The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-14
Ton-mile Ave. train earnings.

These figures must be accepted with
some reserve as an accurate statistical
record, because differences in accounting
methods Of. the railroads are pronounced.
The basis on which the units named above
are compiled varies so much on different
railroads that train miles, train loads,
etc. represent entirely distinct units. Ac-
curate comparisons of the operating sta
tistioe of one road with another can hard
" ever be made with any degree Of &C.
curacy. because Of this fact. Although
therefore, not absolutely accurate, the fig
ures are servicea.ble in showing in gen
eral way the tendencies in rates, train
mile earnings and train loads. A decline
in rates has the effect, OF course, Of les
SEEMING the receipts per train-r11le run,
as an increase In the unmber Of tons car
ried in a train increases the train-rnile
receipts The important fact brought out
by the figures tabulated above. however.
is that the railroads. with all their siren
uous efforts to increase their train loads
efforts which have been marked by de-
gree IF sucttss, as shown Dy an !ncJe: re
of nearly 40 per cent in that item-freight
train-mile earnings have not much more
than held their own.
Despite the extent OF the drop in rail-
read rates in recent years. and notwith-
standing the present flrmness, the ten
dency is still undeniably downwards, Oh
viously, therefore, railroad managers must
place their properties IN condition to be
operated at a constantly reduced cost per
unit of traffic moved.
AS to whether that cost can be much
further reduced, general but very inter
esting testimony may be found in the last
annual reports of various railroads, par
ticularly in those of the Northern Pacif-
ic, the Reading, the Norfolk and Western,
the Great Northern, and the Wabash.
The matter may be summed up by say
I ms that in the opinion OF many railroad
officers. there is reason to believe that,
much has been done thus far TO decrease
the cost Of railroad service, much greater
progress in this direction by increasing
the train load may be expected In coming
years than has ever previously been ac-
complished in like periods OF time. A
railroad officer who recently made an in
vestigation of an Eastern line for those
who had large financial interests in the
property, reported to his principals that
he had found only 30 per cent. Of rail-
road. BY this he meant that the efficiency
OF the road to transport proftably the
tonnage already existing was only half
what it should be, measured by modern
standards of railroading. With the mora
improved facilities, requiring the expen-
diture Of several millions of dollars. and
changed methods of operations he report
ed that the company's net revenue with
out any expansion in the traffic. beyond
that now offered. could be donbled-mak-
ing. Of course. no allowance for a decline
in rates a bugbear which has upset many
like calculations Undoubtedly, this is an
J extreme case. but it may be said that on
many railroads the officers have not yet
! taken up the possibilities of their lines
! for moving larger train loads than are now
/ being carried. The officers OF companies,
however. in which this question has been
/ systematically studied and who have
! been able materially 20 increase their train
! load figures. are confident that much more
! can yet be done, ever where the improve
/ ment already attained has been quite pro-
| nounced,
The most apparent means. and the means
| from winch the most substantial resuite
are to be obtained. is in the reduction OF
! grades. Possibilities in this direction are
almost infinite. Probably there is not a
railroad in the country which could not
improve its train load materially by ju-
/ Glcious cutting down Of grades. It Is
| Largely matter of cost and the possess
/ i3r Os available funds, and more and more
! Of This work will be undertaken from year
| = year. With the decline OF rates and
The expansion Of tonnage, the lowering
of a particular grade which, say FIVE
/ years ago. seemed not 10 promise a sCf-
/ hcisnt return on the expenditure involved
/ may now have become absolutely essen
tial L Is the realization Of this which Is
inducing 50 many companies 70 take ad-
/ vantage OF their present extraordinary