The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-12
FREIGHT BRINGS
IN THE REVENUE
Pennsylvania Endeavoring to
Separate Passenger Traffic
From the Freight.
WILL OPERATE TWO ROADS
Enormous Increase in Taxable
Values of Observation-Disclosures
Service for Railways.
WILL OPERATE TWO ROADS

Steam railroads derive their principal
source of revenue from hauling freight.
Il; 1905 tho receipts OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company from freight traffic
were 500. 093, s2s. while the receipts from
passenger traffic were but 1928
This result was accomplished. although
tho gross receipts for hauling the aver
age freight train for n mile were s2.096
at a cost of sell, making the not profit
about eighty-eight cents. In view of tho
tendency now to e~lectrify railroads In
order that tho passenger traffic may be
handled with greater speed, with more
frequent service of cars. and possibly
with more safety, and the tendency also
In some States to cause a reduction IN
passenger fares. 1t becomes n question
whether In a few years tho passenger
business will not DO entirely separated
from that OF carrying freight, at least so
far as 1t may be divorced without en-
dangering charter rights.
President Cassatt evidently conteim-
plates this step by tho construction of an
entirely new low grade, double track
freight line from Pittsburg to New York,
much of which has already been built,
the plans contemplating the building OF
considerable more track this year..
Tho State of Minnesota expects to
realize over 100000 In taxes from It's
railroads. on gross earnings last year
amounting to $40. 391 1851. In 1901 tho
gross earnings OF all the roads In Minne-
sofa amounted to S64.6a6,0N. and the tax
to l.911 .1s4.43. 80 that the collections
this year are in the line of a recoSd-
breaker. Though arbitrarily booked at
4 per cent, the Great Western. for Its
original line built under a special terri
torial charter, made a return on n OASIS
of Q per cent. This indicates that 1t. with
the Great Northern. will fight the new
rate. The Great Northern will resist
the A per cent. tax on the gross earnings
of lines leased from tho Manitoba COM
pany on the ground that the old terri
torIal charter that underlies that and it's
lease companies made 3 per cent. the
limit of tax. In other words, 1t invokes
the doctrine OF vested rights.
Total assessments on the railroads of
Alabama for 1906 are $5s. 432,3 52; increase
over last year of 1885, 1926. This includes
one-sixth of the entire property value of
the State.
seaboard Air Line engineers nave COM
pleted a survey on an extension OF the
Seaboard from East Arcadia to Southport,
n. c.. a distance of about 36 miles. 1t
is thought this is to be used In connec-
ton with the South and Western. which
the Seaboard taps at Rutherfordton N.
c..
1t is said the Norfolk and Western has
|. succeeded in effecting a contract with
the Detroit, Toledo and %Ironton, which
will give it a better outlet to the Great
Lakes. via the Ann Arbor for Its coal
traffic.
BY the completion on January q and
the formal opening OF the railway be-
tween Port Soudan and Berber, 327 miles
of line were laid In a direct country be-
tween the Nile and the Red Sea, in less
than sixteen months of actual construc-
ton work. The new line extends from u
point on the Nile near the mouth of the
river Atbnra. eastward to Port Sou Ian,
on the Red Sea. The cost was $4,000 0
and the project Is regarded as marking
the beginning of British development of
the Soudan. 1t brings Khartum 300 miles
nearer to the sea.
A series of experiments is under way
by the Midland Railway of England. in
the vicinity of Werby. to determine
whether wireless telegraphy can be used
in connection with their fast-train services
between London and the north. Tha
system adopted was conceived by Sir
Oliver Lodge and DR.. Alexander Muir
head, who are assisting the electrical
engineer OF the railway