St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-08-22
The Railroads of the Country.

The report Of the interstate commerce
oommission for the year ending June 80,
1899, presents many remarkable facts
roncerning the growth of the railroad
BUSINESS of this country, and perhaps the
most remarkable thing of all is the show
mo that only one passenger was killed
ioT every 2, 189,O23 carried.
The salient points in the commissions
rpnort have already been given in the
daily press, but it may not be amiss to
rsnublish few of the statistics:-
6p Iune 80, 1899, the otalsingle track
mileage in the United States was 1885,
Dol. an increase for the year of 2,898.
This increase is greater than for any
wear since 1898. The aggregate length
of mileage, including tracks OF all kinds,
was 252, 1854. There were 1910 loco
motives in service at the end of the year,
or 400 more than for the year ended
lime 80, 1898. The total number of
Ears OF all classes in the service was
1886, an increase OF 49,742. The
number of persons employed on rail-
roads was 92S, 1924, an increase for the
year of "a, 1865.
The amount Of railway capital out
standing was $11 ,O33, 1854 1913, or cap
itaization Of $60,556 per mile of line
The amount of capital stock paving no
dividends was So, 275, 500, 181, or $3.50
nercent of the total amount outstanding,
and the amount of funded debt, excluding
equipment trust obligations, which paid
no interest, was $572 40 TAG. The
number of passengers carried during the
wear was 523.176,5 sos, an increase for
the year of 2,1O9, 1927. The number of
tons OF freight carried was $50 1853, 583,
an increase of 90.757,276.
The gross earnings of the roads were
$1.313,310,61S, an increase over the
previous year of $66,284, 497. The
operating expenses are shown to have
been $685. 96S. $685. an increase of $685.
999,723. The amount Of dividends de-
clared during the year was Sill, O89,-
936.
The total number of casualties to per-
sons on account of railway accidents
was 81 743, the number OF persons killed
being 1923, and the number injured A.
G20. The number of passengers killed
during the year was 239, an increase of
IS, and the number injured 3,442, an in
crease of 497, or one passenger was
killed for every 2,189,023 carried, and
one injured for every 151, 1913 carried.
OF railway employees $50 were killed
and 34,923 were injured during the
year
Both locomotives and cars being EN-.
braced in the term equipment, it is OBJ
served that the total equipment Of the
railways on June 80, 1899, was l, 49,
6l9. of this number sos, 074 were fitted
with train brakes. the increase being
16G, SO, and /, 1919 were fitted with
automatic couplers, the increase in this
item being 22S, las.
Practically all locomotives and cars in
the passenger service were fitted with
train brakes, and of 1884 locomotives
assigned to that service OPS were
fitted with automatic couplers. Nearly
all passenger cars were fitted with auto
matte coupers. With respect to freight
equipment, it is noted that nearly all
freight locomotives were equipped with
train brakes and 40 per cent OF them
with automatic couplers.
OH POS, $40 cars in the freight service
on Iune 80, 1899, 73O,67O were fitted
with train brakes and 1,067 33S with
automatic couplers.
From the classification of employees it
appears that there were 39,97O engine
men, IL, 1852 iremen, 2S, 232 conductors,
and SO, +97 other trainmen.
There were $3.50 switchmen, flag
men, and watchmen. Upon the basis OF
special returns made to the secretary OF
the commission, it appears that the num-
Der OF switchmen, fagmen and watch
men included in this aggregate could
fairly be assigned in the proportion of 6,
3 and 2, respectively. Disregarding
1884 employees not assigned to the four
general divisions of employment, it is
found that the services of 34,170 en-
ployes were required for general admins
traton, 2S7 1853 for maintenance of way
and structures, 1907 for maintenance
OF equipment, and All sos for conduct
ing transportation.
The report contains statement of the
average daily compensation OF eighteen
classes of employees for eight years, be-
ginning with 1892. A summary in the
report also gives the total compensation
OF more than 80 per cent Of railway EN-
ployes for the fiscal years 1895 to 1899.
During the year ending June 80, 1899,
$500, 967 1896 were paid in wages and
salaries, an amount ST. ,459, 635 in ex-
cess of that paid during 1895. The COM
penSation OF the employees OF railways
Tor 1899 represents 60 per cent OF their
operating expenses, and 40 per cent oil
their gross earnings.