The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-08-12
GROWTH " ELECTRIC ROADS
Decrease in Trackage OF Companies Using
Other Glasses of Power.

other Glasses of Power.
Il report on the street and electric
railways of the United States showing
by statistical computations the increase
in the use of electricity as n motive
power and the gradual abandonment
of all other forms of energy. together
with the consolidation of street railway
companies and the extension of track
age, has just been issued by the Census
Bureau
The report shows that there are i'll
existence in the United states SlI
operating street and electric railway
companies and 100 companies leased
to and operated by other companies,
making total of 9SI companies con
trolling 22,57G.09 miles of single track.
The par value of the capital stock and
funded debt outstanding amounted to
81, sos, ,2S2 900. The average net capital
liabilities per mile of single track were
S9G,2S7.
The total income and expenses of the
operating companies amounted TO S25o,-
504,G and S219.007, $50, respectively.
The companies gave employment dur
ting the year TO 1861 wage eGrners
and paid $50, ,770,449 in wages. There
were T12S saiaricd officials and clerks
employed. to whom S7439,71G was
paid The roads carried 5,S11 ,051,S $50
passengers.
The single track mileage increased
from S123.02 miles in 1890 TO 22.oIG.90
miles in 1902, or 1874 per cent. and
the number of fare passengers carried
from 2,O23 01O,2 to 4,S09, 9,554 ,43S, or
1874 per cent.
The increase in the length of track is
confined entirely to the roads operated
by electric power. The use of electric
power was reported by 126 companies
in 1890 and T47 in 1902. The single
track mileage operated by this power
increased from 1862 miles in 1890 to
21 800 in 1902.
A decided decrease is shown in the
number of companies and the track
age for each of the other classes or
power. OF the total single track mile
age. 21,914 miles. or ninety-seven per
cent. were operated by electric power
mechanical traction, while only 2o9
miles. or IL per cent, were operated
by animal power. rs compared with
G7.7 per cent in 1880.
The average length of line per operat-
| ing company in 1880 was 1.41 miles, as
compared with 20.3S miles in 1902; the
average operating company IN the lat
| al, p1p 9
| the length OF line that was controlled
| by the average company in 1890.
In 1890 there were only eight COM
| panics operating more than fifty miles
of line. and in 1902 the number of such
companies had increased to siXty-nine.
The total reported cost of construc-
| ton increased Sits, ,2I6,ISS, or 1861
per cent. as compared with an increase
of 81. $50 O4G.142. or 3S2.7 per cent. in
the combined par value of the capital
stock and funded debt. The increase
in both capital stock and funded DEBT
is due largely to consolidation of inde-
pendent roads and the operation of
roads under the least system where
the stock of the constituent and under
| lying company is not IetlISu.
The increase in earnings from opera
ton was $156,936,7SS of 1882 per cent;
the increase in operating expenditures
was $50, ,301 ,412. or 129.5 per cent.
The increase in the number of pas
senger cars amounted TO 27,7S5, or
$50 per cent. In connection with the
increase in the number of cars. the
increase in size is important. This is
indicated by the increase In the num-
ber of passengers carried per car. The
number in 1890 was G2,237 and 1902,
1874, an increase OF 1857. The
number of employees, exclusive of sal
aried officials and clerks, increased
62,S77 or $50 per cent.
The report shows that in New York
there are in operation ninety-siX COM
panies with gross earnings from opera
ton in 1902 of S59,315, 5,606; operating
expenses, S33, ,667, ,724; per cent. Of earn.
ings. 56.7S: net earnings from opera
tion. S2G,637 $50; income from other
sources, S1,56G,174; taxes and fixed
charges, S19,552,955; net income OF
companies reporting deficits, $T4O615;
net income for State. S7,651, ,101; divi-
dends, So, 1873, ,50S and surplus, $4o1'''
446