The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-23
FACTS ABOUT RAILWAYS
STATISTICAL REPORT OF INTER-
sTATE-CoMMERCE COMMISSION.
Roads I'm Receivers Hands, Capital
Earnings, Expenses, Casualties.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22-From sunma-
res which appear in the tenth statistical
report of the Interstate-commerce Com
mission, prepared by its statistician. the
following advance figures are obtained:
On June 80. 1897. there were 12S roads in
the hands of receivers. These roads OPP
Grated mileage of II .S61 miles the mileage
owned by them being 1884 miles. These
figures. as compared with those of 1896.
show there was a net decrease of 1858
miles in mileage operated, and S,622 miles
in mileage owned by roads in the charge of
receivers. During the year ending June 3d.
1897, 81 roads were removed from the con-
troll of receivers and 26 roads were placed
under their management. The capital
stock represented by railways in the hands
of receivers on June 30. 1897, was $4S6. 0S4. 610
funded debt, 1854, 407 100 and current liabil-
tiles $11S, SO6,S46. A comparison Of these fig
ures with those corresponding with the
preceding year shows q. decrease in capital
stock represented of over $256, 100000, and in
funded debt of over Sass 100000.
The total railway mileage in the United
States was 1S4.426 miles, there being an in
crease of 1851 miles, or O.9O per cent. during
the year. Ninety-five per cent. of the rail-
road mileage of the country is laid with
tives in service was 1886, an increase of
So for the year. The number of passenger
cars was 1885 and of freight cars 1,2zl, 49,
Of the total number of cars 525 2Ss were
fitted with air brakes, the increase being
&c, 4S2, and 67S,725 were fitted with automatic
couplcrs, increase of 133,142
The number of men employed by the rail-
ways of the United States on June 80, 1897,
as reported, was 23,476. These figures, as
signed the mileage basis, show that 449
men were employed per 100 miles of line
The corresponding figures for the year of
1896 were slightly larger Regarding the
year ending June so, 1897, it appears that
the amount of wages and salaries paid was
$3.50, ISL. This amount represents 61.7
per cent. Of the total operating expepnses
of railways, or $3.50 per mile of line. The
total compensation for 1886 was 49, $50
greater.
On June so, 1897, the amount of railway
capital outstanding was So 635, 00S, 074,
which, assigned on mileage basis, shows
capital of $59620 per mile of line. The
amount of capital stocks was S. ,642, 255,
of which "a ,367, ,657 was common stock and
1897 ,5S5, 5eS preferred stock. The amount of
funded debt was $5,72O,S65,S The CLASH
fication of funded debt shows that it con-
ssts of mortgage bonds, 81, $50 81, 095; mis-
celaneous obligations. $3.50 us, SO3; income
bonds 1888 SAT ,l54, and equipment trust OBJ
legations, $59. 8SS, 167. The amount of capital
stock paying no dividend was 49, 61OOJ,27,
or 70.10 per cent of the total amount out
standing. The amount of funded debt, ex-
Guiding equipment trust obligations, which
paid no interest. was $3.50, $50 $40 The total
amount of dividends was $Nl10,59o which
would be produced by an average rate or
DAB per cent. on the amount OF stock on
which some dividend was declared. The
mo of n0n O. a
est was $615 259 $685. or 1876 per cent; OF mis-
celaneous obligations, $37 345,SI9, or S67 per
cent, and income bonds, $215,344,972, or S2S7
per cent The amount of current liabili-
ties on June 30, 1897. was 1913, 5Ol,6S0, or
s., l56 per mile of line.
The number of passengers carried during
the year was Asa, 445, 1885, decrease of Z.52l.-
$50 The number of tons of freight carried
was 74l,7O5.946 which is A.lS0,4SS less than
for 1896.
The gross earnings of the railways of the
United States for the year ending June 80:
1S32S4 were $1,122 0S9.773. In comparison
with the preceding year this amount SHOWS
decrease IN gfose cnnrised in gross
earnings from operation of the year were:
Passenger revenue, S25l, 1887 a decrease as
compared with the previous year OF $l5; 40
CO.'S mail, $33 754 .466, an increase OF $l,Sl464l;
express $24.S01 CSC, an increase of $2O,6SS;
other earnings, passenger service, Se,bzS ScV:
freight revenue, $772.S49.S14 decrease of
ST.. 766 523; other earnings, freight service,
$4.2O9, 657, an increase of 1923 76l other earn
ingS from operation. etc, SIS, 6C9, 1863.
The expenses for the operation of railways
for the fiscal year covered by the report
were $752, 524, 764 This amount is $50 464 .260
smaller than the corresponding amount for
the year 1896 the operated mileage for that
year being 1S1 $50 miles. The operating ex-
penses of 1897 were distributed as follows:
Maintenance of way and structures $lo9,-
434 ,4C3 a decrease as compared with the
preceding year of $910,547; maintenance of
equipments, $122. 1872 1858, decrease of 81. 6ls-
640 conducting transportation, 1882. 525, S62, a
decrease of 50. 691 ,720; general expenses, $780,
4S1 ,269, an increase of 1897 1874. Gross earn
ings per mile Of line operated averaged
$6,122; operating expenses. &,106. These
amounts are, respectively, $198 and $142 less
than the averages for 1896.
The income for operation - that is, the
amount of gross earnings remaining after
the deduction of operating expenses, com
monty termed net earnings-was 1863 800 900.
This amount is S7.615,S23 less than the cor
responding item for the previous year.
The total amount of dividends declared,
including $267,390 of other payments from
net income, was $87,377.9 S9, the result being
a deficit from the operations Of the year
of Sc, 120,4S3.