New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1905-07-08

Railroad Commission of Texas ii is to
be found that the gross earnings of
the railroads from operation during
the five years ending June 30, 1904
Gents omitted) amounted to 1922
0G2 ,32G, and that their gross operat
ing expenses aggregated s225. 79S.012
the net earnings from operating be
ing $GG.2G4.314, to which should BE-
added $3.G22, 544 income derived from
other sources. the sum total of net in
come for the five years being $69 $50
$50. From the net earnings are to
be taken the expenditures for better
ments. S14,314,920: taxes, s5,5G6,51
and rents. 9.794-aggregati $40
l01.@o2. With these deductions tho
net revenue to the railways from oper-
alton and all other sources for the five
years referred to amounted to $49.-
1886, to be applied to interest on
bonded Indebtedness. floating in
debteddness and dividends on capital
stock. In the foregoing statement is
not included s6,57t.41 which appears
in Table "a of said reports. as net
balance of credit to the income ac-
come account. The item of credit is
excluded from the calculation because
its grows out of the adjustment of ac-
counts. payments and expenditures on
account of prior business, as to which
1t was not possible to accurately dis
criminate; besides. the item does not
affect the results. as the deficit of
$14.0Ti.455 of the railways on June 80.
1899. Is omitted from the calculation
and does not appear to have been d.
charged either in whole or in part.
As 10 the gross earnings from oper
alton. 1t may be observed that they
are the product of freight and travel
charges. the average cost to the ship
per in the State of Texas during the
five years for moving ton OF freight
100 miles being ninety-six and two
tenths cents, in 1904 ii was ninty-four
and seven-tenths cents. Though some
what greater than the average for the
United States, the cost to shippers in
Texas stands about midway between
the highest and lowest charges else
where made. This apparent higher
rate for the State. | am advised. partly
grows out of the immense tonnage Of
low grade freight handled in other ter
ritories and partly because of lack of
density of traffic, which makes low
rates profitable.
In 1902 the average amount paid
by the shipper for moving a ton of
freight 100 miles in England was 1886
in France. $40: in Austria. $3.50: in
Germany, where most of the railroads
are opened and operated by the COVE
eminent, 1884: in Russia. $l.70, and
in the united States $O.757.
As to the operating expenses during
the period, It Is to be said that sixty
per cent at least represents labor
in various FORMS that the payrolls
carried an average of 45.39S EN-.
ployes; and that the pay OF labor In
Texas from three to five times that
in Europe or Japan.
It isnot going too far to say that If
the railroad companies of Texas
should be SO reckless and unwise. or
SO unjust. as to attempt to put their
employees upon the same footing with
the railway employees of Europe or ia
pan, single wheel would not be turn
ed or single shop at work within
twelve hours after such a reduction
had been attempted.
Notwithstanding this difference In
the price of wages, and also in the