The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-04
CONDITION OF RAILROADS.
sryArOR CLARK. OF WYOMING,
SAYS THEY ARE PROSPEROUS.
years 1893 and 1895 and Con-
trasss Them with Gains in Pas
sesger and Freight Earnings.

Special Dispatch 10 the Post-Intellisencer
WASHINGTON, June 3.-"There is no
better index OF business prosperity or
depression in the United States than the
condition OF the railroads." said Hon.
Clarence d. Clark, United States senator
from Wyoming, who is chairman OF the
senate committee on railroads.
when railroads are carrying lots of
passengers we know that the people have
money to spend in travelling. or that busi-
ness compels them TO travel. As the
movement OF freight grows the volume
OF business transacted is on the increase
The larger the earnings OF the railroads
the more satisfactory are not only their
own balance sheets, but also those OF the
merchants and manufacturers who are
shipping and receiving the goods.
Between the years 1893 and 1895 there
was a loss OF $3.50 per mile In the pas
senger earnings of the railroads of the
United states. In 1886 the freight earn
ings Of all the roads were SIG per mile
less than In 1893 Adding this TO the loss
OF passenger earnings gives the total
loss Of si.i2s per mile In 1895, as COM
pared with the freight and passenger
earnings for all the roads In 1893. Apply
this to the 10000 miles of road in opera
ton In that year. and we have n total
loss Of 500. 1000 for all the roads.
Now. look at the other side of the pic
ture. In 1898 both passenger and freight
earnings had begun to pick up again,
the passenger earnings In that year be-
Ing 80 per mile more than In 1896 and the
freight earnings being s6f3 more per mile
than In 1895. Last year the showing was
even better. the gain In passenger earn
inss being sls per mile over 1896 and In
freight earnings ssoi per mile over 1896
IA txgos rratr ef roo Ill
1880 over the earnings of the road In 1895.
or a total of SIG. 1901 900 more earnings
from those two sources last year than In
1896
Now. summarize these figures and we
have In 1898 total gross earnings OF st. go
per mile In 1895 the total gross earnings
were only $3.50 per mile. a loss OF 81, 90
per mile within two years. In 1895 the
total gross earnings were 1907 per mile,
an increase of 1907 over 1895.
Naturally enough when the railroads
were carrying fewer passengers and less
freight In 1895 and their earnings were
falling away, they began TO economze
and more than 10000 men were dscharg-
ed during the second administration OF
President Cleveland. In 1898. during Pres
ident Mckinley's administration. 50. 524
men had been re-employed. making a to-
tai OF e56 more men employed In 1895 than
there were In 1888. Last year the railroads
Increased their additional help TO up
wards OF 10000 men. and the total addi-
tional amount of wages circulated
throughout the country from this one
source alone exceeded 500 ooo. 900.
New Construction.
"But this IL not all. Business prosper
ity IN continuing I'm the country and bids
fair to continue. Arrangements have been
made for the construction OF about 80. 900
Of he I'm
year The average number of employees
Is IA to every 100 miles OF road so that
this new construction means employment
for 20. geo more railroad men. and this