The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-16
IN TEXAS AND IN ILLINOIS.
The Railroad situation of Two State
 Coufranted By Ex-Governor Savers.

The RafIrOad situation of Two States
 COntrasted By Ex-GOvernOr sayers'
 % Austin, Texas, March [. 19Oe.- Texas and Illinois being the States that lead in railroad mileage, 1t Is proposed in this communication to contrast ths year ending June 30, 1905, as shown py the annual reports of their respective commissions. - miles, had a railroad mileage on the date mentioned of 11,744 miles. or one miles of railway to every 22.6 square miles; Illinois with an area of 56,6bO square miles. had mileage of l1'6SS miles, or one mile of railroad to eV- erv 49 square niles.
 The capitalization, including. stock amou6fed anS 649dT to St ts e sss4ls per mile; that of the Illinois to S7Ol.3l3,356, or $6O,271 per mile. -,...
 The income of the railways In Texas from operation was 15,733,3S4 or S.,- 339 per mile, out of which were to be paid interest on bonds, taxes and ex- penditqres for hetterments as d ana ,dr rents 3Ss year of $1,615,771; on the other hand. the income of the railways in illinois from operation-after deducting operat- ing expenses. salaries and maintenance of organization. interest on funded debt, Interest on interest bearing cur rent liabilities. rents Tor lease or roads taxes and pesmaasHfeantt sfat7s pr siSf5 Der -n mile. to be applied to the payment or the dividends on stock.
 The number of paying passengers carried during the year on the Texas roads aggregated 12,276,4S4: on the Ill nois roads 53,547,29O.
 The freight transported on the Texas roads amounted to So;S5S;019 tons; 1n increase in tonnage during the year on the Texas roads being l6O,l26 tons, and on the Illinois roads. 6,S32 2SS tons.
 rfzt-- r,,.f- tAxr Hrax Illustrates the disadvantage under which the Texas roads labor as compared with conditions affecting railway oper- ations in the more densely populated
 Nor should 1t be overlooked that the capitalization of the Texas roads iS much less than the average capitaliza- ton per mile of the roads in the states in any group, as shown in the report of the Interstate Commerce Commits sion for 1904. It should also be borne only seven of the Texas roads. aggrs- gating 446 miles In length, that divt- dends, amountinR to $3Sl ,927, were paid during the last year; and that the cur rent revenues of the roads were not sufficient by $1,615,771 to pay expen- ditures NfoP current operation, interest, taxes, betterments and rents.
 Much has been said about the bonded indebtedness of the Texas roads, which is S32,433 per mile. An examination or the Interstate Commerce Commission report Tor l9O4, however, Will SHo" that the average bonded indebtedness per mile of the roads in Texas IS much less than the average bonded indebted- ness per mile of the roads embraced m any other of the groups as defined by inc Interstate Commerce Commission The question Is pertinent. Can a good and sufficient reason be given why the Texas roads should not be allowed to earn revenue sufficient to enable them to pay current operating eXpen- ses. taxes. rents and interest ana ana also aS9 tbat is coming up from all parts of the State for better roads better and fagt aI5 tInent the to ask~Is 1t to the interest of the people of Texas to so reduce their revenues that they can not Improve inch roads and render better service to the people7" These are practical ouestions and should receive the con- sideration their importance demands No other question more directly affects the material welfare and prosperity of
 Joseph D. Savers.