The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-11
NOT A BAD YEAR.
Report of the Interstate Com
.merce Commission
Shows Railroads Suffered Only
by Comparison With 1907.
BUSINESS is BETTER
Than That of 1905 or 1906 in
Most Ways.
Net Operating Income of So, $3.50
Per Mile of Road.

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE interstate
commerce commission today transmit
ted to the congress its report for the
year 1908.
The report states that the temporary
financial depression from which the
country is now emerging resulted in
the dininution 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 circulated reports that the loss
inflicted upon the railroads was so Sc
we're as to warrant universal advances
in rates or reduction in wages, or both,
it is interesting to note that the gross
earnings of all railroads for 1908, al
though 1854, 464,941 less than the gross
earnings for 1907, were $9S,S75,470 in ex-
cess of the gross earnings for 1906 and
$342, 15S, 231 in excess of those for 1905,
and that the net earnings for 1908. al
though Sill, 051, 006 less than for 1907
and s59,349, 1873 less than for 1906, were
So, 65S,504 in excess of those for 1905.
These figures indicate that whatever
may have been the fact in individual
cases, the railroads of the country, as
a whole, did not suffer so severely in
comparison with years of normal traffic
generally been supposed. The recent
change in accounting methods may at
feet to some extent the accuracy OF
these comparisons, but it is believed
did not materially alter the general re-
suit. 1t is pointed out that a con-
tinuing business depression could not
be held to justify the maintenance of
particular rates which are unreason-
able in themselves or unduly discrim1-
natory, since the right to equal treat
ment at reasonable rates does not de-
pend upon the financial condition of the
carrier.
Railway Accidents.
In the year ending June 80, 1908,
there was a. remarkable falling off in
the number of casualties to both pas
sengers and employees, due to some ex-
tent to diminished traffic on railroads
generally. AS appears from a sum-
mary published in the report, the
number of passengers killed in train
accidents was 165 in 1908, as COM
pared with, 410 in the previous year.
There is also "a gratifying decrease in
the number of employees killed and
injured. The number of employees
killed in coupling accidents shows a
reduction of 20 per cent from the
previous yearly record
Attention is called to the necessity
vestigation. under direction of the
commission. of train accidents, for
the purpose of obtaining light on the
question of preventive measures for
the future.
By the terms of an act approved
May 80, 1908, it is made unlawful
for any common carrier engaged in
interstate or foreign commerce by
railroad to use any locomotive in
moving interstate or foreign traffic
Ss,v
which can be dumped or emptied and
cleaned without the necessity of any
employee going under such locomotive,
on and after the 1st day of January,
1910, and the commission is charged
with the duty of enforcing the pro-
visions of this act. Numerous plans
of inventions calculated to solve the
difficulty involved in obtaining an
efficient device applicable to all types
of locomotives have been presented to
the commission and have been re-
ferred to it's block signal and train
control board for examination and
report. 1t has been the view of the
commission that devices of this
character come within the terms of
the sundry civil act of the last session
of the present congress. being advised
to promote the safety of railroad
operation.
Statistics.
The report has in past years included
L statement of the operating revenues
and operating expenses of railways for
The fiscal year ending June 80, immedi-
ately preceding it's date of issue, such /
statement having been compiled from !
he annual reports of the carriers in |
advance Of their final compilation. The |
bureau of statistics and accounts has |
his year substituted for such a pre- |
urinary report a compilation based |
1pon monthly reports of revenues and |
expenses received for the IL months !
ending June 80, 1908. This report shows !
hat on a basis of average mileage OPP
.rated during the year of 226, 121 miles, I
he freight revenue was 81, 665, lis, 842, |
passenger revenue $3.50, sos, 109, all other
.evenue from transportation $167, S73, 795,
-evenue from operations other than
transportation $24, 6S7, 1872, making total
operating revenues 81 424. $40, 6s7, or s10,-
% per mile of line. The total operat-
ng expenses were 81, 695, 101, S79. or 81, 4S6
Der mile of line, leaving the net operat-
rg revenue $729, 538,75S, or 1926 pr mile
,f line. Deducting from the net operat-
ng revenue taxes in the sum of $685.
6O, SIG, the net operating income for the
year ended June 80. 1908, was $645,678, ZAP
or the entire mileage, or $3.50 per mile
If line The ratio of operating expen
les to earnings as shown by this report
vas 69e per cent.
TO REPEAL TWO-CENT RATE.