Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-02
Statements Presented Interstate
Commerce Commissioners
at Chicago Rate Hearing
SANTA FE MAKES A PROTEST
Officials of Roads on Stand Clash
with the Attorneys Who
Represent Shippers
Associated Press1

CHICAGO Sept Testimony rela-
tive to operating cost and revenue of
the Rock Island railroad occupied the
attention of the examiners today in
the hearing of the freight rates dis
pute between the railroads which seek
an increased rate on certain commod
tiles and the shippers who oppose the
advance.
Vice President f. o. MeIcher of the
Rock Island occupied the stand
throughout the morning and several
clashes between the witness and coun-
sci for the shippers occurred.
The afternoon session was taken up
with the Introduction of statistics re-
iating to the financial condition of the
road and the cost of operation. The
statistics were introduced by Frank
Nay, comptroller of the road.
PROTEST MADE
Before Nay was sworn Attorney f.
J. Norton for the Santa Fe filed with
the examiners a formal protest against
what he termed statements which
have been sent out from washington
rs proceeding from the interstate COM
merce commission since the contest
over the tariffs began, which have been
uniformly misleading, narrow and un-
fair to the carriers"
Norton's protest which was read in
to the record offered free access to
the commission or the shippers to any
and all of the books of the Santa F'e
company to show the statistics were
fair and accurate.
Attorney Lyon of the commission OBJ
iected to the statement as reflecting
upon the commission, but it was ad
mitted.
The tabulations, which went into
minute details, showed comparisons Of
different years in 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 in
creased rates on commodities should
be permitted.
Many tables of comparative figures
were introduced and commented upon
by Comptroller Nay who was exam
ined by Attorney w. F. Dickinson of
the Rock Island company.
RAILWAY STATISTICS
One of the first exhibits introduced
by the comptroller was a compilation
of statistics extending from 1898 to
1910 showing a total operating revenue
in 1898 of $40, 1872, $40; in 1907 of $685.
487; in 1910 of $63,0S0,420. The same
tabulation showed the total operating
expenses Ol TIE iOtil d66 lCSelbO4 IL
1898, $12, ,636, 25S; in 1907, $3S,566,000i in
1910, $4S, ,301 625. The net operating in
come was listed in 1898 as $6,691, ,000 in
1907, s1S, S,O29, ,31O: in 1910, $11, 1,1O2,03S.
Another group of figures read into
the record showed the expenses for
maintenance of way and structures in
1907 was 1886, 900; in 1908, S7,S9S,00O
in 1909, $S,596000, and in 1910, $1O,-
200,0 900.
The report of the road for the month
of July. 1910, as compared with July,
1909 was introduced, the figures show
ing that in July, 1910, there was
comparative decrease over the business
in July, 1909, of S110,620 in freight rev.
enue and an increase of, $2S1, asa in op-
Grating expenses.
DECREASED EARNINGS
Gross earnings of the road for three
weeks in August, this year, according
to Nay, decreased $245,272 compared
with the corresponding period last
wear. making a total comparative de-
crease in gross freight earnings for the
first seven weeks of the present flscal
wear of S355,00 in round numbers.
A tabulation based on the present
freight rates and on the proposed rates
as applied to commodities hauled III
1910. disclosed, according to the figures
of the witness, that the operating
revenues of the road would have been
increased s142, ,66S had the proposed
rates been in effect.
Another group of statistics entered
in evidence gave the net capitalization
of the Rock Island Railroad company
lime 30, 1910, as S2S6, 9462 240, including
s75 900 900 in stock and the entire in
debtedness of the system.
The book value of the property and
franchises was listed June 30, 1910, at
s18s. oil, the additional construction
and equipment was placed at $2,859,-
835; equipment purchased at $32,6SI-
26t; making a total book value OF
S226, 800, 900 y.
In addition to these tables, a num-
bor of charts were introduced show
ina the comparative increases and de
nreases over a period of years of the
various expenses and revenues of the
road