The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-06-30
SHOW A BIG GAIN
Railroads of Topeka Make. Good
Fiscal Year Reports.
Today Is Last Day of Annual
Operating Calendar.
SANTA FE INCREASE.
Figured That Topeka Pay Roll
Is Nearly 100000.
Rock Island Shows Substantial
Gain in Net Earnings.

Today is the end of the fiscal year
Of the railroads running into Topeka.
In every office of the general headquar-
ters Of the Santa Fe here and in the
district headquarters of the Rock Is
land, the years business is being closed
up and inclusive reports have been pre-
pared for file.
In this fiscal year has been the most
prosperous in the history of Topeka
railways. More employees have been
added to the payrolls, more buildings
have been erected and more improve
ments have been made than at any 9th
er time since the big Santa F'e shops
were built here.
And with the railways themselves,
prosperity has touched with loving
1 hand. For instance the gross and neS
earnings of the Rock Island Lines have
! increased wonderfully in the last year
/ despite the adverse legislation and the
| hesitancy of business generally. WltA
| the Santa F'e the result has been the
same. Although the Santa F'e has spent
millions of dollars in double track and
| other elaborate improvements the net
earnings have pushed the roads capac-
| ity ahead several nOtcheS-
No advance figures have been given
out on the earnings of the Santa F'e.
| The Topeka office of E. L. Copeland
| secretary and treasurer, has completed
its report but the general report COW
ering the Atchison proper and all auXl1-
iary lines has not been compiled.
But it is known in railroad circles
that the Santa Fe has prospered as
never before. With its 11,OOO miles Il
track covering the richest country IN
the Tinted States the Santa F'e has
participated in the country's prosper
ity. Each year the road has increased
its operating and maintenance expenses
and a bigger budget has been allowed
for improvements.
AS a result the road has nearly COM
pleted what will be known as the first
double track system between Chicago
and the coast. And when the Santa he
Joins it's double track it will mean that
a passenger may ride from New YORK
to San Francisco on one track ana
come back on another track-all on the
same right of way
The Santa Fe has grown and i'm
proved to such an extent that in few
years It will be the biggest railway
system in the world and also the best.
Running as it does through prairie and
desert and forest and mountain with
station hours between, the upbuud-
ing of the Santa Fe is one of the Won
derful enterprises Of the railroad worid
And every time the Santa Fe grows
another inch taller, Topeka follows suit
Rock Islands Good Showing.
The Rock Isla.-d earnings have been
made public. The gross earnings for
600 or an increase of 81, 200 900 over last
year. A fraction over 3 per cent. The
net earnings are $17 900 900 or an in
crease of S2,OO0.000 over last year In
other words the earnings of the Rock
Island Lines will be nearly 5 per cent
on the $50.00O,OO0 preferred stock.
In Topeka it is expected that the
Santa Fe report will show a marvellous
improvement over last year.
Although the official figures have not
been given out it is known that more
than 5000 Santa Fe persons are employ
ed in the city and that the payroll for
the fiscal year has amounted to nearly
So, 00O. 900.
If this payroll shows payments Of
nearly millions of dollars it means
that the increase over last year has
been a half million dollars.
With the general offices and shops
of the Santa F'e in this city and the
district offices Of the Rock Island here,
Topeka has developed into a railway
town of the better type Railroad towns
which depend upon the operating fuc-
tuation and upon the district repair
shops are not dependable. But in To-
peka where the general offices employ
nearly 1,200 men and where the general
shops pay wages to more than $500
the year around, the city has a solid
railroad support and railroad payroll
of 49, 900 as a foundation Of pros
perity.