Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-26
RAILROAD EARNINGS
 REFLECT PROSPERITY
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VSohtinued from Page One) crease in business during the last three months of the year-returns for which are unavailab1e-but places; the income for October, November and De- cemner at the same figures as for July, august and September There is no questions officials say, but that there will be an increase, the only doubt is as to it's size.
 Startling Increase From January to
 September.
 Analysis of the returns for the first nine months shows a startling in- creecse from JarTary to September, amounting to mo than 67 per cent. Thus the net income in January. s64.- S15. .2s6. has mounted to $107,s10.s14 in September, an increase of nearly s43.- G0O, 900.
 For the first nine months of the year the commissions figures show that the railroads collected $2,654,s2s,- SAT from all sources of operation. The chief of which were as follows:
 Freight $1.s75, ,o1s,990; passenger. traffic $522, ,103,007; malls, $45,34s.6 609; from express companies s6S0S9,4 ,474
 The years expenses will arproxi- mate 346,990, leaving net rev. enue from operations s1,254, 57s.512. From the last figure, must be deducted the railroad annual tax bill, approxi- nately s155.625,546 and bad debts down on the books as uncol!ectible revenue-approximat $965, 1928, to- tai of $156, 6,591,474.
 230,000 Miles of Railroad.
 About 230,500 miles of railroad were iE operation during the year. Using 2so.Ooo as an average, returns show that for every mile of road operated in the country the railroads will receive this year approximately $15,655 in gross receipts, and a net oincome of $4774, or little more than thirty per cent. Of the gross.
 Increase of 52 Per Cent.
 Compared with previous earnings, of more than 52 per cent. over the fis- cal year of 1915; 59 per cent over 1914. and S4 per cent. over 1913.
 Eastern Roads Get the Cream.
 Wide averages in receipts among the roads of various sections is disclos- ed. The over-burdened railroads of the east have skinned the cream of the traffic. The congestion at east ern seaports and on almost every east crn road has spelled, in glutted sidings and slow moving traffic, a i1ood of revenue, the like of which was un- dreamed Of even year ago. For every mile of the 59.200 in the eastern group, more than $20.000 has been received in revenue. and every mile has earned net income of nearly S5,900.
 Munition Shipments Prime Cause.
 While the usual eastward trend of traffic, the great demands of nations at war and the location at most of the country's factories, munition and otherwise, in the east, are attributed as prime causes for this condition, secondary attributes are said to lie in the fact thA6 eastern roads for the most part have short hau1s and traverse densely populated areas. Es- pecially is this noticeable in the rev euue from passenger traffic eastern roads with 59,2O0 miles having re- ceived almost as much in passenger fares as all the rest of the roads in the country put together with total of 108,o00 miles.
 American People Travelling More
 The figures show that the American people are travelling more and farther than ever-at least on American rail- ways. Beginning with S49,S05g17 in January the public's monthly passeng- CT fare rose more than forty per cent to $70,o00, GOO. Total passenger receipts for the year, it is expected, will az gregate $700,000 900.
 Increased rates in certain conmuni-
 Increased rates in certain coninut- ing sections are said to be reSponsi- ble in some degree for the increase in passenger receipts.
 Notwithstanding the enormous VOL tune of business handled, and the re- sultant new high level in net income, officials declare that the car snort age situation has seriously handicap that were it not for this and the con- gestion in the east the roads would show still greater revenues and in- come.