New-York tribune., 1908-02-26
LACKAWANNA'S RECORD
BEST YEAR 1T EYER HAD.
Earned 9S.4 Per Cent on Its Capital
-TrUfsdaIc Pcssimistic.

,-,.-l,a, ,,,a shaving is made by the annual re-
port Of the Delaware Lackawanna d western nan
road Company. the detailed figures OF when VIII ,e
found on another page For The year ehdeu De
eenber 81 last the most prosperous in lis history
The road earned a surplus amounting 10 $lVoS''o-',
equivalent 3s4 per cent on the S-o.2".eV C"l">i
stock Deducting the % per cent diVloehos % pa
during year. the final surplus remains d Sfoi''
SOS which brings the aggregate proflt and JOSS SUI
plus 10 So 2l49l2. $3.e4492 more tnan lhe eHlne
outstanding capital stock-the amount OF "ii0''
however. has not been increased IN many years
his annual report 10 the stockholders, pIeSeiil
eS AZ their annual meeting yesterday. President
T1uesdale gives a gratifying account OF me pros
serity Of the company. but expresses The opinion
prospects for the railroads OF the country
s. the current year, respects earnings gross OF
net. are anything hut encouraging, and III eiab
xra1iny that opinion takes occasion 10 give win
Freat frankness his views 10 the part played by
solitics in the situation. lie says. IL part;
Tie TWO great political parties Of the country IN
planning their forthcoming Presidential campaigns
make the sins OF the railroads and their IHaIlaEe-
,nent and drastic correction Of same their Leading
cause Of all the general indisCriminate abuse or
Tho railways and their management and OF the
80, eS ,,r,oe ~ tba ToItcians of the country
make the great railway interests and the large
snyestments in them the paWns IN thelr game u
Win great foresight and shrewdness. those who
haEe planned and are Responsible for TINS Iolltl-
The chief political influence that they might and
should have 10 expect would protect
them against campaign Of ihls KIND tneir own
employees. This has been accomplished bN the
60 rags @ondi"ns OF emIi6y1nent general
Il and others more far-reaching have been prom
isod and are now pending
The general and sweeping denunCiation Of man
aging authorities "f all railways whether 50 IN
authority over their employees and created spirit
oT disanecJion and dsioyalty TO the companies
they serve. and has lowered the general tone and
character of railway service to an extent that is
rsnons6,S for for the a, safe oonduc 5 Of the trans
he reasonably expected 10 result for instance win
she rank and file Of the army and navy Of the
= lose nnoef winch lhe railways nave becn oI!-
efaln- during The recent period Of abnormal traf-
an employees OF The United States is closely anal
oeons I'm every particular. excepting In the matter
Of "1nperSa ton 10 that Of the country army and
natA- They must respond 10 the maximum re
ration service as willingly ana quickly as The sol
dor sailor in the time of In doing this they
must. II necessary. work days, nights, Sundays
and holidays to the extent Of their strength and
ABILITY ABILITY Their duties are of a character and ur-
&encY ihat many times ana Tor considerable peri
ods cannot IN the very nature Of things be gov
t!lllaI coluiIoiS tiat nlaN very Wen ana Wlhout
detriment 10 public requirements apply respects
No greateT blow has been dealt the railway in
terests Of the country. none that VIII react more
quickly with greater permaneucy on the pl bic
large than the legislation has been enacted
and other that is proposed and pending. the effect
of which is take from those in charge Of the
TlansgeT2ent Of railways the reasonable and prop
The army OF employees engaged in their service in
The management oe this company is pleased 70
state that only to comparatively limited extent
has any class Of its employees apparently been AZ
1eoted ny The conditions and tendencies described
above Il has noted indications these influences
having had their effect in degree with certain
of its employees. and II cannot deurecate and de
r}ore them too greatly.
The tendency. furthermore. 10 place the control
O. ne TaliWaHS ard their operations. down to the
glliluieSf details in the hands public officers
noras or commissions. all Of which subject
paiitieal Influences 70 greater or less degree is
~ no means hopeful or reasSuring as respects the
1Gure value or efficiency Of the Transportation "a
'if'ieS OF me country The Governor a r1rorni
1lent state has in recent months on several occa-
sous eaiied attention 70 the great urgent need
IN 1tlS country o. having higher ability and
'n'eRrliY IN all public Offices. He is 1ndohtasJIz
sound IN his views this matter and lnti VIZ
he urges can be accomplished the reoDe win Iooy
n vain for any better results thar fhev rra,- ro
promised from putting the railways or Other largo
corporate and business interests OF the country
NOE IuIg unoer the control Of public oficias Tho
,lanue oI once does not necessarily confer on sc
%earer either ability or inTallibility ' 80