Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-01-20
rrcrease for Three Months.

Increase for Three Months.
prr,inetop Railroad .S2279, 1o7
Do.,nsx,von;a 2,O7S, 800
Southern Pacific ........... I,oo1,Soo
Santa Ee .........''' 100 -
Illinois Central ............. I,ooo'4Ia
Canadian Pacific ........... I,loo'Soo
TTr;on Pac;fc /, LAC, 24O
Ero 1,129, 500
Increase for September:
Gross earnings ,16l ESQ, or l4.o'
per cent.
Net earnings-$5, 491, 94s, or 24.21 per
cent.
The figures of railroad earnings Tor
the month of September show an III
crease that broke all records. Kall-
roads are a barometer Of prosperity,
the Chicago Times Herald remarks
Their earnings are the mercury, the
rise and fall of which tell the tale OF
business conditions. When farmers
get good prices for their products these
are turned over to the railroads to De
taken to market. When factory Chin
news are smoking the output OF the
hives of human industry is carried by
railroads far and wide. When mer-
chants sell goods they have to be trans
ported to the consumers. Railroad
earnings respond to fluctuations IN
these industrial and commercial actlyl-
ties with al the sensitiveness OF the de-
icate meteorological instruments that
are affected by slight variations in the
pressure of the atmosphere.
Big railroad earnings mean good
times. They are the proof that the pro
dlctive forces of the country are at
work. They are the evidence OF the
faith of business men. During the past
five or six months they have been roll
ing up like a mighty tide. Since the
protective tariff set the factories a-hum-
ming and foreign nations have demand
ed more American breadstuffs, the fig
ures have been swelling in size and in
creasing in number with joyful rapid
ity.
At the head of this column are the
figures showing the increase in the
gross earnings Of several Of the large
railroads for July, August and Septem-
Der Not one of themfshows an in
crease OF less than $1,00O,0OO for the
quarter of a year, and two of them
had gains exceeding 100000 each.
September is the last month for
which there is an approximately full
report of earnings. These show an in
crease in gross earnings over last year
of the enormous sum Of $40, 161 900, Or
1887 per cent The increase in net
earnings was 5,491 ,94S, Or 24.21 per
cent. 1t is said there is no record in
the history of American railroads of
another such gain.
The movement Of grain has been of
extra ordinary proportions, but all rail
road managers agree there has been
also a splendid revival in general trade.
On the other hand, the traffic might
have been much greater but for dis
turbing factors. In the South yellow
fever lessened business, and in the
North the miners strike cut down ship
mentS.
Trade everywhere and in all branch
es is active. Manufacturing industries
have started again and are working
full time. Crops, particularly in the
West, have been large and depleted
stocks of goods arc being replenished.
All this means business for the rail
roads.
Here is q statement for the second
week Of October, showing the gain IN
gross earnings over the corresponding
week Of last year:
Baltimore and Ohio Southwest
ern ................. $27,O74
Canadian Pacific ............. 100000
Chesapeake and Ohio. ..... 23,445
Chicago and Eastern Illinois. -. 23,O3l
Chicago Great Western. 1852
Monon NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ...s. 1861
Milwaukee and st. Paul. ...... G4,572
Big -Four 3S,SS5
Denver and Rio Grandc. ....... 29,70O
Grand Trunk .............. 25,313
Iowa Central ................. 2,313
Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf ~ ,524
Lake Erie and Western. 3616
Minneapolis and st. Louis. $3.50. 1858
Missouri, Kansas and Texas. 2C9O
Missouri Pacific .............. 101 OOO
Norfolk and Western 32S36
Northern Pacific ........... G6902
Rio Grande Western. .s..... $4,000
st. Louis and San Francisco. 42O95
Southern Hallway ............ 5,947
,, Texas and Pacific. ............ 1888
Wabash NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 47,491
Wisconsin Central .... 15,45S
The gains IN gross earnings for the
second week in November, so far as re-
ported, show a continuation Of the rec
ord of prosperity as follows:
Canadian Pacific 80. .S156. COO
Chesapeake and Ohio .... 511O
Chicago and Eastern Illinois. S34
Chicago Great Western. 1850. 3O,S42
Ionon ................ 1886