The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-14
SOME RAILROAD REPORTS.

The showing made by the annual re-
! port of the Rock Island, which has just
been made public, must be extremely
| gratifying to those iIA charge of that
| road. In every department of earnings
and income there has been a consider
| able increase over last year, amounting
to nine million dollars gross, or nearly
Is per cent.
The Union Pacific made even more,
but that was expected, as the Union
Pacific has been paying big dividends
heretofore. Its net receipts from oper-
alton were three million dollars greater
than a year ago.
The Rock Island net earnings were
over 10 million dollars, an increase of
three millions over last year, or nearly
10 per cent increase. This was enough
to pay dividend of 51k per cent, with
a surplus of $4,000, 0e0 besides, compared
with $2,100 900 last year. In other words,
the Rock Island earned nearly IL per
cent net during the past year.
These figures do not indicate that the
railroads are liable to go into bank
ruptcy very soon under good manage
ment, even if the people do have a two
cent fare and slightly lower freight
rates. In speaking of the railroad Leg
islation in some of the states touched
by the Rock Island, President winchell
says:
Doubtless a large part of this legis-
lation has been due TO misconception
of the actual conditions. At every op-
portunity it is the policy-of the off
GERS of your company to endeavor to
establish better relations with the peo-
pie of the various states, and to i'm
wv 60
gress of the section of the country
traversed by your road, and the con-
tinued prosperity thereof, requires can
did cooperation between the railroads
and the other business interests. The
aim of all must be to promote the well
fare of the country, and it is to be
hoped that when the situation is thor
oughly understood a spirit of mutual
cooperation will be the result
Which latter statement is precisely
true. 1t is doubtful IL the two-cent fare
laws Will interfere in the least with the
railroad earnings. for the people Will
travel more at the lower rate Cutting
the freight rate will, OF course, de-
crease the earnings from what they
would be without the cut, but if the |
present increase in business keeps up
and there are no signs of abatement out |
In this country, the increase in traffic |
will more than make up the decrease |
caused by lowering any freight rates |
The Rock Islands increase this last 1
year was over two and a half million |
dollars. and that will cover a large |
amount of freight reductions
The Union Pacific report shows net |
of nearly rs million dollars |
from operation alone, after all operat-
ng expenses and fixed charges are paid |
Besides that it received over IL million |
dollars from dividends on stocks it owns
IN other roads,
1t is asserted that Union Pacific act
tally made 21A per cent on it's 1872 mil
ion dollars of common stock.
AS President Winchell says. there
must be spirit OF cooperation and
good will between the railroads and the
people. If time proves that any laws
hat have been passed are oppressive
% the railroads they will have to be
'epealed, but they should first have a
air trial.