The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-20
ELECTRIC RAILWAY STATISTICS.

The United States Census Office has is
| sued bulletin on street and electric rail-
ways which contains much information on
the subject. The period covered by the in
quiry was the fiscal year ending June 80.
1902, and the information relates to the
physical equipment and the financial fea-
lures of the roads, They show surprising
development in this branch of transporta-
ton industry. During the period named
there were in existence in the United States
Sl1 operating street and electric railway
companies. and 10 companies leased to and
operated by other companies, making a
total of 917 companies. These companies
owned or controlled 22,577 miles of single
track. The par value of the capital stock
and funded debt outstanding as reported
amounted to s., sos, 2s2, Oss The total income
of all the companies for the year was
S250,50i,627, and their total expenses were
s219.907,650 The companies gave empIov-
1854 wage-earners and paid out $50, 40. 449
in wages. There were 7,12S salaried off,
Gals and clerks employed to whom 81
1911 was paid in salaries. The roads car
ried 5,S71.957, $50 passengers, including cash
fare, tickets and transfers The report
shows that the singie-track mileage of
street and electric railways increased from
S,123 miles in 1880 to 22,577 miles in 1902. or
la per cent, and the number of fare pas
sengers carried from 2023, O10 2O2 to 4. 500 554.-
45S. or 137 per cent. These figures are diff
cult to grasp. but they show very rapid
development of an industry which has not
yet nearly eliminated. The report includes
all electric railways, irrespective of their
length or location, and all street RAILWAYS
irrespective of their motive power. At the
census OF 1890 the railroads that used mo-
tive power other than steam were con-
lined almost exclusively to cities. but the
application of electricity has enabled these
roads to greatly extend their lines in rural
districts, and large proportion of the
trackage is now outside of the limits of
cities, towns or villages. The extent to
which electricity has supplanted other
motive power is shown by the fact that
from 1850 to 1902 the mileage of animal
power was reduced from 1851 to 81. that
of cable power from ASS to &c, while that
of electric power increased from LISP miles
to 1880.
The statistics for Indiana show that dur
ing the year ending June 90. 1902 the gross
earnings of 20 electric lines, city. suburban
aud interurban. were S3Sl3,076. and their
operating expenses s2.2l9791. or the local
lines the indianapolis street railway car
ried ss.9e5.929 passengers. OF whom 30. .O2S
were fare passengers and 500. 900 were
transfer. The Broad Ripple traction car
ried f7SS1 passengers. all fare. The Union
Traction carried 1l.ls5.T7O passengers. of
whom 9.7a0.454 were fare and I.475s1s were
transfer. The Indianapolis, Greenwood a.
Franklin line carried 55a.sss passengers. the
Indianapolis & Eastern 57o.Is3 and the In
dianapolis. Shclbyville & Southeastern. in
three months. 11i.s14. No doubt the figures
for the year ending June 80 1903, would
show large increase of passenger bust
ness. 1t is TO be regretted that no statis-
tics Were collected showing the average
increase In the value of suburban property
and farm lands caused by the extension of
electric lines, but this would be attended
with difficulty. and the result could only
be approximate. The social and mural eff
fects In the way OF bringing communities