The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-03-30
RAILROAD NEWS.
Tw0-Cent Fares Have Paid Well
i'm Illinois.
Nineteen Million More Passen-
gers Were Carried.
SOME ABNORMAL GAINS
Passenger Revenue Of State In
creased One Million.
Other Items OF Interest in
Railway Circles.
SOME ABNORMAL GAINS

Springfield, ILL.,, March 30.-Under
the operation of the 2-cent a mile law
the railroads in Illinois increased their
revenue from passengers service by 3d.
079,232 in the year 1908, according
to figures in the annual report of the
railroad and warehouse commission, a
digest of which has just been placed
in the hands of Governor Deneen.
The report is considered timely in
view of the recent decision Of the Mis-
souri, courts knocking out the 2-cent
law in that state and in view of the
conference at st. Louis a week or so
ago, at which some of the officials of
roads doing business in Illinois de-
cided that the Illinois law should be
attacked in the courts as confiscatory.
1t shows that from the actual increase
in travel and sale of tickets under the
2-cent rate the passenger revenue of
all the roads in the state was swelled
by $1,906,000 during 1908, while the
additional increase under the head
ings of mail, express and miscella-
neous items ran the aggregate raise in
passenger service earnings and reve-
nue. up past the $3,OO0,OOO mark.
1858, 900 More Carried.
The report shows that 19,623,000
more passengers were carried in Hill
nois during 1908 than in 1907. Three
of the roads, however, show an abnor-
NAL increase due to a new system of
accounting, but deducting the three
IOdQS"LAC LILO SulCdSO,
Milwaukee and ST. Paul and the Chi
cago and Northwestern-the other
roads in the state carried S64,377
more passengers in 1908 than they did
the year before.
The report further shows that the
freight hauled during 1908 was s.
63S,647 tons more than in 1907. The
total revenue from freight service for
the year 1908, however, fell off ST.
83S.00o
The earnings and income from all
sources for 1908 show a decrease of
1898. 1000. but Notwithstanding this
falling off, which is ascribed to the
business depression, the roads paid
their usual dividends In 1908 $94,-
S54, 900 was paid to stock and bond
holders in the shape of dividends. and
this was a decrease of only $1,695, 900
from the year before, showing
| which the commission characterizes
as remarkable considering the finan-
cial furry and business depressions Of
1908.
Gain of sass Per Mile.
The report comes from w. H. Boys,
Bernard A. Eckhart and James A.
Willoughby, members of the railroad
and warehouse conlmi ssion, and the
| statistics from which the digest placed
with Governor Depeen was drafted
were gathered by William Fitzpatrick,
secretary Of the commission. The di-
gest follows:
| "The application of the 2-cent fare
law in the state of Illinois shows that
the mum Der Of passengers carried earn
ing revenue was 75.S42,521. while I'M
der the last year of the 3-cent fare law
| G907) the railroads carried 57,21S,-
825. This shows an increase for 1908
of 19,623,696 more passengers. The
earnings from passenger service per
mile of road for 1908 was $3,754. and
for 1907 was $3,29S, an increase of
J $456 per mile.
| I'm the above showing several of
the leading trunk lines show an enor-
nous increase in the number of pas
sengers carried in 1908 over 1907.
Take for instance, the Chicago and
Northwestern railway, which in 1907
reported carrying in the state of Il
linois 2,420.207 passengers, reports
carrying 15,326,673 in 1908, an in
crease of 12,916,466 passengers.
Abnormal Gains Reported.
1.-THE Chicago, Burlington and
Quincy railway reported in 1907 car
rying 4,147,753 passengers and in 1905
reports carrying S,095,341 passengers
an increase of 3,947.4S8 passengers
and the Chicago. Milwaukee and ST
Paul railway, which furnished for 1907
no statement of the number of pas
Isengers carried in Illinois, reports fol
1905 that it carried 2,017,161 passen.