The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-27
A Decrease in Net Earnings of
$4,000, 900 a ,Month. 81
This Is Result of Compilation
for October.
WAGES.
Statistics Claim This Reason for
Falling Off.
Other Items of General Interest
in Traffic World.

The Commercial and Financial
Chronicle. which at regular intervals
makes compilation of railroad reve-
nues from the monthly reports to the
, interstate commerce commission en-
bracing SO per cent of the total mileage
or the country, called attention in an
editorial last Weeketo the marked and
continuous rise in operating expenses
which has caused for each successive
month of the present fiscal year, loss
IN net earnings, as compared with the
same month year previous, says the
Railway Review.
The falling off of net earnings for Oc-
tober, 1910, as against October, 1903, is
much the largest yet reached in the
/ downward course that has prevailed
since last July. The returns are grow
ing steadily more unfavorable, and the
reason, in the words of the journal,
lis that additions to gross receipts
Speaking Of the roads collectively are
now of small proportions, While on the
other hand, expenses are being appar-
emily increased in fixed amounts be-
cause of the advances which have been
made in wages; and it seems to be i'm
possible to curtail outgoes to any great
extent, or at least the effort, if made,
is not proving very successful"
Gross earnings show shrinkage in
cert parts of the country, due to To-
cal circumstances: but for the country
as a whole gross receipts are some
what larger this year than for the same
months last year. On the 754 roads
embraced in these compilations, there
is an aggregate gain. for the month OF
October, of $780, 525; but the additions
to the expenses for the same month
amounted to $1S, 691s6 This makes
the net earnings for October. this year.
81. 029, 095 less than the net earnings or
October of last year: a fact which is
all the more discouraging when the IL
months outlaws of additional capital
for new facilities is considered.
The Chronicle cites a number of spec
ific instances showing the upward trend
of expenses. The Pennsylvania railroad
lines directly operated east and west
of Pittsburg showed for October loss
in gross earnings Of $6S,532. a compare
lively small sum; but the falling off
in net earnings amounted to 81, 073,94e.
The New York Central &, Hudson River
railroad gained $272,S7S in gross earn
ings, but suffered decrease of $46O.lSS
in net earnings. For the New York Cen
trail lines as a whole the result is
gain of 1897 1854 in gross earnings, but
a loss of 81, 1853 $50 in net. This, it is
to be emphasized, is an augmentation
in operating expenses of two and three
fourth million dollars for one month.
Other important systems in various
parts of the country which made a
gain in gross earnings show similar
falling behind in9 net. But in the In
stances of a few other roads. where the
gross earnings showed decline, the
corresponding loss in net earnings was
even more noteworthy. For example.
the Southern Pacific company recorded
a contraction of $175,744 in gross earn
ings, and the loss in net earnings
amounted to $721,732; and the Chicago
& Northwestern railway had a de-
crease of $121, 1888 in gross earnings and
| 1916, 966 decrease in net.