Norwich bulletin., 1913-10-01

duction of different appliances and facilities more rapidly than the roads can obtain money then there is but one result for some of the railroads of the United States-and that is bankruptcy. l believe the commis- sioners-who have such great powers realize their responsibility to the own CTS of the properties as well as to the users, and I hope earnestly that they will give practical evidence of their realization by permitting some ad- Vances in rates
 Should the Ssioners-federal Rnd state-make a positive declara- ton that "a -eS may be advanced so as to permit the properties to meetau of their obligations. pay a fair return to stockholders and leave a balance for improvements they will at once in spire confidence and give to existing securities a better standing than they now have both here and in Europe and will help to market new securities up on an interest basis more favorable than Is now possible. because of the uneasiness in the minds of investors about the future net earnings of the railroads.
 Magnitude of Transportation Machine.
 Let us look for a minute at a few facts about the great transportation machine made up of the New Haven and New England lines and associated properties. There are 1876 miles of railroad and 14,175 miles of track. Of the track 29 per cent is in Massachu sets, 20 per cent in Connecticut, IA per cent in Maine, IS per cent in New York, 12 per cent in New Hampshire, s per cent in Rhode Island, 4 per cent in Vermont and 2 per cent elsewhere. There are S,197 locomotives, 8.08S pas senger train cars, 79,522 freight train cars and ], ,54l work cars. Then there is the marine equipment of 240 steam CTS, tugs, barges, etc. But this rolling stock is not standing still Each year the locomotives run about 80,000,000 miles the passenger train cars move 22o, 900 600 miles, and the freight cars move 624.oG0, 900 miles. The total mileage of these units of equipment is 2.50o,o00 miles per day, or more than 100000 miles every hour.
 Revenues, PayroIiS and Taxes.
 The operating reverD Dues of all the properties were for the last fiscal year in round numbers S1JJ, ,000, GOO. The opera ting expenses were SIP, 900, ,000. Of operating expenses approximately S66 000, coo or 59 per cent was paid in wages, an average payment to each employee of about $700 a year The remaining fl per cent or $46.000, 000 was paid for fuel supplies, etc, but large part of it goes indirectly to labor enga Eed in the production of the
  roll is an important factor to the com muuities served by the properties. as much of the money finds it's way each month to merchants and others. The total taxes paid by these properties was ST640 000 q very substantial con tribution 10 the funds for carrying on the government.
 Employees and Investors.
 To maintain and operate this great
 
 services Of from 0.000 to 100, GOO men (92.I92 on last paErOHD These en- ployees and these investors are drawn from all walks of life. They are hu- man beings with hopes and aspira- lions and joys and sorrows. The live Ehood of employees necessarily de- bends upon tAe return from their labor and this in turn depends upon the prosperity If New England and the railroads of New England. Tn a small CT degree .he comfort and well being of many investors depend upon the return from their investment and this also depends upon the prosperity of New England and of her railroads. These investors and these employees. with their families, on the basis of four to one, make 640,0O0 people. or nearly One-tenth of the population of New England. Should not their rights, comforts and feelings be considered carefully in the current tenpestuous discussion in regard to the New Eng land railToads2
 Tho report of the interstate com n7erre commission about the New England railroad situation was sub n7jtted hy AT- Prouty on June 20 1913 The very grave importance of inc sug- gestfcne and recour len da tiors and the source from which they come mean that they ~arnot he decided hurriedly and without very thorough study. AL ready some steps have been taken 90 as to have closer supervision of the details If the operations of the prop critics Other steps of this character will be taken if careful study of the situation shows that they are neces- ssrv fer ef1ciency and safety. Every effort will he made to build up a
 Continued on Page Six.)