The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-02
Such Is Testimony of Rock ISL
and Official i'll Rate
Hearing.
COSTS OF OPERATING
INCREASING ANNUALLY
Evidence introduced Is Largely
of a Technical Character;
The Detail.

CHICAGO, Sept. Testimony relative
to operating cost and revenue of the
Rock Island Railway company occupied
the attention OF the examiners today in
the hearing of the freight rates dispute
between the railroads which seek an In
creased rate on certain commodities and
the shippers who oppose the advance,
vice President F. o. Mclcher OF the
ROCK Island occupied the stand through
out the morning, and several clashes be-
tween the witness and counsel for the
shippers occurred.
The afternoon session was taken up
WIN the introduction of statistics relat
ing TO the financial condition OF the road
and the cost of operation. The statistics
were introduced by Frank Nay, comp
troller Of the railroad.
Before Nay was sworn Attorney F. ]
Norton, for the Santa Fe, filed with the
examiners formal protest against what
ne termed statements which have been
sent out from Washington as proceeding
from the Interstate commerce commits
sion since the contest over the tariffs be-
gan, which have been uniformly mis-
leading, narrow and unfair to the car
riers,"
Norton's Protest.
Nortons protest. which was read into
the record. offered free access TO the
commission, or the shippers. to any and
all OF the books of the Santa Fe COM
pany TO show that the statistics were
fair and accurate. Attorney Lyon of the
commission objected TO the statement as
rejecting. upon the commission, but it
was admitted
The tabulations, which went into min
ute details, showed comparisons of diff
ierent years and the increases and de-
creases OF operating revenue, expenses.
cost OF maintenance OF way and other
items on which the carriers depend TO
demonstrate that the proposed Increased
rates on commodity rates should be per
mitted
Many tables of comparative figures
were introduced and commented upon by
Comptroller Nay. who was examined by
Attorney w. +. Dickinson of the Rock
One of the first exhibits introduced by
the comptroller was compilation of sta
tistics extending from 1898 TO 1910 show
$50, ,3S2 52O; in 1907, OF $o5, ,538. .4S7; in 1910,
of S6S,0S0, 42S.
Expenses Are Shown.
The same tabulation showed the total
operating expenses of the road aggre-
gated t ed In 1898. $I26a6.25S: in 1907. $3S,-
Grating income was listed in 1898 as
Sl1. l02, 03S
Another group of figures read into the
maintenance of way and structures in
1907 was 81. 5000; In 1908. 81 1898 900; In
lsg9. sS.596,OoO. and in 1910. $40 200. 900
os me ne, report port Of the road for the month
l9os. was introduced the figures showing
that In July. 1910, there was a compare
tive decrease over the business in July |
1909. of Sll0.620 in freight revenue. and
an Increase Of S2s1. 454 In operating ex-
pcnSeS.
Cross earnings of the road for three
weeks In August this year according to
Mr.. Nay. decreased s2I5,272 comparcd
with the corresponding period last year. |
making total comparative decrease in
gross freight earnings for the first seven
weeks OF the present fiscal year of $3.50
600 in round numbers
Should Increase Revenues.
tabulation based on the present
freight rates and on the proposed rates
as applied TO commodities hauled in 1910 |
disclosed. according to the figures pre-
Sented by the witness, that the operat-
Ing revenues OF the road would have been
increased S142 66s had the proposed rates
been In effect.
Another group of statistics entered In
the evidence gave the net capitalization
Of the Rock Island Railway company
June 30. 1910. as S2s69i6 240. including
$40, 100000 in stock and the entire in
debtedncss OF the system. The book val
ue of the property and franchises was
listed June 80 1910 at $lSS, 949. oil the
additional construction and equipment
was placed at s2.359 S35. equipment pur-
chased at S32. 6ST ,26l. making a total
value OF S226 800. 900
In addition TO these tables. a number
OF charts were introduced showing the
comparative increases and decreases over
period OF years of the various expenses
and revenues Of the road,