Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-03
THRONE WANTS THE
RAIL HEADS CALLED
STATISTICS ENTED BY
ROCK ISLAND WITNESS BRINGS
CALL FOR sUHPoENAING OF
OFFICERS OF ROAD.

Chicago, Sept. 2.-The tense strain
Of the railway rate hearing developed
disorder today in the midst of which
Attorney Pierce of the Rock Island
called Attorney James, representing
The Cincinnati shippers, liar. Pierce
added that If James was not satisfied,
the matter could be continued "out-
side" The trouble arose over the sta
tistics presented by Rock Island
company witness and James taking the
witness to task for the omission Of GER
tain figures from the statement
There were Kisses from the shippers
and hand clappings from the railroad
contingent when Peirce issued his
challenge, but the storm passed with
out further outbre- <.
Thorne Wants Rail Chiefs.
Attorney Thorne, representing the
American National Live Stock associa-
tion at the rate hearing, insisted today
that the officers of the Rock Island
railroad be subj oenaed to testify. con-
cerning the capitalization Of the com
lpany. The demand came after Comp
troller Nay, under alton,
,had said the stock of the Rock Island
railway company was largely, il not
entirely, held by the Rock Island rail
road. A heated discussion followed as
to the relevancy of the desired, testi-
mony The controversy concluded with
4 statement that the shippers could
subpoena the officers of the railroad
company and question them concern
Ing the density Of traffic on different
sections of the Rock Island lines.
+. : Z a
The late afternoon session yester.
day was taken up with the introduc-
tion of statistics relating to the f1nan-
cial condition of the road and the cost
of operation, The statistics were intro
duced by Frank Nay, controller of the
railroad
The tabulations, which went into
minute details, showed comparisons Of
different years and the increases and
decreases of operating revenue ex-
penses, cost of maintenance Of way
and other items on which the carriers
depend to demonstrate that the in
creased rate on commodity rates pro-
posed should be permitted to go into
effect.
One Of the first exhibits introduced
of statistics extending from 1898 to
1910. showing total operating rev.
enue in 1898 Of $20,3S2, ,529; in 1907,
of $55 $685. ,4S7; in 1910, of s63,OS0,428.
The same tabulation showed the
total operating expenses of the road
aggregated in 1898, $12,636.25S; in
1907, $3S,566,000; in 1910, s4S,3O1 ,625.
The net operating income was. listed
in 1898 as $6,691 900; in 1907, $13,029,-
BIO; in 1910, s11, 1,1O2, 2,03S.
Another group of figures read into
The records showed that the expenses
Tor maintenance of way and structures
in 1907 was $7,S36, 900; in 1908, 81 $685.
900; in 1909, $S,596,OO0 and in 1910,
S10.O2O 900.
The report for the road for the
month of July, 1910. as compared with
July, 1909, was introduced, the figures
showing that in July, 1910, there was
comparative decrease over the busi-
ness in July, 1909, of $110,62O in /
freight revenue; and an increase of
1881, 1,454 in operating expenses.
Earnings for August.
Gross earnings of the road for
three weeks in August this year. ac-
cording to Mr.. Nay. decreased $245.-
272 compared with the corresponding
period last year. making a total COM
parative decrease in gross freight
earnings for the first seven weeks OF
The present fiscal year of $355,00O in
round numbers.
A tabulation based on the present
freight rates. and en- the proposed
rates as applied to commodities
hauled in 1910 disclosed, according to
the figures presented by the witness, |
that the operating revenue of the road
would have been increased $142,66S
had the proposed rates been in effect
Another group of statistics entered
in the evidence gave the net capitali-
zation of the Rock Island railway
company. June 80. 1910, as s2S6,946,-
$50 including $75 100000 in stock and
The entire funded Indebtedness of the
system. The book value of the prop
erty and franchises was listed June
90. 1910, at S1SS.949, oil. the additional
construction and equipment was
olaced at $2.359,S35. and equipment
Of sc29 627 261 making a |