Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-15
remarkable Development
Of Street Rys. Since 1902.
number Of Companies Increased
25.2 Per Cent. in 1907.
Electricity Now Forms 1inety.nins
Per Cent. Of the Motive Power.


clearly seen in the statistics compile,
nv the Census Bureau from the census
If such companies. taken in 1907, and
presented in its second report, now on
tbe eve of publication. in which it is
stafed that in 1907 it was found that
car mileage had increased Ala per cent
there was gain of 66.3 per cent. in the
fatal number of passengers: a rise uf
~ per cent. in the number of far.
Messengers: the number of companies
increased 25.2 per cent: the trackage
heightened by 52.4 per cent; the gross
income Of the railways jumped 71.6 per
cont. the amount of salaries and wages
kent upward pace with the rest: and
electricity practically superseded all
other kinds of motive power.
The report was prepared under the
supervision of William NJ. Steuart,
chief statiscian for manufactures of the
census T. Ccmmerford Martin, of New
York City, was the consulting expert
special agent of the office and prepared
the part dealing with the technical fea-
tures of the industry. Division Chief
william A. Hathaway prepared the
ANALYTICAL tables and text verificaticr.
In his letter transmitting the report
TO Secretary Nagel. of the Department
Of commerce and Labor, Census Di-
rector Durand states that the universal
adopton of electricity as motive
power for street railways and the ex-
tension of these railways into rural
districts make it impracticable to sep
arate the statistics of street railways
from those for the interurban railways
TIE present report. therefore, like the
ore on the census of 1902, covers all
railways using electrical energy as mo-
tive power. and also the street railways
operated by animal power. cable. gaso-
line motors. and steam.
An interesting feature of the report
Is the comparative summary for 1907
and 1902, in which it is shown that the
total number of operating and lessor
companies in the United States in 1907
was 1,236 and in 1902. 9S7. the per cent.
of increase being 25.2. The operating
companies in 1907 numbered 945 and iE
1902, H7, an increase of 15.7 per cent
The lessor companies in 1907 numbered
291 ard in 1902. 10, the per cent. of in
crease being 1l.2.
In 1907 the total number of miles of
line, ty which is meant length IF first
main track or roadbed. was 25.5t7.19. as
compared with 16.645.34 in 1902, the per
cent. of increase being 53.5. The total
number of miles of track. meaning the
total length of all trackage, including
sdings, was 81 40356 in 1907, as against
s2,51699 in 1902, the per cent. OF increase
amounting To SEA. OF the total number
Of miles of track. those operated by
electricity in 1907 numbered 3t,05?.G9
and in 1902, Il. 907.59 The per cent. of
increase was 55.5. The trackage oper-
ated by animal power in 1907 was 136. !
and in 1901. o59.10. The per cent of de-
crease amounted to AIS. The trackage
operated by cable in 1907 was Gill and
in 1902, 24069. the per cent. OF decrease
being AL The trackage operated by
steam in 1907 was 1905 and in 1902,
1881, a decrease of 1879 per cent.
The cost of construction and equip
ment in 1907 was 1851 ,66S.1 OS; as COM
pared with s2.167, 634077 in 1902. the per
cent. of increase amounting to 67.s.
The number of employees in 1907 was
e2l.449. and in 1902 it was 140,769. the
per cent of increase being 57.3.
The total number of cars in use in
1907 was S3,64I, as against 66,7S4 in 1907,
an Increase of 25.2 per cent. The num-
Der of passenger. cars in 1907 was TOOLS,
as compared with 6O.290 in 1902. The
per cent of increase was 16.1. The
number of all other cars in 1917 was
1885. and in 1902 it was 6.4@. the per
cent. of increase being 1898.
The total number of passengers In
1907 was 9.533. OSO. 1855, as against 1885,
SI,2s6 in 1902, an increase of 63.3 per
cent The number of fare passengers IN
1907 was 7,441 114,50S. as compared win
A17t211 1904 in 1902. the per cent. or IN
crease being $50. The number OF trans
fer passengers in 1907 was 1886. $50. lOl
and in 1902 it was 1.062. 403.392. the IN
crease amounting to s7.s per cent. me
number of free" passengers in 1871
was &,SOS, Isl. The statistics OF I9ol
furnish no figures of this kind. Inc
humber of fare passengers per mile OF
track in 1907 was 216.522. and IN lSol II
was 2l2.2l7. the per cent. OF increase
being ,.
The car mileage. including passen
ger, express. freight. mail. etc. in lso
was 1917, 73l 300 as compared WIT
lh443O,466 in 1907. an increase o.
IA per cent
In 1907 the number of power houses
was 500, as against S05 in 1902, tnt
Increase representing per cent.
The steam and gas engines an'
water wheels used in generating tn
electricity were reported as havint
2476,479 horsepower in 1907 as com
pared with 1.349,211 in 1902. an in
crease of 1,127.26S horsepower. OF
SS.6 per cent.
Inc kilowatt capacity of dynamo
,n 1907 was 1,723,416. and In l9o2
'ss.SS2. an increase of 91.S per cent
The gross income of the operating
'ompanies in 1907 was $429,744,25
and in 1902 it was $250,5O4,627, an in
.rease of 71.6 per cent. The operat
ing earnings in 1907 were $41S.1S7,Sa
as compared with s247,55S.999 in 1907
.ne increase being $50 per cent. IN
income from other sources in 100
"as *ll,556,396, and in 1902 1t wa
cent.
Inc per cent. ratio of operating ex
DOCTORS OF THE MASSES"
40 what one writer has termed proprie
tary medicines.