The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-10-01
ATCRISON TRAFFIC
STEADILY GROWING
President Ripley'S Report
Shows Gross Earnings
Doubled in 5 Years

The annual report of the Atchison.
Topeka and Santa Fe railroad Just
is.ued shows not only a remarkable
growth in the system itself, but that
the gross earnings have about doub-
led within the last FIVE years. In de
lscribing the extensions President E.
I p Ripley say Many new line
have been built, or are in course Of
construction in Oklahoma territory,
and others have been projected ana
there is serious danger that more
railroads viii be constructed in this
territory than il can properly sup
port
/ The Atchison management is build.
ing about two hundred and fifty miles
of new line in eastern Oklahoma ana
this new construction Is designed to
form part Of a through line 10 The
south. A large propo tion OF this new
constructor was ordered by the d.
Irectors to protect the Atchison sys-
tenn from the encroachments of com
peting lines The Atchison has ac-
Quirad control OF the Pecos Valley
lines and the California Eastern Rail
wayI besides a half interest in the
Kansas Southwestern railway. which
extends from Arkansas City TO An
thony, Kas It has been decided to
extend the Gulf and Beaumont lines.
now under construction to Center in
Shelby county, Tex These lines. it
is said pass through pine forests for
the most part untouched by the axe
They also furnish access 10 the sup
ply of fuel oil at Beaumont On the
subject Of fuel oil Mr.. Ripley says
Having become satisfied that pc
ltroleum IS TO be the fuel of the Pacific
coast and realizing the necessity Of
an adequate supply. the directors of
this company authorized the purchase
of the entire capital stock Of the Pc
troleum Development company Of
California
This purchase emb. aces about
500 acres in the Kern river petro-
leum field and according to experts
it will supply fuel for the Atchison
lines between San Francisco and
seligman, Ariz., (s32 miles). as well
as the floating equipment in San
Francisco bay, for about 100 years at
the present rate of consumption
The gross income Of the Atchison
sy~tem reached a total of $50 1854.
and the net income was Sl5,564,526.
This is an increase in net Of s3,014-
600. and the entire net income is
equivalent to 8 per cent on the pre-
ferred stock and $3.50 per cent on the
common stock. At the close of The
fiscal year the company's books show
ed a surplus of s16,O27 AIS. operat-
ing expenses show a smaller ratio to
earnings than heretofore
In his general comments President
Ripley says: During the year we
have had to contend with partial
failure of the cotton crop, a failure
of the corn crop, large falling on in
citrus fruit and largely increased ex-
: penses caused by advances In wages
and material. Per contra, we have
had very large increase in miscel-
laheous tonnage and in passenger
traffic. so that The total result can
not be said to be unsatisfactory. AT
this date (sept 1O) the prospect for
thi year IS better than year ago as
TO all crops except wheat, which lat
ter is somewhat below an average
SlcHop"
The Atchison system as operated
last year included a mileage of 1855
main and branch lines. This mileage
will be largely increased dyuring the
current year. Five years ago with a
mileage Of 6.44S he Atchison system
earned $50 $40 900 gross.