Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-01-05
TIE RAILWAYS.
Figures From the Interstate An
nual Report.
NOTABLE INCREASES FOR TWO YEARS.
Fluctuations In Eastern Traffic-Compari
sons OF Business - Chicago Roads
Make an Especially Favor
able showing.

WASHINGTON, Jan. "A preliminary
report on the income and expenditures
OF railways for the year ending June so,
1892, compiled by the statistician TO the
interstate commerce commission, will
soon be made public The gross earn
ings of 1913, $40. 90 miles of railway are
shown to have been s951 ,028, 1859, from
which the gross earnings of the entire
railway service of the United States
are estimated TO have been 81, 222,7 Ill.,
sos. This is I'm increase OF 1925, $50, 1903
over the earnings Of the previous
year, or an increase Of s8Os per
mile Of line. The operating expenses
for the year were asia, 722, $50, being an
increase OF ESQ, S34, ls9, which leaves an
increase in net earnings Of t4s, 1l6, ia,
or e., per mile Of line. comparison
Of passenger and freight service shows
the larger proportion Of increase in
earnings from operations TO have come
from freight service The actual in
crease in revenue from passenger SER
vice was ts1, 500, O23, or s247 per mile OF
line, as against an increase in the rev.
enue from freight service OF sol, 500, 671,
or $40 per mile OF line.
II Is observed that the railways on
which there has accrued the largest In
crease in gross earnings per mile of line
are the lines connecting the wheat
growing territory with the seaboard,
and the lines In the southern states
bordering on the Gulf Of Mexico. II Is
significant, however, that on these rail-
ways there has been an increase in
operating expenses nearly equal 10 the
increase In gross revenue The report
shows that the aggregate gross earn
ings OF sixty-two roads, each OF which
enjoys an income In excess of
$1,000, 900, is s794 476, 3Si, being an aver
age increase Of t12,sl4,l74. The aver
age gross revenue per mile Of line for
all roads is IS, $40. A classification of the
sixty-two roads in question show that
eight receive each an income in ex-
cess Of $4,000 per mile of line, for ten
the income per mile OF line Is between
$4,000 and s2O, 900, for thirteen the in
come per mile is between s7,443 aud
$4,000, while the income from each of
the remainder is less than S7,443 per
mile OF line.
The density of passenger and freight
traffic is also given for the roads whose
gross revenue exceeds SO, 600, 900, from
which it appears that in some parts of
the country there have been healthy ex-
pansions Of trade during the last two
years, while In other parts the increase
in traffic OF 1892 does little more than
balance the loss of traffic in 1891. In the
southern gulf states, Tennessee and Ken
lucky, the tonnage per mile OF line was
in 1890, 1914, 096; in 1891, 405, 9O5; in 1892,
400, 926, showing permanent gain. On
the other hand. in the territory of the
trunk lines east of Buffalo and Pitts
rburgh the tonnage per mile OF line was
In 1890, 1900, 205; in 1891, / 1853, $3.50 and
In 1892, 1885, 4O4. The poor relative
showings OF 1891 is in part accoun ted
for by the new lines built in the state
of Pennsylvania, but the figures indi.
cate decided Huctuation in business
THE CHICAGO ROADS.
CHICAGO, Jan. 9. The year Just ended
has been n prosperous one for the rail
roads centering in Chicago. Every one
Of them is able to show handsome gains
in both gross and net earnings, not
withstanding the fact that rates have
been comparatively low during
the greater part OF the year
At no time has there been such
rush of business as to seri-
ously embarrass any of the roads, yet
taking the twelve months together, the
volume Of freight and passenger traffic
has been enormous, The amount of
freight exclusive of live stock brought
into and taken out OF Chicago will, IL is
estimated, reach u total of 10000, 900
tons. At the same time the managers
of the various lines say that it has been
very expensive year for them on ac-
count OF the heavy OUTLAWS necessary
in preparing TO handle next years
business A very large proportion
of their earnings have been set
apart for this purpose. and for this rea-
son some of the companies are com
PEELED to postpone contemplated in
creases in dividends.
1t is thought that $50, 900, 900 would
hardly cover the amounts appropriated
since April and now being expended
for terminal facilities, now equipment
and betterments generally In anticipa-
ton OF heavy increase of business
during worlds fair year