St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-29
FIGURES UPON Rail WAYS.
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE CON-
MISSIONS REPORT.
NOT STRUCK BY HARD TIMES
Previous to the Date UP to Which
the Report Is Made. June 80,
1898 = The Depression Came
Passenger, Freight and Mis-
cellaneous Earnings.

WASHINGTON. Jan. ga prelim-
mary report OF the incomes and ex-
penditures of railways IN the United
States for the year ending June 80.
1893. has just been published by the in
terstate commerce commission. 1t Is
put out in advance of the regular statis-
ical report OF the commission, to meet
the demand of the public for early in
formation in regard to the operations of
railways; and, in view of the present
condition of the railway industry In the
country, the figures it contains are eX-
ceediEZly interesting. The report in
cludes the returns from 479 operating
companies. whose reports were fixed on
OF before December l. 1885, and covers
the operations Of lbs, 1863. So miles of line,
or 81 per cent of the total operated mile
age In the United States for that period.
The gross earnings were S1.0S5. 695. 2S1.
of which 1922, s05, 53s were from
passenger service, S739. 249, 1856 from
freight service and S23,630,37S were
other earnings FROM operation, covering
receipts from telegraph, use OF cars.
switching charges, rents. etc. The
operating expenses were $735, 427 1882,
or 67.74 per cent of the gross earnings,
leaving net earnings of $3.50, 257. TAG,
which is about $50 per cent on the capt.
taliZati0n of the roads reporting. Re-
duced to mileage basis, the gross
earnings were Stab per mile Of line,
operating expenses we're S5,042, and net
earnings s2.40l. A comparison of these
items. with the complete returns for the
previous year, shows an increase III
gross earnings of $3.50 per mile of line,
and in operating expenses of 1888, re-
sulting in decrease in net earnings of
So per mile. 1t is probable that these
averages may be slightly decreased
when the full returns for 1898 are
included. since large proportion
of the roads whose reports were not
filed before this tabulation was closed,
are the smaller and less important lines.
The number of passengers carried one
mile were IL, SO, 973, 514, being 67,92S per
mile of line. The number of tons car
ried one mile were 81 ,997, 043, S14, or
5S2, 692 per mile Of line. The increase
in density of traffic does not differ in
any marked degree from that of pre-
viouS years, which shows that there is
constant and, to certain extern.
uniform expansion of business from
year to year. A new feature in this re-
port is the compilation Of: comparative
data for the same roads for the years
1892 and 1888. covering the items Of net
earnings and dividends. This shows
an increase over 1892 in the net earn
ings of the roads of S9,774,957 and all
increase in dividends of $685.
713. The amount carried to
surplus account after the re-
/ duction of all fixed charges and dIvi
dends was SIG, 04S, 405. These figures do
| not justify the assertion that the twelve
| months ending June 80. 1898. brought
disaster to railways, and the conclusion,
| therefore, that must obtain is that up to
that date the railways had not begun to
feel,to any great extent, the effect of the
! commercial and Industrial depression
| which in the latter part Of the year 1893
resulted in placing many roads and
| other properties in the hands of re-
/ eeigers. Besides a brief discussion of
! the facts above referred to. the report
contains table showing the earnings,
expenditures, passenger and ton mile
| age for each of the individual roads
covered by the report.