The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1902-04-11
State COMMISSIONS REPORT.
The Fifth Annual Summary Shows Rail
roads Are FIourfshfHg.

The Fifth Annual Summary Shows Rail-
roads Are FIourishfng.
The Florida Railroad commission has
completed its fifth annual report, cover
ing the year ending February 18th, 1907.
The purpose of the commission is TO adj
just complaints in regard to rates made
against the various railroads doing busi-
ness in the state.
A brief review of the report shows that
Florida railroads are in a prosperous con-
dition. On this subject the report says:
During the past year there has been
unusual activity along all lines of business
coming under the supervision Of this COM
mission. 1t has been a period of uncom-
mon prosperity for practically ali the
transportation companies. The total in
crease in net earnings from operation of
the railroads reporting for the year end
ing June 30th, 1901, over the year ending
June 30th, 1900, was S347, 24l 90, or ISL
per cent.
A prominent feature o the report is the
large amount of statistical information
concerning the conditions and operations
of the railroads in Florida during the
year The statistical tables are much
more complete and exhaustive than those
which it was practicable for the commits
sion to prepare for preceding reports.
The total mileage for all the roads is
stated, by classes, as follows: Main track,
2,77435 miles; branches and spurs, 4O3. 10
miles; yard track and sIdings, 2SS.9l
miles; total mileage, 3, 466. 10 miles.
The value of all the roads in Florida are
as follows: Capital stock, S35, 1913, 72S IL;
bonds, $35, 0Ol, 472. SO; aggregate, so, $780,,
POI .05. General averages per mile of road:
Capital stock, $ll ,673 So; bonds, $ll,-
565. %; aggregate, $23, 1855
The total gross earnings from operation
of Florida railroads during the year is sta
ted as follows: Passenger revenues, 50,
4l6, SSl. IL mail revenue, 1884, 73l 81; ex-
press revenue, $430, 6Sl 81; extra baggage,
storage, etc, $2l ,OS2 29; total passenger
earnings, So, 203, 376 9S; total freight earn
ings, s., 595, 33S SO; miscellaneous earn
ings, $3.50, il79S; total gross earnings
from operation, 50, l79, 1873 S. This is an
increase of S2,0l5, 40. 56, or % Is per
cent. over the gross earnings of the same
roads for the previous twelve months.
Under the head of operating expenses,
the report exhibits the totals for all of
the same roads under four heads, as fol-
lows: maintenance of WAYS and structures,
81, $50, S15.33; maintenance of equipment,
81 ,245, 029.6S; conducting transportation,
s., 52l ,02S.S5; general expense, $685.
422 III; total operating expenses, S6,9l5,-
296 81. This is an increase of 81 $685.
224.70, or 3l.79 per cent. over the total
operating expenses of the same roads for
the preceding twelve months. The gen
eral average of percentage of operating
expenses TO gross earnings was 75 SO per
cent. For the preceding year it was 81 u
per cent.
Taking the roads as a whole the aver
age earnings per mile of road We're as fol-
lows: Freight earnings. 81, SIGH; passen-
ger train earnings, ) ,O4O %; gross earn
ings from all sources, 81, $50 81; operating
expenses, ., 245 81; and ct earnings from
operation, S735.0I. Gross earnings in
creased S654. SO per mile, while operating
expenses were Increased SOIL 81 per mile,
comparisons being made between the re-
ports submitted for the years ending, re-
spectiveIy, June Both, 1900, and June
Both, 1901.
Mention is made of the railroads now
under course of construction in the state, |
and a recommendation Is made for legis- |
lation to require all railroads and express |
doing business in Florida to |
and maintain general Offices in
this state.