Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-27
ERIE RAILROADS RECORD
Some Interesting Figures from the
Roads Statement.

Earnings OF the Erie Railroad company
for the fiscal year ended June 80 last were
the most favorable ever previously pub
fish in the history of the company, so far
as the gross is concerned, while the net
exceeded any previous year as far back as
1903 which was a mast exceptional year. 1t
is significant that the Erie should have
been able to show a surplus for the year
sufficient in volume to have met full per
cent dividends on both classes of preferred
stock and at the same time leave balance
available for the junior issue, equal to 2Ss
per cent on the $11237S,sOO now outstanding.
Deducting the S7S7O7 charged to income for
additions and betterments during the year,
II is found that there is still left a balance
of surplus sufficient to meet full per cent
requirements OF the preferred stocks and
have left a balance available for the com
mon equal to 223 per cent on the out
standing amount mentioned above.
The showing by the company for the last
fiscal period was even better than had been
expected although 1t was a foregone con-
clusion that the final operating results for
the twelve months would be the most graft
fying that had come to light for num-
Der of years past "Other income" OF the
company enjoyed the phenomenal increase
of about 81, 100000, or 344 per cent, as COM
pared with the year previous, the improve
ment having been the result of an unusually
good years earnings In the, company's coal
department.
When consideration Is given to the fact
that only q couple of years ago the COM
pany was struggling along and Wall street
awaited momentarily the announcement
OF a receivership for the property, the
showing for 1910 becomes the more sgnifi-
| cant. Since that time the property mas
| undergone a considerable amount OF I'M
| provement and development, its cars and
engines have been raised to higher
standard of efficiency, as well as new ones
added, so that at the present time the road
is in condition to operate effectively at all
times. Quite in contrast with few years
ago ia the present service of the road, as
its freight and passenger business is now
handled promptly and considerable prestige
is being gained for the property in this
respect Attention is called to the fact that
| In January last, when snow blockades were
prevalent throughout the country. both east
| and west the Erie showed a gain of 2 per
| cent in car movement, while in February,
when practically the same conditions pre-
vailed, the increase was over IL per cent.
| This achievement, according to those IN a
| position to speak with authority, was the
result Of the excellent condition OF the
company's engines and rolling stock as a
whole, and the greater efficiency of OPP
! Grafton.
In the last few years the Erie has made
many improvements which viii before long
tend to greatly increase the company.s
business One of these, and perhaps the
most important. was the completion OF the
open cut through Bergen hill back OF Jersey
City. Several other cutoffs which have
been completed will eventually mean
great saving for the company and increased
gross earnings. 1t would seem, then, that
a continuance of the present policy of turn
ing back surplus into rehabilitation of the
property will in the long run prove very
beneficial.-New York News Bureau.