Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-21
RAILROAD EARNINGS AND ASSER-
TONS.

Railroad managers who are endeav-
oring to make the lawmakers and the
public believe that the transportation
interests of the nation are threatened
with confscation by the 2-cent passen-
ger fare laws and other legislation
looking to the regulation and control
of railway rates, must regret that the
matter of collecting and publishing
statistics of railway operation in the
United States has been reduced almost
to an exact science. Each time
claim calculated to scare the country
is put forth, it is almost invariably
met and completely refuted by the APP
pearance of carefully compiled stats
tics showing that the railroads, de-
spite pleas of poverty and appeals for
protection from adverse legislation,
are prospecting to a remarkable de-
gree. Mr.. Harriman's recent asser-
ton that If he had secured control In
1901 of the Northern Pacific that road
and the country it serves would be ten
years ahead of what they are, has
called out some very interesting statis-
tics showing the growth of Union Pa
ciffc and Northern Pacific business In
the last FIVE years.
The figures show that the Union
Pacific's record since 1901 has been
brilliant one in the way of increasing
earnings in every way and making
tremendously for operating economy.
The passenger earnings Of the Union
Pacific. in 1906 were 13,236,054, an
increase of 81 per cent over 1901,
while the freight earnings were $4S,-
| 992,O14, an increase of SO per cent
over the 1901 record. Operating ex-
penses were increased by "a per cent
in the five-year period, but the total
net earnings in 1906 were $S2,O55,-
O66, an increase of So per cent, while
the net earnings per mile were $5,9S2,
an increase of 81 per cent over 1901.
There was an increase of 81 per cent
In the tons hauled in 1905 over 1901,
and of 54 per cent In the number of
passengers carried. The Union Pacific
has increased It's train load faster than
any railroad In the country and prob
ably averages the largest haul of any
railroad in the United States.
Conditions on the Union Pacific are
not exceptional, hut apply to nearly
every railroad in the country. As
Mr.. Leslie NJ. Shaw declared in a pub
lie address the other night, the great
est need in transportation matters to-
day is for double-tracking and the in
crease Of facilities for taking care OF
the growing business of the nation
The statistics of net earnings of the
railroads Justify the demands of pa
irons for increased facilities and re
duced rates The preliminary reports
of the gross earnings of railways fol
February, 1907, indicate an increase Of
2.O7 per cent over February of las
year. While this is seemingly small
It must be remembered that the earn
ings for February last year were p
per cent over those OF the same nohll
in 1905, and that conditions in thu
blockaded districts of the northwes
this February were responsible for
loss which will be RAPIDLY regained
J The total net earnings Of the railroad
in 1906 were $424,OO0,OOO more thar
} in 1896, and the. increase in net earn
} ings in 1906 over 1905 was $4,000,
600, although wages and prices ha'
increased greatly and added to tn,
gross Of operating expenses. There 1
no water In these transportation sta
tistics, which furnish a striking view
! of the growth OF the internal com
merce of the country Against then
the pessimistic arguments of railwa,