Evening journal., 1897-10-16
A CREAT RAILWAY SYSTEM.

The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has issued its ninth statistical re-
port, which is replete in information
concerning our great railway system.
One hundred and fifty-one roads, rep
resenting 30,475 miles of operated
roads, were in the hands Of receivers
on June 30, 1896, a decrease of eighteen
from the previous year The capital
stock represented by the railways con-
trolled by receivers was $742, ,597, 698 and
the funded debt was 1893 733,766. The
total railway mileage on June 30, 1896,
was 1872, ,776, an increase Of ?, 2,119 for the
year, Georgia showing the largest in
crease, viz, 233 miles. The number Of
locomotives in service was 1880, and
of cars Of all classes ,297 $40, an in
crease Of 251 locomotives and 27,OSS
cars. OF the total cars and locomotives
44S.S54 were fitted with train brakes
and 545, ,5S3 with automatic couplers.
The number Of freight locomotives fitted
with automatic couplers was 1878, out
OF a total of 20,351, and the cars In
freight service fitted with train brakes
was $40 05S, out of a total OF 1,221, ,SS7.
An interesting feature OF the report
is a summary showing the amount OF
compensation paid to the railway en-
ployes of the United States, who aggre-
gated 826, ,620. Their aggregate compen-
sation amounted to over go per cent. OF
the total operating expenses OF all rail-
WAYS a slight decrease from the pre-
ceding year.
Much data on the capitalization and
valuation OF railway property Is con-
tanned in the report. The amount OF
railway capital, It Is shown, was $lO,-
sec. .S65. III. which, assigned on mile
age basis, shows a capital or S59,blO
per mile of line, and, If current liaDill-
ties be included as part OF the capital,
s63. .O6S per mile OF line The amount
Of capital stock was $5,226, ,527 ,269, OF
which s969, ,956, ,692 was preferred.
a fraction OF over 20 per cent. of the
capital stock paid no dividends. The
total dividends amounted to SS76O3,31l.
passengers carried during the year
numbered oil 772, ,737, an increase OF
over 1000 900 compared with the pre-
vious year. which, however showed q
decrease OF 80, ,266, ,S37 as compared with
1894. Freight tonnage amounted TO 1867
SQ1 ASK the largest ever reported TOT
RAILWAYS in this country. and an in
crease OF nearly 70,000,OOO. Gross
earnings amounted to 81 $1,150,169,376, an
increase OF nearly $75,000,OOO, resulting
ina net income ofover $S3 100000 largel
than the previous year. ~.
Nearly / 300 employees were kilie'
and almost 10000 injured during IN
wear. an increase OF so in those hu
ed and over 1000 In the number In
iured. One hundred and eighty-one pas
sengers were killed and nearly 5000 in
hred. The number of persons "otne'
than employees and passengers killeS
was 4.4O6. and those injured, 5,S4o
THESE figures include casualties TO per
sons reported as trespassers. For ever.
14I men employed ON railway
one was killed, and for ever
sS men employed one was injured On
srainman was killed for each l52 train
men employed. and one trainman wa
injured for each 10 men employed. IN
number Of passengers carried for on
messenger killed was 2,S27,474, ana en-
number Of passengers carried Tor on
Messenger injured was 1882.
This is a wonderful showing for
country which has just cleverly entere
upon the second century Of its nations
existence.