Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-09-25
VASTNESs OF THE
RAILROAD VIEW
FACTS AND FIGURES RELATING
TO OPERATION, ETC.
A WONDERFUL EQUIPMENT
one-Fittieth of Population Employed
in the service-Properties Are Cap
itaIized at More Than Fourteen
Billion DoIlars-Earnings in 1906
Were $2,325, 767,1

! Advance figures from the report of
the interstate commerce commission
relating to various phases Of the rail
road business in their relation to the
public are OF interest
/ On June 80, 1906, the report shows
that the total single-track railway
mileage in the United States was 224,-
S6S.17 miles, or 6.2621S miles more
than at the end of the previous year.
An increase In mileage exceeding 100
| miles appears for Alabama, Arkansas,
California, Florida Georgia, Idaho,
Illinois, indiana. Louisiana, Michigan,
Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, North
Carolina, North Dakota, PennsyIva-
mia South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas,
1 Virginia, washington, West Virginia,
Wisconsin, Wyoming. New Mexico,
and Oklahoma.
! The operated mileage for which
substantially complete returns were
rendered TO the commission was 222,-
$4,000 miles, including 7,S65.97 miles
I of line used under trackage rights.
The aggregate length of railway mile.
age, including tracks of all kinds. was
3170S3.19 miles. This mileage was
thus classified: Single track, 222,340-
80 miles, as just mentioned; second
track, 17,936.25 miles; third track,
1,766,07 miles; fourth track, 1878. So
miles and yard track and sidings, 49,
760.91 miles. These figures indicate
that there was an increase of 10,2S6.45
miles in the aggregate length of ali
tracks, of which 3,SI9.24 miles, or 81
- per cent, represented the extension
of yard track and sidings.
A Vast Equipment.
On June 30 1906, there were in the
service of the carriers 1879 locomo-
tiyes, the increase being 1915. These
locomotives, excepting 1000, were
classified as: Passenger, 12,249;
freight, 20 S4S, and switching, SASS
The total number of cars of all
classes was 1.95S,912, or 1904 more
than for the year 1905. This rolling
stock was thus assigned: Passenger
service, 1922 cars; freight service,
1887 GA cars. and company's service,
1916 cars These figures do not in
elude cars owned by private CONNER
cial firms or corporations.
/ Army of Employees.
| The reported number of persons on
the pay rolls of the railways in the
United States on June 80, 1906, was
t1.521 ,355 which is equivalel1 to "a
average of 6S4 employees per 100 n .es
OF line These figures show e. in
crease in the number of employees as
compared with the year 1905, of 1884,
I159 or A pc; 100 miles of line. Of
the employees J9.S55 were enginemen,
6267S firemen. 1896 conductors, and
E119,0S7 were other trainmen. There
were 1859 switch tenders, crossing
tenders and watchmen. The total
number OF railway employees disregard
ing small Number not assigned,
We're apportioned among the four gen
;eral divisions nf railway employment
as follows: For general administra-
ton, 81 ,05t; for maintenance of way
and structures. 495,S79; for mainte-
nance of equipment, 315,952, and for
conducting transportation. 649,S20.
Capitalization of Properties.
I On June 30, 1906, the par value of
the amount of railway capital out
standing was $14.570, 421 AIS, which is
equivalent to capitalization of $67,-
$50 per mile for the railways in the
United tSates OF this capital there
existed as stock S6.s03. 100 093, of
which $5403 .001 1852 was common and
$1,400.75S,131 preferred; the remain
ing part, 81 Z66, 661 1856, represented
funded debt, consisting of mortgage
bonds, 1926, 770962; miscellaneous
obligations, 1919 647,9 24; income
bonds $3O1.523. 400; and equipment
r trust obligations, s224,719,O99
The Public Service.
? The report indicates that the mum
I Der of passengers carried by the rail
ways in the year ending June 80
1906, was T99507,S3S this item being
4 e0.679171 more than for the al
: ending June 30. 1905. The passe:.. ger
, mileage. or the number of passengers
!. carried ] mile was 25.i75, 4S0,$S9 the
} increase being 1875 330,947 pass n
miles
The number of tons OF freight
shown as carried (including freight
\ received from connections) was 1881
! 574.2la which exceeds the tonnage of
The year 1905 by 2OS,642,S14 tons The
ton-miIeage. or the number of tons
carried / mile. was 215 S77. SOL, 241,
the increase being 29,414,441.731 ton
miles The number of tons carried 1
mile per mile Of line was 1872 4O1, indi-
eating an increase in the density OF
freight traffic OF l21,0o5 ton-miles per
mile OF line
4 Earnings ana Expenses.
? The gross earnings Of the railways
. in the United States from the opera
ton of 222.S4O.S0 miles Of line were.