The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-07
Docs Not Stimulate Local Travel
10 Increased Earning-Point
OH r., i. & 7.
TRAFFIC. MANAGER TALKS
Extension OF Lower Tariff to
Washington Would Have,
! Caused Greater Loss.


r. r. Wilson. clerk Of the State Cor
poration Commission, In connection
with previously published reports,
which claimed to show the effect of
the 2-cent rate (Which was put in ef-
feet October 1. 1900 upon the revenues
OF the various lines OF railway oper-
ating in Virginia, W. r. Taylor, traffic
burg and Potomac and Washington
Southern Railroad, gave out this state
ulent yesterday:
IAN analysis OF the passenger reve-
nue. OF the Richmond, fredericksburg
and Potomac Railroad Company reveals
the following:
Gross carningy from October /. 1907,
to March 81, 1908. s313.660.92: gross
earnings from October 1, 1905 to March
u. 1907. $363.3iG.03; increase, 310.313.9o,
Or 2.84 per cent
THE mileage Travelled by passengers
during tho same period increased 1876
per cent.
Revenue from passengers travelling
between local stations:
October 4. 1907. to March 81, 1903,
$41, 470.G0; October /. 1905 to. March
81. 1907. s.s.5l7.s1; decrease. s5,o47.ol,
or 1886 per cent.
For this period the only months
which show an increase in passenger
revenue compared with the preceding
year. are October 12,72s12; November.
s5,517.s3; February, ;t65317 During
October and November the Jamestown
Exposition, which stimulated passen-
ger travel, was In progress. and In
October tho great trienuial General
Convention OF the Protestant Episcopal
Church was held In Richmond. and the
larger number OF delegates and vlsi-
tors Travelled over the line of the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad.
One Day Made Difference.
"The increaseein passenger revenue
for February Is more than accounted
for by the earnings OF the additional
day in February this year. that month
last year having only twenty-eisht
days. The loss in passenger revenue
greater than shown above IL the 2-ccnt
rate had been extended to cover the
whole, line to Washington, notwith-
standing that there was large In
crease in Southern tourist travel over
our line for the season from Novem-
Der to April, due to superior facilities
and attractions of the routes via Rich
mond.
las to tho Washington Southern
Hallway Company's earnings:
.Gross earnings from Octo-
ber5 4, Ispt, 10 MdItil
1908 ....... ............ s167.5so IS
"Gross earnings from Octo-
Der 1, 1905. to March 81,
1907 ........ .....!...... 157.as1 90
.Icrease (s.ls p. c.o..s 1855 1s
1.-THE mileage Travelled by passengers
during the same period Increased 1876
per cent.
Gross earnings from pas
sengers travelling be-
tween local stations
October /. 1901 to March 81.
1908 Slo,ftp 81
October /. 1905. to March 81.
1907 ........ ............. 12.l24 IA
Increase C. per cent?. STAG 10
"The extra day In February and the
fact that a considerable portion of the
revenue this year appears as local
which was reported as through revenue
last year, due to abnormal conditions
brought about by the 2-cent rate In
Virginia. more than account for the
difference.
"In other words the revenue from
crn Railway actually decreased about
$1,000. or Is per cent.
Two-Ccnt Rate Cuts EARNINGS.
at will thus be seen that, instead OF
stimulating local travel in the state of
Virginia at an extent which would pro-
duce increased revenue, the application
Of the flat 2-cent rate really produces
a dimipution in earnings from that
source.
1.-THE figures that are given above do
not correspond with those shown In
the monthly reports of these two COM
panies to the State Corporation Com
mission. The latter are made up In
accordance with the revised requtre-
ments Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, which took effect on July /,
1907. Prior TO that date the passen-
ger terminal expenses OF the Washing
0on-Southern Railway Company at
Washington and those of the Richmond,
fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
Company at Richmond We're deducted
from tile passenger revenue, whereas
subsequent to that date they are not
deducted from passeng ger revenue, but
disposed Of partly by additions to
operating Expenses and partly by de-
auctions from income to In made at
+. the end of the fiscal year under the
head of rents.
1T was therefore necessary to take
these differences In tho methods OF
bookkeeping into account in giving
the above figures to reach the true
results In making q comparison of the
business this year with that OF the
year preceding.
THE figures published refer only
to gross passenger revenue 1T is
proper TO say. with respect to tho
Washington- Southern Railway that
Y although 'the figures show Increase
In gross passenger revenue from Oc-
tober i, 1907, to March 81, 1908, OF
$9,65S.15 the expenses during that
period, due to the opening of tho new
Washington passenger station last Mo-
vember, representing an outlay OF $2b.-
100000, increased about $4,000, or al
tho ratio OF nearly $l50,000Gper annum
This one tom of expense alonp is near
" asmuch as the entire passenger
q revenue Of the Washlngton-soutle
Railway
Effect on Intcrxtntc Rates.
"A word concerning: our Interstate