The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-01-14

washington, Jan. 1.-THE Interstate
commerce commission today transmit
ted to the congress It's report for the
year 1905.
The report states that the temporary
financial depression from which the
country is now emerging resulted I'm
the diminution OF railway revenues
considerably below the high point
reached In 1907, the banner year in
American railroad history In respect OF
gross n net earnings. as well as vol
ume OF traffic, and hat in several In
stances the necessity for placing rail-
road properties I'm 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 he railroads was so severe as to
warrant universal advances, In rates or
reduction In wages. or both, 1t Is inter-
esting to note that the gross earnings
OF all railroads for 1908, although 1884,
464,94i less han the gross earnings for
1907, were $98,876,470 in excess of the
gross earnings for 1906 and $342,15S,-
231 in excess OF those for 1906, and that
the net earnings for 1908, although
$111,051, 006 less than for 1907 and $59,-
349, 1873 less than for 1905, were $3T,658,-
504 in excess of those for 1906. These
figures indicate that whatever may
have been h fact in individual cases,
the railroads of the country. as a
whole, did not suffer so severity in
/ comparison with years of normal traf-
tic and business conditions as may
have generally been supposed. The
recent change in accounting methods
may affect to some extent the accuracy
of these comparisons, but IL is believed
that In variations due to that cause
did not materially alter the general re-
suit. 1t is pointed out that u 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 h 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 appIi-
ances is steadily improving. 1t is not
clearly understood why the main
tenance of the brakes does not keep
pace with progress of improvement or
other details of equipment, but Ii 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
alI oAkAl CVblaAI tCoo NIlul1 ~ pei SCIlN
of cars equipped with power brakes in
operative condition. Cars not exceed
ing 25 per cent of the total in the train
may have their brake equipment "cut
! OUT OF the connection, and no liability
ensues to the carrier If the remaining
brakes are sufficient to control the
speed OF the train. I
The report has in past years includ-
ed a statement of the operating rev.
enues IND operating expenses Of rail-
ways for the fiscal year ending June 80
Immediately preceding its date Of issue.
such statement having been compiled
from the annual reports of the carriers
in advance Of their final compilation.
The bureau of statistics and accounts
has this year substituted for such a
preliminary report a compilation based
upon monthly reports of revenues and
expenses received for the IL months
ending June 30, 1908. This report shows
that on a basis of average mileage op-
Grated during the year OF &c., 21 miles.
the freight revenue was $1,665, I9,S42,
passenger revenue $3.50, 905, 100, all other
revenue from transportation 1857, S73, 795,
evenu from operations other than
transportation $24,6S7 1892, making total
operating revenues 3d. 24, GAG, 1887, or
$40, 722 per mile Of line. The total OPP
Grating expenses were 81, sos, 101, 879, or
ST. 96 per mile of line, leaving the net
operating revenue $729,53S ,758, or 1925
per mile of lnie. Deducting from the
net operating revenue taxes In h sum
of S83, $780, SIG, the net operating in
come for the year ended June 80, 1908,
was $645, SIS, 242 for the entire mileage,
or $2,855 per mile of line. The ratio of
operating expenses to earnings as
shown by this report was SO. 81 per cent.