The Minneapolis journal., 1902-10-08
FIGURES ANALYzED.
Where the Gains and Losses Of the
M. & st. I. Road Fell
Last Year.
Large Increase in Passenger Traffic
DECREASE in Average Freight
Haul Per Ton. -

An analysis of the report of the direc-;
tors Of the Minneapolis & st. Louis rail
road company published yesterday, shows
that the gross transportation receipts, for
the year covered by the report increased
s265, ,336.44 or $40 per cent, and the oper-.
ating expenses $123,690.21 or $50 per cent,
leaving an increase Of $141, ,646.23 or 993
per cent in receipts over operating ex-
penses. The balance of the surplus,
$196,724.35, was carried into profit and
loss account. The decrease In the sun
dry earnings account resulted from a
change in method of accounting for ex-
cess baggage earnings. This year. they
were included In the passenger earnings.
!. The number Of passengers carried in
the year shows an increase Of 81, ,101, or
9.45 per cent, and the number carried one
mile, an increase of 6,575, ,118 or 1886 per
cent. Passenger earnings increased Sta
659.59 or 24.5S per cent, and the average
rate per passenger per mile 1858 per cent
OF the increase in passenger earnings,
1858 per cent was due to increased busi-
ness and 1912 per cent to increased rates.
The improvement in business came
mainly in through travel, principally from
increased settlements in northern Mime
sofa and the Dakotas by persons from the
more eastern and older states.
The number Of tons Of commercial
freight carried increased from 1862 in
1901, to 1,940,26S in 1902 while the tons
carried one mile showed a decrease Of
6, 1884, ,S03 or 2.98 per cent. This resulted
from decrease in the average haul per
ton of 1894 miles. The increase in freight
earnings of s113,62S.99 or All per cent,
was an average receipt for each ton per
mile Of 900 cents. The decrease in ton
miles and the average haul was almost
entirely In the tonnage of grain and agri-
cultural products, as the crop yield was
not up to that Of the previous year. This
ov,1 IN 1oc,r Sv, frNyY
was more than made up by an increase in
the tonnage of dressed meats, packing
house products, merchandise, building
materials and other articles paying a
higher tariff.
The average train load Of commercial
freight shows decrease of 32.97 tons, and
| the freight train earnings a decrease of Is
cents per mile. The train and car load
| ing was affected unfavorably by two
causes: It was necessary to reduce
| weight of trains owing to the revision OF
grades and the alignment changes in
progress. It was necessary to arrange a
fixed schedule of train service to meet
| the demands of traffic requiring quick
| transit .7' -
| The tables of operating expenses throw
light on the cost Of improvements made
by the road. The total expense of 1929,
715.49 is divided thus: Reduction OF
grades and changes In alignment; $157,
| I69.Sl, new SCaC1On Ou1lQln&S d1lu ySI us
$46, 6,747.24; construction Of side tracks
$14,5 sol 81; fencing, 81, 4,777.13. ~,
| A decrease In maintenance Of equip
ment resulted from charge made In last
years expenses Of $50, ,768 the cost of -four
passenger engines.
An increase Of $74,261. 81 in "conducting
transportation" was caused largely. by
station expense. AS the contract will
| the St. Paul Sc Duluth for Minneapolis
terminal facilities expired July 1, 1901, ne
credit is made this year Of the renta
charge of $4,000. The actual increase
over corresponding expenses for last veal
is $50,261.s7, due to- additional frefgh1
high class traffic and to the higher cos
| of handling traffic. =. - - - -