Evening journal., 1907-04-08
IMPROVEMENTS
OF THE PENNSY
Figures Showing the Progress
Of the Big Railroad
System
HOW BUSINESS INCREASED

PHILADELPHIA. Pa, April S.
Sumo idea OF what has been gained
from the Pennsylvania Railroads re-
cent improvements may be gathered
from figures which the company has
compiled, showing that during the
years 1899 to 1906 the various companies
in the Pennsylvania System increased
their tons of freight moved one mile
from 1s.s4S947,142 TO Se,ciO 1727OS. or
71.Oi per cent.
Figures just reported indicate that
In spite of The fact that during the
month Of March, heavy SHOWS and the
flood at Pittsburg rendered railroading
exceptionally difficult. the freight car
movement IN the month was the larg-
est IN the company's history, and prob-
ably constitutes the largest number Of
freight cars passing a given point dur
ing a similar period IN the history OF
this country.
During March 11S.i94 loaded and
So $40 empty cars--a total OF 20O9S3-
passed Mihiin. whereas during March a
year ago. an open month. the total was
194.376. The total movement through
Altoona for last month was 1S5.749.
against 177.2s1 cars for the same period
OF 1906. Passing Columbia the number
was 1s9.4 .42l, against 1Si905 in March OF
last year
In spite Of this extraordinary move
ment there has been no congestion OF
cars at any point, this being largely due
to the relief lines, yards and other inn
! prOvements which the company has
been completing.
In its effort to arrange In advance to
handle this rapidly Increasing traffic
the company has during the past seven
years. expended Sl95, S0S.546 for new
equipment. The number OF engines OF
all classes has been increased from
4Si3 to 6O29 with an increase In trac-
tive power from 73.19993s to 166,OS2. al
pounds. 2.553 engines In all having been
built or rebuilt. at a cost Of S6O55l,4 4Sl.49;
122. us freight cars have been built. or
rebuilt. at a cost Of S12iSi1. 1854. and
with an increase II capacity of 4,927il22
tons; 1.741 passenger cars have been
built. OF rebuilt, at a cost Of Sl04l3,-
74e4O.
The increased volume Of business
has made necessary an increase In the
number OF officers and employees from
l15725 to 19S.930 Since 1900 two ad-
vances Of 10 per cent. each have been
made ia the pay Of all employees whose
monthly wages are less than 5000. Tho
payroll of the system viii be s12000,000
greater in 1907 than 1t was IN 1906.
During this same period renewals OF
permanent way, yards terminals and
buildings have been made on a greater
scale and in a more substantial manner
than ever before. and az a cost of $780,
720. .2S9.63, all of which has been charg-
ed to operating expenses New con-
struction has been made at a cost OF
S26S. .77S. 1880. The sum Of s62,7OS,S67
has been spent in the purchase of real
estate for right Of way for additional
lines and extensions and for yards
4 terminals and stations
The aggregate cost for the six and 8
half years ended June 30. 1906. OF al
4 material and supplies. which have beer
i bought by Purchasing Departments foi
4 the use OF the several companies wal
4 s4l2, ,499, ,69S62. The Purchasing Depart.
ment Of the Pennsylvania Railroa'
Company proper spent S69,5SS,66S Fl
1906.
These unexampied expenditures have
added very largely TO the company
earning power as well as TO its abilib
to properly serve the public. The none.
has been spent literally in each one o
the fourteen States through which
Pennsylvania lines run.
The PENNSYLVANIA Railroad stin has
extensive work under way, especially
the New York terminal. The Boand OF
Directors however, has announces tao