The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-09-28
The Haul Shortened.

maui. In DOCn 1relgnC ana passenger
the settling of the country and the
growth of local business. Hitherto the
500 Line has had great deal Of thru
business, but has lacked an adequate
local business in it's own territory. The
profit to the company in short haul is
heavy. The freight haul has been cut
down about 5 per cent, which is an ap-
preciable betterment in the company s
freight affairs. The passenger bust
ness in local territory is also, apparent
ly, on the increase, as indicated in the
decrease over per cent in the length
of the haul It is now about eighty
six miles. On road of little over
1900 miles, this is about normal. "..'
In connection with the change in the
mileage, namely the decrease Of freight
train mileage made up by an increase in
passenger mileage, it will be noted that
the loss and gain about balance. The
company gets about $2.2 for each
passenger train mile.
While the larger part Of the decline
| Of $27O, 900 in freight earnings is due to
the falling off in the freight movement,
the small decline in passenger rates is
due rather to lower revenue out Of
each train. To have maintained the
number. Of passengers fell off 100000
Of the fact that each passenger is
nominally supposed to pay cents per
mile.
Carried Much Lumber.
It will astonis h most people to learn
that ~ per cent of the tonnage, Of this
road is in lumber, and that it carried
in all ,467 ,265 tons of this staple last
year. The road is not usually classed
as lumber road, but these figures GER
70 r1v fr irctifv 81 - hot
category. The tonnage in lumber is,
OF course, very low grade, and pays
rather indifferent returns on the labor
employed: The increase this year,
coupled with decrease of considerable
Importance in flour and decreases in
tonnage, accounts very easily for the
decline of 10 cents in the revenue pei
ton of freight. The traffic was, as q
.. whole, lower grade this year than last
For instance, the amount of wagons
implements, etc, was more than cut il
two as compared with last year.
The he'll increase lSe, IN the cost Of fuel cut
common stock of the road. The in
crease is part Of the price all railroad!
have paid to the labor unions. 1t can
not be stated too strongly that this item
is one of the most important in modern
railroad operations. Every railroad re
IpOie GAAo .yOd1 Aoo tuO otOIy u
{ tell.
Mr.. Lowry's Confidence.
It is necessary to take the word O.
, President Lowry that the road is nov
l doing we'll. It is also necessary to tax
his word that it will do better. Quit
>. certainly the fact that it now has divi
! dends regularly paid on both classes o
l stock and apparently we'll earned en-
titles Mr.. Lowry's remarks about tn
future to considerable respect. He say
4 the dividends are certain. He adds tina
H when the new Winnipeg extension be
gins to earn money the 500 line ne
1 revenue will astonish some people, Nj
4 Lowry says the road is absolutely fire
from debt, even to Canadian Pacific
and has no intention Of assuming an
debt in the future. -
To sum up. the year on 500 line,
may be said that the year has brough
little advancement either in condition
revenue or prospects, but neither has
brought retrogression. In this it
quite different from half d dozen bigge
and stronger roads that could be mel
toned, and the year may therefore b
considered a success from the standpoi1
Of the operating department..