Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-07-19
RAILROADS PROSPERING
THIS is AN UNFAILINc INDEX TO
HEALTHY BUSINESS CONDITIONS.

Senator c. d. Clark, cf Wyoming, Shows
the State Of Our Railways Now and
What 1t Wa1 Under Democratic Rule
More Work and Better Wages.
Washington.-'.The is no better in
dex of business prosperity or depres-
sion in the United States than the con-
dition of the railroads." said Hon.
Clarence D. Clark, United States Sem
ator 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 business 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 loss of $3.50 per mile in
the passenger earnings of the rail
roads of the United States. In 1895
were $176 per mile less than in 1893.
Adding this to the loss of passenger
earnings gives total loss of $1126 per
mile in 1895, as compared with the
freight and passenger earnings for all
the roads in 1898. Apply this to the
10000 miles of road in operation in
that year, and we have total loss of
500, $780, 900, and for all the roads.
"NOw, look at the other side of the
picture. In 1898 both passenger and
freight earnings had begun to pick up
again, the passenger earnings in that
year being $40 per mile more than in
1895, and the freight earnings being
$643 more per mile than in 1895. Last
year the showing was even better the
gain in passenger earnings being $1S1
per mile over 1895, and in freight earn
ings $S01 per mile over 1895. This gives
us gain of $3.50 per mile in 1899 over
the earnings of the roads in 1895, or a
total of $176,7GO0OO more earnings
from these two sources last year than
in 1895.
"Now, summarize these figures, and
we have In 1898 total gross earnings
of $1,000 per mile. In 1895 the total
gross earnings We're only s605O per
mile, a loss of $1040 per mile within
two years. In 1898 the total gross
earnings were $6775 per mile, an in
crease of S7O5 over 1895, but last year
the total earnings were $7067 per mile,
an increase of $1007 over 1895.
Naturally enough when the rail-
roads were carrying fewer passengers
and less freight in 1895 and their earn
ings were falling away, they began to
economize and more than 100000 men
were discharged during the second ad-
ministration of President Cleveland.
In 1898. during President McKinley's
administration, S9.524 men had been
re-employed, making a total of 956
more men employed in 1893 than there
were in 1893 Last year the railroads
increased their additional help to up
ward of 100000 men, and the total ad-
ditional amount Of wages circulated
throughout the country, from this one
source alone. exceeded S100,000.000.
"But this is not ALL Business pros
perity is continuing in the country,
and bids fair to continue. Arrange
ments have been made for the con-
struction of about $1,000 miles of new
road during the coming year. The av-
erage number of employees is 474 to
every 100 miles of road. so that this
new construction means employment
for 279.660 more railroad men. and
this means the further circulation of
$3.50, 100000 more in wages. Unless
business seemed to be on sound ba-
sis. and the railroad managers felt that
it would continue so, you can be quite
sure that such large additional expen-
ditures of money for wages would be
instantly stopped.
"a few more facts and have done.
The dividends paid by the railroads of
the United States decreased under
President Cleveland's second admins
tration by $12,610.041. In the three
following years there was an increase
in dividends paid of $13,251.I52. thus
bringing the earning capacity of the
roads in 1898 back to a condition
little better than it was in 1892. The
net earnings of the roads decreased
by almost S30,OOO,OOO IN PresluenL
Cleveland's time. but have since in
creased by almost $66.5O0,0OO.
"During Mr.. Cleveland's second term
railroad building was almost at a
standstill, there being only 3o49 miles
built. But in 1898 and 1890 there were
G719 miles built, and there will be
about $4,000 miles built this year. In
the total freight tonnage carried by
| the railroads there has been an in
crease of little more than % per cent.
under the present Republican admins
| tration. The total passenger earnings
We're S293, ,557, ,476 in 1892. in 1895 they
amounted to only S260.949.741. show
| ing loss of $50, 2,627,735. In 1898 the
earnings were $272.59S,5S1, showing a
gain over 1895 of $11,G59,S50 in pas
senger earnings alone"
Aguinaldo's Representative.