The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-16
RAILROADS MAKE
 SPLENDID SHOWING Total Revenues of All Lines In State Is $7,745,398.62 AN INCREASE OVER 1907 Fewer Passengers and Less Freight Are Handled But Reduced Expen-
 ses and Better Equipment h.
 crease Net Earnings.

montgomery, January 15-(Special.) With increased earnings, net and per train mile the Alabama railroads make an excellent showing for the year 1909, as Indicated in the report made by the railroad commission to the governor, now in the hands of the executive. was $7,745,39 62, compared to s5,563,- 32S.5S In 1907, which was a banner year. Comparison was made with two years ago because it was remarkable in the great prosperity of rail lines as well as other industries.
 There were fewer passengers hauled and less freight in 1909 than in 19C7, but by adjustment of expenses to meet conditions the net income shows very much better results. The average in- come per mile for 1909 was $15Ss, com pared to $1211 in 1907. indicating a great education in the matter of less cost to receipts. a thing that has been studied for a long time. There are many ways of saving here, but the greatest is in having every train carry It's full capacity. A crew Is sent out with every car the engine will pull, whereas, in the old days, with poor terminal facilities, many times two trains were made up of what one should have been.
 The matter of trackage has much to do with 1t, too. Now a train need not hang up on a siding with hours over time for crews. for there are plenty of sidings to take care of tn em, allow ing close connections to be made. In fact many of the roads are getting In double track, notably the Louisville and Nash vile, between Birmingham and Montgomery.
 Many of the figures In this report are the same IS were printed some days ago, coming from the report of the president, Capt. Charles Henderson, to the commission as whole. One of the features of the report. however, Is that while the gross earnings were no greater the net has been brought up by better facilities for handling business. The ratio of operating expenses to op- eration revenue has been reduced since 1907 on an average of 6 per cent. The report says: ITO prevent the compari- son from being misleading it Is neces- sary to state that all the excess in net income from operation does not mean that the actual results from operations in 1909 were so much larger than in 1907. In the item of maintenance, wb ich Is a part of the cost of opera tion. many of the roads formerly charged much that should have been classed as improvements"
 There has been a great decrease in the number of complaints and a large in- crease in the number that have been ad- justed by the secretary without hear ing, by correspondence between the par ties complaining and the roads. There were 47 hearings in 1909, with two cases filed with the interstate commerce com mission. namely, protest on increased rates on packing house products and feed- stuffs from above Ohio river points and an effort to have a uniform rate on cot ton, compressed and uncompressed. There has been little complaint about failure to provide cars when needed. In every case where such has been made adjust ments have resulted without delay. Of the 8,324 40 passengers carried during the year, none were killed and only 27 hurt; 70 out of S679 employees met death and 1869 were hurt. The main line mile- age has Increased 5S.13, bringing the total main line to 44S2, and with sidings and second tracks to 6070. It Is admitted that little has been accomplished in the matter of river navigation, as the boat owners resent any effort to control their rates. However. the hope of the business de- bends on some sort Of actual control, it is urged.
 The report of inspections shows the roads in the main in improved condi- tion. Of the Alabama Great Southern the report says:
 ''The main line roadbed has been in poorer condition, in the writer's opinion, than at any time during the past five years" Later 1t is said: These unsatis- factory conditions have largely disap- peared the past few months.'
 There Is QeQided improvaroauf in rood bed on the Alabama, Tennessee and Northern. There is notable absence of wooden structures on the new Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic, concrete being the material used, which Is well. Many trestles have been rebuilt on the Coast Line and the roadbed kept up. The Gen. tral of Georgia is commended as a whole, but better facilities are needed at Dade- vile. Good things are said of the road bed of the Illinois Central, but better de- pot facilities are needed at Haleyville.
 Need of new ties on the Birmingham Montgomery division of the Louisville and Nashville has been met. Many under the rails were rotten and in bad shape 1t Is said. Betterment in roadbed is reported for the Mobile and Ohio, but the equip- ment is given 8 roast, being dubbed an- tiquated and miserably lighter. There is also complaint of the passenger depot at Tuscaloosa. The Northern Alabama roadbed Is said to be better than in six years. In the main the Frisco Is well presented. though some old rails had to be taken out.
 Of the Western of Alabama 1t is said: The roadbed and structures of this road have been maintained at tho usual satis- factory standard" The Tombigbee and the Tuskegee, two short lines, are in fair shape. Of the Southern railway this Is said: The improvement of the roadbed conditions of this company in this state Is noteworthy" The Seaboard is also given compliments.