Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-19
STATISTICS OF RAILWAYS.

accordingly.
STATISTICS OF RAILWAYS.
For years the commission has pub
lished a brief advance report present.
ing condensed income account state
ment for the operating railway cont
panies In the United States. This
preliminary report for the year ending
June 30, 1906, includes certain returns
for s52 railway companies. representing
an operated mileage OF 22o02s.s4 miles
or approximately 90 pc recent of the
mileage that will be covered by the
complete statistical report for the year.
The report shows that the gross
earnings OF the roads described were
So, 319, $50 $50 consisting OF passenger
earnings, Se1s, $50, 93i freight earnings.
sl,6409f2.S62. and miscellaneous, earn
ings, s0O,26l,234. The gross earnings
averaged t10,543 per mile. This aver
age Is much higher than the Ike aver
age for any previous year for which the
commission has published a statistical
report. The gross earnings OF the rail-
ways as shown in the final report for
the year ending June go 1905. were ST.
0S24S2 i06. or an average Of s9,59s on
2l69T3.6l miles of line. The operating
expenses were 81 532, 16s, 1853, or 5000 per
to earnings, as shown by the prelimin-
airy report. was 66.05 per cent. The
same average In the final report for the
year 1905 was 65.1S per cent This ad-
vance report shows that the net earn
ings Of the same roads for the year
ending June 30. 1905. were $751;, 596 s77,
or $3.50 per mile, and for the year 1905,
$3.50. SOL, i5i.
The amount reported by the carriers
as income from sources other than
operation was sl32, 1924. 9s2. which amount
includes few Implications due to the
method of accounting followed by GER
tain of the reporting carriers. The
total income of the operating roads
covered by the report was 1920, 22f 1883.
Against this amount was charged as
interest, rents. betterments, taxes, and
miscellaneous items the sum OF $780,
3s6554, and as dividends the sum of
$229, 40659s, leaving a surplus for the
year Of 800, 42S,701. The taxes charged
to income during the year were $685.
9032sS. The final report for the year
ending June 80, 1905, showed a surplus
Of $s9,043, 400.
The amount of dividends declared In
1906 was ssi, 2is. COS more than that
shown for the dividends OF practically
the same roads In 1906 This prelimin-
airy report, as already stated relates
to operating roads only, and does not
Include the statement OF any dividends
paid by leased lines from the Income
they received as rent, The dividends
declared by the subsidiary leased lines
for the year 1905 were about 1885, 100000.
SAFETY APPLIANCES.
The condition of equipment has con-
tlnued favorable. Many old cars of
light capacity have been retired from
service and have been replaced by new
cars OF modern construction. This has
had a good effect, as the new cars are
all equipped with air brakes and have
the latest couplers, which are stronger
than those put In service few years
ago. There is also tendency TO limit
the couplers used 10 four or five OF the
best makes, and this leads to uniformi-
ty and removes the necessity OF keeping
In stock large number of repair parts.
Generally speaking. the law has been
well observed. Certain carriers have
been somewhat lax, and In these cases
It has been necessary TO prosecute. Two
hundred and twenty-five suits have
been filed for violation OF the law
since II went into effect, 100 OF which
nave DeeD Sellitu, ana pSiidillOs W tnS
amount OF s22,7O0 have been collected
and turned into the treasury. OF the
suits settled So were disposed Of by
the carriers confessing judgment a.ad
paying the penalty. Seventeen have
gone to trial, In Is OF which verdlcts
have been rendered In favor Of the
government
Under the law OF March Q, 1901. rail.
roads engaged in Interstate commerce
have made monthly reports 10 the COM
mission OF accidents to passengers and
employees for Ave years.
The tremendous Increase In the vol
ume OF freight traffic has put severe
strain upon employees, and this has Oft
en- been made the justification OF or
excuse for working men unduly long
| hours and has led to the employment
OF many young and inexperienced per-
! cons, In the matter OF long hours the
accident reports have shown Instances
| az even worse conditions than existed
| In former years.
| IN the item OF passengers killed In
collisions and deralIments the record
| for 1906 IL not so bed as that OF 1905.
This Is cause for qualifications but
the only real indication OF the figures Is
| thai tho number and severity OF great
| disasters has diminished. The cost OF
colIIsions as reported by the companies.
| excluding damages TO property and IN
IDENTITIES paid to or on account OF per-
sons killed or injured, IL sl0,65eiss.
nearly million dollars greater than In
1905