The record-union., 1894-08-02
ANOTHER DAY WITH RAILROADS.
The San Francisco and North Pacific
Road.
1t Presents Some Figures OF General
Interest-Atlantfc and Pacific
Heard.

appeared as the representatives OF the san
Francisco and North Pacific Railway and
presented the case Of the road.
Mr.. Mellersh stated that the mileage OF
the road had not changed. there being
only slight increase in sidings and a
total mileage of 1918. The gross earn
ings last year were S827, ,9lI "A, as against
1868, 133 53 for the year before, or short
age Of 81, I'D % by comparison. the eX-
penses last year were $500. .2S6 43, against
S5S2, ,5O5 "A for the previous year. Inc
net result for last year was S26l ,624 81,
and for the year before $286, ,6Z7 70, diff
ference OF S25, ,002 9S. The interest and
sinking fund last year was S234, ,5S4,
against S232, OH ct.
The cost above insurance received OF
rebuilding the steamer Tiburon, which
was burned in January, 1893, was
SIS, IA 70. Summarizing, he said the loss
the past year was Sll, ,Z34 g. These ng-
ures were for the calendar years. The
deficit for the last fiscal year was Sl6, loJ.
The percentage of taxes paid on the gross
earnings last year was 3.79 per cent. as
against per cent. for the year before,
and the percentage of taxes on total ex-
penses was 5.9S per cent. against 40 Tor
the preceding year, which he thought
rather heavy for small road.
Taking the passenger business as
whole, 1t has been augmented by the
Midwinter Fair and the local travel has
held up very well, but the long distance
travel has been light, owing to the fact
that people had no money TO travel with.
The freight haul is of course short one
and the density Of volume of business as
compared with that of the other railroads
OF the United States is very small. The
railroads of the country carried last year
g total of S4,997 ,045 tons, or an average OF
6S2, 692 tons per mile Of line.
The San Francisco and North Pacific
Railway, which be represented, carried
last year 1908, AZ tons, an average OF
Is, 657 tons to the mile. The average haul
per ton of all the roads was l24.o9 miles;
that OF his road, 42.67 miles
The total capital stock Of railroads in
the United States is 81, 633, los, 763, Of which
s., ,S07 ,403, ,326, or 90 per cent. did not pay
dividends in the year 1892 During last
year 2, 99S miles, owned by twenty-three
roads, with 500, l0l 900 OF stock, passed
into the hands Of receivers during the
past six months.
In the past ten and a half years 332
roads, representing a mileage Of II, 800
miles, with stock amounting to 81, 49,
6S2, 600, have passed into the hands OF re-
ceiVers. Courts are now operating I52
Of lines, representing capital to the
amount of two and half billion dollars
While he did not ASK at this time for a
reduction of assessment, he hoped that If,
IN consideration OF the hard times, a re-
duction OF s TO 10 per cent. is made on the
property of the counties, and the board
feels that the railroads have been affected
by the same causes, he wanted his road
to be in the condition TO participate in the
reduction. What the next six months
may bring forth he did not know, but he
hoped for such q revival OF business as
Will show better next year.
4. ". Foster President of the road,
stated that although times were hard he
had not lost confidence in the Iuture OF
California, and believed that it would yet
come out all right. His road is paying to
the State 81, 500 per month for wharf facil-
tiles in san francisco.
By the old way of handling freight the
steamer laid II down on the dock in San
Francisco from Iiburon at a cost to the
company OF 5000 per month at the passen-
ger slip and S225 at the freight sIip-S725
per month, or 4.59 cents per ton. Now
the rules Of the Harbor Commissioners
do not allow freight to be laid down on
the dock, and the cars are brought over
on the steamer Ukiah. The passenger
slip charges are still 5000 per month, but
the freight slip charges are increased to
$500 and the switch engine charges 70
cents per car, or 81 per month, making
l,S00 per month, or nearly 20 cents per
ton. This makes an additional expense
OF 81, 100 per month 10 the company.
The statements OF Messrs. Mellersh and
Foster were fair and candid and were cal
culated to make an impression on the
board, which listened to them attentiveIy,
putting number of searching questions
Oh different points, which were freely
answered and appeared TO satisfy the
board.
Foster, in conversation subsequently
with RECoRD-UNIoN reporter, ex-
pressed himself as having the utmost
confidence in the future of California, in
spite of the recent circumstances which
have operated adversely to it. He is first,
last and all the time for California and its
interests. His management OF the road
has been based, he states, upon the prln-
ciple that the money earned by the road,
if any, should be spent among the people
among whom it is earned. The question
Of fuel is one which places the California
roads at a disadvantage as compared with
the Eastern roads, which can obtain their
coal at nominal prlce as compared with
the roads on this coast, which fact in
creases so largely the operating expenses
Of every road on the coast. He is, there
fore, IN favor of free coal, which would
reduce the price 10 cents per ton on all the
coal used on the coast. He uses, as far as
possible on the road, wood cut along the
road, which gives employment to many
men along the route and helps To build
up and develop the country along the
road and keeps the money in the State
instead OF sending 1t to Australia.
ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC.
NJ. p. Hayes, as representative of the
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, said the
first thing he had TO ask OF the board was
that they would assess the road to the
company which he represents. It's mile
ace is 252. .2S2 miles IN California. which i
claims 70 hold under contract OF sale
from the Southern Pacific Company, un
der date of 1884, to be ratified as soon as
valid title can be given.
BE presented an annual statement o.
the road, with a synopsis of the contract
between the two roads.
Mr.. Hayes pointed out the fact that by
that contract the Atlantic and Pacific
must pay the taxes, and he asked that the
board therefore consider the property as
held III escrow and assess it to that com
pany, assessing the rolling stock OF the
southern Pacific road over the road ope-
rated over the Atlantic and Pacific roaC
pro rata to the latter road.
Mr.. Beamer held that the law obiige:
the hoard to assess the road TO the record
owner.
Mr.. Hubbard asked what the objec
was IN assessing the property TO tht
Atlantic and Pacific Company, and MIR
Hayes answered that it was assessed to the
Southern Paeihc Company at higher rate
than 1t would probably be assessed as
detached piece of road. The price TO bt
paid for the road was simply to give the
Atlantic and Pacific Company trackagt
right over the track of the Southern Pa
cific Company TO san Francisco.
At the time the contract was made tht
Santa lie road was being built and the
Atlantic and Pacific road wished to se-
cure the privilege OF running its trains