The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-10
GOVERNMENT OwNERsHIP.
It seems to Work All Right With
Panama Railroad

Washington, Jan. 10.-The annual
report Of the Panama railroad com
pany for the ten months ended Oc-
tober 81 last. and which has been
submitted to congress, shows that
after payment of all fixed charges
and cost of operation for the period
there remains $354,248, or somewhat
in excess of 5 per cent. on the capital
stock. The total earnings of the road
for the transportation of all kinds of
traffic show an increase of S302,204,
or 1917 per cent. over the correspond
ing ten months of the previous year.
Passenger earnings Increased S43. 691,
and mail earnings decreased S2,324.
The total revenue from the freight
traffic for the period of the report, in
Guiding both merchandise and coal.
was sos, $40 tons, an increase of 1918
per cent, and yielded revenue of ST.
306.145, an increase of 1893 per cent
The total earnings of the steamship
line Of the company for the ten
months were $1,165,05S, an increase
of 25.17 per cent. over the CORE
spending period of the previous year.
Freight traffic increased 1929 per
cent, the earnings therefrOm increas-
ing 1928 per cent The increase in
total earnings for the railroad and
the steamship line was $536,512.
The report states that only by the
most strenuous efforts was the move
ment of cargo restored to normal. It
son of heavy movement of coffee.
which promises to exceed that of any
previous year, there may be some de-
lays until new equipment is received
as the business of the road is so far in
advance of its facilities as to be be-
to handle it with any regard to
economy.
The larger tonnage carried by our
steamship line out of New York, -
says the report, ''is attributed to a
gradual development in commercial
traffic by our line and to an important
growth in the bulk and quantity of
material transported Tor the isthmian
canal commission, for which latter
an adjustment of rates on a more re-
munerative basis is under cOnsidera-
ton. The advisa bility OF chartering
one or two large cargo boats to carry
heavy, bulky construction material
and equipment to the isthmus for the
commission and the railroad company
is under consideration. The quantity
of cargo originating at European ports
and brought to the terminals of the
company by foreign ships has pro-
gressively increased, and it is stated
that there are strong indications that
the Gillian and Peruvian governments
intend to establish or suDsIdize addi-
tiOnal lines between their principal
ports and Panama, so that, by CO.
operation with the Panama railroad
company. more rapid and convenient
communications may be maintained
with the United States"
The report says the companys dock
at New York has become entirely in
adequate to the business of it's steam
ship line and that the addition of two
large steamships to the line and the
possibility that one or two large cargo
boats may be added calls attention
sharply to the need for an enlarged
terminal at that end, which change
viii necessarily involve a large in
crease in expense because of the
scarcity of suitable docks on the North
or East rivers. The company's re-
lations with the republic Of Panama
through its executive and administra-
tive officials, it is stated, are most
friendly in character.