that
some steps be taken to prevent the frequency
in casualties from falling from trainS and
engines The large number killed and in
jured from collisions brings prominently
into notice the necessity of some extensive
use of the block system in the handling
OF trains and a more perfect application OF
the principle of personal responsibility in
case OF accidents An investigation into
the matter OF handling trains is recon
mended 1t is recommended that expires:
companies and water carriers engaged In
r-State traffic be required to make re-
ports to tue inter State commerce ccEim!s-
sion similar to those now made by rail
ways, and that persons, companies or cor
porations owning rolling stock used in inter
State traffic should be obliged to make an
nuel reports as far as may be necessary
for complete statement of the kind o!
rolling stock used by railways.