The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-07-29

The interstate commerce commits
sion has issued some interesting sta
tistics of the railways of the United
States for the year ending June so,
1926:
In the introduction Of the report the
statistician calls attention to three
special features: First, the showing
of comparative figures where possible
for the five previous years; second, the
compilation of operating expenses Tor
two years. one summary being based
on the revised classification of operat-
ing expenses, taking effect July L, 1884,
the other on the classification follow
ed from 1887 to that date; and third,
the compilation of a table showing
revenue and density of traffic for
roads whose gross revenue exceeds
SO 900, 600. Reference is made to the
effect Of the continued business depres-
sion, and the large number Of re-
ceiverships. On June 80, 1895, 1853 roads
were reported in the hands of recelV-
erS, showing a net decrease Of % dur
ing the year. The roads under re-
celvers operated 37,S55.S0 miles of line,
which shows a decrease of 2,963.0l as
compared with 1894. The railway capt.
tai represented by these roads was
nearly 81. 500, 100000, or about 22.20 per
cent of the total railway capital in the
United States.
MILEAGE.
The total railway mileage in the
United States on June 80. 1895, was $780,
65747 miles, an increase of 1882
miles, or LOS per cent being shown.
The increase in 1894 was 2,247.4S miles,
or 1.27 per cent. which was less than
for any preceding year during the
period for which reports have been
made to the commission. The terri
tory and states in which the increase
in mileage exceeds 100 miles are Ari-
iona, 247.41 miles; Illinois, 1870 miles;
Pennsylvania, 1900 miles; Maine,
1926 miles; Texas, 11o,41 miles; and
Montana, 1888 miles. The aggregate
length of all tracks in the United
States on June 80, 1895, was 236, S9426
miles. Included in this total track
mileage were 1O,639.96 miles of second
track, 1925 miles of third track. 1871
miles Of fourth track and 43,SSS.46
miles Of yard track and sidings.
EQUIPMENT.
Out Of a total equipment of 1.3O6. 260
locomotives and cars, only 362, 49S were
fitted with train brakes, and 40S $50
with automatic couplers on June 80,
1895. The increase in equipment fitted
with train brakes was 81, 500, with auto
matte couplers, 81, 235. The summaries
presented show that almost all passen-
ger locomotives are fitted with train
brakes, and 1912, out of POOP freight
locomotives have them. The number
of passenger locomotives fitted with
automatic couplers on June 80, 1895,
was 1888, the increase during the year
being Ala. It appears that 6,106 pas
senger locomotives were without auto
matte eouplers. The number OF freight
locomotives fitted with automatic coup
lers was 2,039, the increase during the
year being 731, hut as there were 90, OH
locomotives in freight service the defic-
iency in respect to automatic couplers
is marked. On June 80, 1895, the number
of passenger cars in service was 33, 112,
of which 1884 were fitted with train
brakes and 31,971 with automatic coup
lers. The number of freight cars in ser
vice was 1885, 119, of which 295, 073 were
fitted with train brakes, and 366, 9S5 with
automatic couplers. 1t appears that the
passenger service is we'll equipped with
automatic safety appliances, but that
the freight service is greatly deficient
in this respect.
EMPLOYEES.
The number of men employed by rail-
ways shows an increase of 5426, as
compared with last year. the number
of employees being 7S5, 034 on June so.
1885 1t appears there was an increase
in employees in Group I, Group II,
Group III, Group V, and Group TX, but
a decrease in the other FIVE groups.
Group shows the largest per cent
Of increase. In last years report it was
mentioned that the effect of commercial
depression upon the pay roll of railways
fell most severely upon maintenance of
way and structures, and next to this
upon maintenance of equipment. The
comparative figures presented in the re-
port also show that such is the case.
The returns for the present year show
that LIS men were assigned to mainten-
ance of way and structures per 100
miles of line, against 123 in 1894. The
number of men correspondingly assign
ed to maintenance of equipment also
shows a slight increase, being So for
1895 and sc for 1894
EARNINGS AND EXPENSES.
The gross earnings of the railways of
the United States for the year ending
June 80, 1895, were SLOTS, 81, 462, an in
crease of $1,000, 665 for the year being
thus shown. Passenger revenue was
52,246, $50, showing a decrease of $685.
103,37S, or 11.60 per cent for the year.
Freight revenue increased $50, 500, $40, or
4.S6 per cent. being s729, $685. 62 for 1895.
RAILWAY ACCIDENTS.
The number of railway employees
killed during the year ending June 80,
1895, was ISL, and the number injured
was 1886. These figures, compared
with those OF the previous year, show
a decrease of twelve in the number
killed and an increase of 2,274 in the
number injured. The number of pas
sengers killed was 10, the number in
jured 2,375. These figures give for the
year a decrease Of 154 in the number
killed and 659 in the number injured.
The number Of passengers killed is re-
markedly small. The smallest number
killed in any of the preceding seven
years was 2S6 in 1890. One employee
was killed for each 433 employed, and
one employee was injured for each 81
employed OF the class Of employees
known as trainmen, that is, engineers,
fremen, conductors and other employ
ees whose service is upon trains, it
appears that one was killed for each
$50 in service. and one injured for each
IL in service. The number of passen-
gers carried for each passenger killed
during the year was 1884, 1872. and the
number carried for each passenger in
jured was 213,65 The liability of pas
Sengers to accidents is better shown in
the fact that 71,696,74 passenger miles
were accomplished for every passen-