The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-24
RAILROAD EIfRNISGS.
Passenger and Freight Traffic in Europe
ana the United States.

anu inc tn1teu states.
An official statement has appeared Of the rail
road earnings of Austrian railroads for the fir st
six months of 1899, showing the gross amount of
these to have increased 3,674.OOO forms as com
pared with the first six months of 1903 The number
of passengers carried having increased 1900. 0C0
and the freight carried having increased 2,2OO OCO
tons These figures regarded as of considerable
importance showing an increase Of Is per cent.
in the number Of passengers carried and Of per
cent in the amount Of freight handled in country
in which the whole number Of passengers carried
in year is in excess of 1OO, 0OO, COO and the
Der Of tons Of freight carried in year is somewhat
below that figure. The Austrian railroads Gnclud-
ing together those of Austria and Hungary earn
in year $40 600. 900 approximately, and the
working expenses are ST5, COO, 600, figures which
seem Of small importance when compared with
those of the United States, the earnings of whose
railroads in 1893 were $3.50, 600, COO. with run
ming expenses of $3.50, 100000. American
railroads carried in 1898 $4,000, 600 passengers
and moved k9l5. 600, 900 tons of freight
In most countries the passenger receipts are con-
siderably larger than these coming from freight
traffic and the rates OF passenger transportation
are so high to yield the railroads profit quite
unknown in this country, where railroad charges
have been declining so steadily that in recent
years they have fallen below the rates Of steam
boats and even Of canal boats In Great Britain
the total amount of railroad receipts is $3.50 OCO
600 about onc-third OF the total of those of the
United States. Toward this total passenger earn
ngs contribute 5000 600 900 year and the freight
and express earnings contribute $3.50 COO eco.
The number Of passengers carried on the railroads
Of Great Britain in year amounts to nearly
1000 0OO.0 600 and though increasing the increase
is relatively small compared with passenger re-
ceipts in the United States. Seven years ago,
in 1902. the number Of passengers carried on the
railroads Of Great Britain S85. 900, 900. The
passenger traffic in the United States less subject
10 fuctuaon than is freight traffic the latter being
dependent chiefly upon the condition of business
the price for cereals and staples and the size OF
the chief crops, The figures for 1893 compared
with those Of the year preceding showed an in
crease in passenger earnings on American rail.
roads Of SIC .0O0, 600, whereas the increase from
freight earnings was SS8, 600, 600, and generally
speaking, rs per cent Of the earnings Of Ameri-
can railroads are from passengers and rs per cent
from freight
French railroads carry $50 900 600 passengers
a year and about ll5, 600 COO tons Of freight or
approximately three passengers for each ton
of freight carried. whereas in the United States
the number Of tons Of freight carried is nearly
double the number Of passengers transported
In Germany. where most Of the railroads are owned
by the Government the number Of passengers
carried in year is about GEO COO COO and the
earnings from this source are about 500 600 600
a year In respect TO railroad figures, however
England is the only country which can seriously
be compared with the United States