The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-14

all the railways in the SCUM a"ah'ic
and Gulf States were:
For year ending fer Nile ;
June 30, 1883. s.'yo,
June co. 1880. ..............'.'''.'''''.. i'ios
June 80, 1898. ...-....-...''.''.'''''' l'-i-
For wear ending June 3d. 1898. the net
earnings OF the Southern railway lines
were 81, 1856 per mile.
IN thus appears that the earnings of
the Southern railway lines per mile or
road are slightly less than the average
for ali roads IN that section of the South.
The Interstate Commerce Comm.sslon's
statistics for the year ending June, 1874.
are not yet published. but the earnings OF
the roads in the Southern railway sys-
tern for that period have been even lower
than fer 1896
Using the average figures for all lines
In the South Atlantic and Gulf states,
is seen that Though the whole OF tndC
section of the South served by the hnCs
of the Southern Railway Company snc
gross earnings per mile Of the road-.tie
necessary basis of the prosperity Oh
railway and of its power 70 pay "asrs
show tire slight increase Oh oiiiy duoul
three 90 per cent. in 1893 as compared
wan 1872. while the net earnings per lhIe
OF road show a decrease OF more lhdIl
twenty-five GU per cent. THESE ten years
Eave marked the greatest industrial de-
yelOpment in he history oi the Son'i'
which development eliminated IN ~,
end was largely aided by, II not chlehy
due to- the activity and growth OF the
railways. ,.- =, ,.,,
curing this period the railways N '1 "a
section have greatly improved their IA
cil.ties for safe, prompt ana ecohohfdl
TRANSFORMATION, much TO the convenience
and benefit OF the public, and to the adj
vantage of employees upon trains.
This has been done, not only without
returns, but with absolute loss, TO me
owners. while the railway companies have
been compelled 10 assume heavier re-
sponslDl.,es, and have been held more
strictly accountable in their obligations
TO the public.
The cost of all this has been very great.
the employees have received the chief hcne-
liz. and yet they have not been caiir':
upon TO share the less until recently. anu
then only to a ssproporu0hdteiy sH1A
extent.
DECREASE IN EARNINGS PER TON
AND PER PASSENGER PER MILE
or RAILWAYS IN THE SOUTH.
FREIGHT.
The average freight earnings per tor
per nile in the Nirsinias and the carr
''' For the year end.rg- cent.
June -. 1890. :. 81
Jube 90 1884. ..... zee. ............... 40
Il reduction of II per cent.
And In the States Of Georgia, Florida.
Alabama. Mississippi, KertucKy ana Ten
TcsScc.
For The year ending Cent
June ~. lND ...'''''''''''. '''''-''''' ~
reduction OF L per cent.
Tho average freight earnings per ton
per nile on the lines now composing tle
Southern railway system were:
For the year ending Cent
FJune 80 Observation-Disclosures. rs
June 30. 1894 Observation-Disclosures. -
reduction Of II per cent.
PASSENGER.
The average rate Ter passenger per mi .
on an l.ues IN the NirsInids ana the Caro-
lir-s We're:
For the year ending Cents.
June 3" lSs0, 81 ~
June ~, 1894. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. -.ofi
a reduction Of { PEI cent.
And Oh all Ines in Georgia, Florida Ala
bama Mississippi Kentucky and Ten
nessee:
For the year ending Cents.
June 30. lS.O................. -ib0
June 80, Observation-Disclosures. -'oIJ
q reduction of per cent
The average rate per passenger per mile
on The lines now composing the southern
20 For ihe - year ending- Cents.
*Juuc 80 Observation-Disclosures. 30
June 80, l6Ji........,........,..... -.to
a reduction OF more than l. per cent.
From advance sheets OF the forth
coming report OF the interstate Comme:te
Commission.
me nrst report made by the Inter
state Commerce COmm.-stCn was Tor Ise'.
lie above comparison tor the lines now
COMPOSING the Southern railway system
was therefore, carried back to that date
The plan Of combining the roads into
.;e OgrapEl"al groups was not idopte" by
The Commission until 1880, ana for that
reason the above cCmpa rlsOn by groups
was necessarily limited 20 the period L,O-
1891
These reductions In rates have been
brought about largely by forces, some
commercial and some legislative, over
which the railways have no control
though they are partly due TO the efforts
Of tne railway companies 10 secure ana
foster new Industries. and In times OF de-
pres on TO Keep existing ones awe. the
lower rates have been accompanied by
large decrease in gross earnings, ana IN
earnings per mile. as already SHOWN, and
have. therefore. not been compensated Tor
by increased volume Of traffic.
70 ought 10 be generally understood that
much OF the reduction In railway earnings
has been caused directly or indirectly 10y
ill-advlsed leg station or By the action or
State Railroad Commissions, ana that the
effects OF such reduct ons. il continued,
must inevitably be felt by railway EN-
plOyes
GENERAL REDUCTIONS IN PRICES
AND THEIR EFFECTS.
There nave been large reductions in the
prices Of all staple articles Of production
I'm the South Tor several years.
These reductions IN pr.ces have resulted
In a necessary decrease in the cOmpen-
sat.on OF al class OF labor engaged IN
such Production.
The average price of cotton in the New
YORK market tor tle years named has
been.
Year Price.
tsS5 Observation-Disclosures. 10 l-,2c.
lhSO..........s s..s..s.'.' s's'.'s' '''''' - ~
1851 .......... OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES " i-lp
IN,S ... Observation-Disclosures. 10 -
tSs, -. ........ I'D J-S