The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-02
Expert SAYS SEAB0ARD !
HOLDS RARE POSITION.
Growth of Traffic In Southern States
Greater Than Expansion OF
Railroads.
6. a. L. CAN BECOME LEADER
Annual Average Gross Increase On
i.2 Per Cent Predicted For NeA'
Ten Ycars-scaboard Firmly
Strategic Position.

u
Strategic Position.
On March 81, 1911. q railroad MAJ
Of national reputation. one OF the Doc
railroad experts in the country 'aD
,,,ttsa 20 one of the largest Insurance
companies a report on the seaooai'
Air line. Upon the basis OF TINS ~
mort the insurance company mace
-, .rvestment In Seaboad All
nds which IT still holds. IL
- - later facts and development
.tatements and predictions maos
- ,nis report are interesting.
W -rhA wall street Journal, In series
.~stcies. proposes to analyze tne
..noard situation from all angles
tr.nsc. physical characteristics, I'M,
ssravsments. strategical position and
rand Of development In Its territory
ana in connection therewitn rae re-
mort mentioned above has an I'M.
portant bearing In so far as II mos
accurately estimated later develop
ments Except the result or the euro
near, war;, since it's date and authors
tatiyely gives some interesting taCss
.otit the company. E-Ass avs 49,
report read as follows:
Growth OF Traffic Great.
.srn. n,ain facts are that the growth
=, .he franc In the Southern States In
~srerai ana the South Atlantic states
In particular, is greater than the ex-
"a nsion Of the facilities of the RAN
roads. The Increase in tonnage Oh
many commodities produced in THESE
states IL not confined to the increase
IN the population OF our own country,
but In the consuming population oi
the civilized world as well. Inc os
mand for products of these states WIN
double the present tonnage OF inc
railroads In ten years IL the raliroaos
viii hermit II by providing the neces-
sary facilities r,s a
condition rarely offered TO an I'M
nnrtant railroad. 1t may become the
leader of the railroads In this sectiori
AZ n cares to. All that 1t is necessary
for the Seaboard to do Is to take ao,
vantage of its magnificent strategicai
position, put Its own house In oruef
and then take advantage of its COM
petitors' lack OF facilities and othef
lisa biiities.
Has Strategic Position.
I'm view OF the HHAaSs
lIeI1) in progress. i VIII oher .Hs
suggestion: That the company mao
batter be two years ahead with It's
ir.eres. account than six months be-
hind with a congested railroad. In
my opinion the Seaboard has secured
a strategic position from when
cannot he disiodged. There has been
laid p founda ton that will permit oil
nm Increase Of many hundreds OF miIes
~ feeders with but little additional cN-
nsnse for terminals. The roads pos
ZION al every important city and trafhc
carter ia one of the best and IN many
insa auces superior TO any other Toad
This capacity Of all land terminals
with one exception. may be douhie
without changing location. All but
ans az the water terminals NAV be
expanded indefinitely. Having all o.
these advantages, the road is ready 10
Improve its rail facilities and double
its. tonnage in a very few years.
..rf the policy Of the present man
cement Is carried out. l have httie
In predicting that both us
gross and net receipts viii continue 10
show steady increases from year 10
wear. and with the present mileage
gross revenues by 1890 should reach
h.OU
ooeratinR expenses and taxes should
he approximately s12,o00.oo0 per an
nun. The property Is very responsive
IN gross and net earnings to additional
which have been made TO
,rcrea,,e TIA facilities. l estimate the
AVERAGE increase in gross revenues Tor
the next ten years at Ia per cent
per annum and recommend the pro-
vision OF s25,00e.oe To be expended
in improving the company's facfii-
ties"
This report. of course. could not
predict the war nor this distressing
results TO business in the South result
inr therefron,. therefore the prediction
OF $4,000. 900 gross by 1e2o may not
be realized; or II may II the recovery
az business in az rapid an its decline
has been In the past year. However.
the Seaboard earned only $2i.ooo.ooo
eross in 1911, and, although the sue
ceeting years were not favorable bust
ness years In general, in 1914 the
conn any earned over sz6.ooo,ooo, an
increase OF nearly 20 per cent in three
years, or nearly up to the average IN
crease of IL per cent per annum
predicted in the report. From 1909 to
June 30, 1919, the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. oFN"N
for additions. bctterments, extensions
and equipment approximately NI.-
500, 900, and the increase in total gross
for the five-year period WAS 43.4 per
cent and per mile of road the increase
was ss.2 per cent. Funded debt In the
same Ave years, during which the
went through reorganization,
Increased only "a per cent. wtaile
actual fixed charges decreased s.s pea
cent. Revenue freight trafiic density
Increased 401 per cent in 1914 over
1908, while that OF the Southern Rail-
way increased but 20 per cent, and
that of the Atlantic Coast Line In
creased $50 per cent. Operated mile
are In the five years increased only
4 per cent. These and other cofnparf-
sona for five-year periods VIII Do
shown in subsequent articles.