Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-01-22

Washington. Jan. 13.-The Interstate
commerce commission today transmit
ted to the Its report for the
year 1908.
The report states that the temporary
financial depression from which the
country is now emerging resulted in
the diminution OF railway revenues
considerably below the high point
reached In 1907, the banner year in
American railroad history in respect OF
gross and net earnings, as well as vol,
ume OF traffic, and that In several in
stances the necessity for placing rail-
road properties in the hands OF receiv-
ers was wholly or partially due to the
serious and unexpected decrease in
earnings.
In view, however, OF the widely cir
culated reports that the loss inflicted
upon the railroads was so severe as to
warrant universal advances In rates or
reduction In wages or both, II is inter-
esting to note that the gross earnings
of all railroads for 1908, although 1884,
464, 941 less than the gross earnings for
1907, were S9S,S75,470 in excess Of the
gross earnings for 1906 and $342.158,-
PSI In excess OF those for 1905, and that
the net earnings for 1908, although
Sill, 061 ,006 less than for 1907 and $59.-
349, 1873 less han for 1905, were $37. $685.
" III GAtCSS VI tiOSG " lJuO. 1llCSG
figures indicate hat whatever may
have been the fact In individual cases,
the railroads of the country, as a
whole, did not suffer so Heverly in
comparison with years OF normal traf-
fc n business conditions as may
have generally been supposed. The
recent change in accounting methods
may affect to some extent h accuracy
of these comparisons, but 1t Is believed
that the variations due to that cause
did not materially alter the general re-
suit. 1t Is pointed out that a continu-
ing business depression could not be
held to justify the maintenance OF par
ticular rates which are unreasonable
in themselves or unduly discriminatory,
since the right to equal treatment at
reasonable rates does not depend upon
the financial condition of the carrier. !
Safety Appliances.
With the possible exception OF power
brakes the condition of safety appli-
ances is steadily improving. 1t Is not
clearly understood why the main
tenance of the brakes does not keep
pace with progress of Improvement OF
other details OF equipment, but. IL Is
probably attributable to the following
situation: The sole requirement OF the
present law in regard to power brakes
is that no train subject to the present
act shall contain less than 70 per cent
of cars equipped with power brakes in
operative condition. Cars not exceed
ing rs per cent of the total In the train
may have their brake equipment "cut
out" Of the connection, n no liability
ensues to the carrier IL the remaining
brakes are sufficient to control tho
speed OF the train.
The report O In past years includ-
ed q statement OF the operating rev.
enues and operating expenses of rail-
ways for the fiscal year ending June 80
Immediately preceding it's date of issue,
such statement having been compiled
from the annual reports of the carriers
In advance Of their Ina compilation.
The bureau Of statistics and accounts
has this year substituted for such a
preliminary report q compilation based
upon monthly reports of and
expenses received for the IL months
ending June 80, 1908. This report shows
that on a basis of average mileage OPP
Grated during the year of 226,121 miles,
the freight revenue was 81, 665, 119 ,842,
passenger revenue $500, sos. 100, all other
revenue from transportation 1857, S73, 795,
revenue from operations other than
transportation $24, 687, 1892, making total
operating revenues s2,424, $40, 637, or
$10,7 22 per mile OF line. The total OPP
Grating expenses were 81, 695, 101, 879, or
81, 1876 per mile of line, leaving the net
operating revenue $729,538 ,758, or 1925
per mile OF lnie. Dcducting from the
net operating revenue taxes I'm the sum
of $50, $50, SIG, the net operating In
come for the year ended June 30, 1908,
was S645, 673, 242 for the entire mileage,
or 50, 855 per mile OF line. The ratio of
operating expenses to earnings as
shown nv this report was go 81 per cent.