The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-20
INTERESTING FIGURES.
Railroad Building in 189i-A Decreas

| Railroad Building in 1S9i-A Decrease.
The new volume of "Poor's Manual"
presents rahrCld figures for 1891 with the
completeness which its publishers have
fought the pubic to expect. The features
I of especial interest in this number are
the comparison of the statements of 1891
with those of 1894, and the tahulated
statements of lines owned and operated
capital stock, bonded debt, earnings and
dividends of all railroads in the country
for fifteen years past. The results OF
operating the railroads in 1898 and 1894
show marked decrease in the latter
year, owing largely OF course, to the
immense stimulus given to passenger
traffic by the worlds fair, and partly to
the temporary decline in ali kinds of
business, which was fet most severely
In 1894. There is a decrease in gross earn
ings Of Sli2,3lS275, made up of SSj,9l6n,
ne dCcrcaie in passenger earnings, and
SO&OlI259 in freight earnings, less an
increase of near.y three millions in mis-
cosaneous earnings by mail and express
departments, At the close of 1894 the
total number of niles of railroad in the
United States was 1929. OF This, 2157
miles had been built during the year.
The share capita. spending to the
mi.eage completed az the end of 1894
equaled 500, GO, ,07O. a decrease of $L4O3,-
S}i or ,O9 per cent since 1893.
The funded debts of a.o lines at the
close of the year amounted to total of
$685. 1929, which was more than
nlnety-five millions increase over 1898.
Other forms of Indebtedness outstanding
at the close of the year came 20 a total
of $SSS56G232, a decrease of 6,794 III.
The total share capita, and indebtened-
ness at the close of the year cqualed
Sl1,l249SO,55l, an increase of SSi,2iS,5S1 over
the total of 1893 The total capita, invest,
ment OF All railroads in the United States
in 1880 was s., ,iO2 OBS, ,257, or Al per cent on
investment. In 1855 the total investment
was SS42,533ll9, with return of "A
per cent on investment. In 1890 the in
vested capS.al was S10.1S2, ,6S5 800, with
again a return of S.4 per cent. In 1891
the total investment was $1l.124, ,93O551: !
the net earnings were $50, ,539, ,a76, or 2.y
per cent on capital.
Since 1887 the length of lines ownei
by the railroads OF this country has in I
creased nearly hundred thousand miles.
or from 79,2OS to 17S119 miles The total /
investment in these properties since 1850 (
has increased 1873 per cent. The aver 4
age increase in mileage per year has been
i.2S miles. In the first five years the
mileage increased more than IS per cent;
IN the next five years. us per cent. and
N the five years ending with 1894 It in
sreasei 1872 per cent. A most interesting
abe is that which shows the returns
received by shareholders on their in
'estments during the year. 1t is shown
hat 64& per cent of the holders of stock
allied to receive any return whatever in
s9i. the Eastern. Middle. Central. North
srn and Northwestern states making the
'est returns Of stock. the non-productiye
'toeS being mainly in the South, South
vest and Pacific regions. The cause of
he continual lowering or the d'viden;
e;u-ns Is attributed by the publishers of
he Manual to several causes, notably
he undue extension Of lines, represslve
egis'ation. competition and the laSOr
emand for higher wages
table showing the changes in freight