Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-11-21

While receiving lower freight rates
per ton per mile than the railways of
any other country in the world, ex-
cept India, the railroads Of the Uni
ted States pay higher wages than the
railways of any other country in the
world. except Western Australia, says
tho Railway Age Gazette in an analy-
SIS, published in its current issue. Of
a bulletin just issued by the Bureau
Of Railway Economics giving cOmpar-
alive statistics Of the railways of the
United States and Of IS foreign cOun-
tries, representing seven-eighths OF
the world Is railway mileage.
The article also points out that the
capitalization Of the railways of the
United States. s65,S61 per nile. is
less than that OF any OF the pr'nci-
pal countries of the world, and is only
from one-third to one-half as great as
the capitalization of the railways of
the principal countries OF Europe.
In the only country having lower
freight rates than the United States,
VIZ. India, the cost OF labor is so
little as 10 be almost neglible, and the
only country in which railway wages
are higher than in the United States,
Is Western Australia where the av-
erage freight rate per ton-mile. Is al
most twice as great as in the United
States.
The statistics are for 1913, the lat
est year for which comparative fig
ures are available.
Undoubtedly the most striking
feature of these comparisons" the
Railway Age Gazette says. lis the low
rates for which freight is carried in
the United States in spite of the high
wages paid, since wages constitute
the principal item IN railway operat-
ing expenses. The average receipts
per ton-mile on the railroads of the
United States. .729 cent, are only
about co per cent. of average rate foI
hauling a ton one mile received by the
prime pal European countries. India
is the only country in the world that
has n lower rate. 700 cent. BRAZIL
has the highest rate. 703 cents per
ton per mile. Canada has only a
slightly higher rate than the United
States. 75S cent. while in most cOun-
tries the average freight rates are
two, three or four times as much as
those received by the railways OF the
United States"
The average receipts per ton-mile
in some of the principal countries
are given as follows Austria, 1.5O9
cents: Denmark. 2113 France, 1888
Germany. 1874 Hungary, 1915
Japan, OLA: Mexico, 1443; Russ a
O.933: Spain. 2226: Sweden. 1873.
The article continues. 1.-THE aver
age receipts per passenger-mile in
the United States. on the other hand
are higher than in any other coun-
try. except Brazil and Cuba The av-
erage rate in the Tn ted States is
zoos cents. while in Austria the av-
erage rate is 1919. in France LOGS
SPAN 500, Hungary .967, Germany
sos and Russia 500 cent. In India
the average rate is only Ala cent In
Brazil the average passenger rate
per mile Is 264 and in Cuba 2.S6
cents. The reason for the low pas
senger rates N other countries is, oil
course. to be found in the difference
in the character Of the service and Is
explained In the tables published N
tho bulletin, showing that the aver
age density OF passenger traffic Is
greater in II other countries thar
il is in the United States, and als'
the tables showing the distribution o
Messengers into classes in othel
countries. In the United States prac
tically all passenger traffic S hrst
class. while in other countries th'
great bulk OF the travel is second OF
third class. and the average rate pei
passenger-mile is greatly reduced or
account Of this preponderance Of low
class traffic In India, for example
which has the lowest passenger
rates, sos per cent. Of the traffic
is third class and the density OF pas
senger traffic is 479.S99 passenger
miles per mile of line. as compared
with 143O67 in the United States. In
Germany. which has a density Of
6q3.Sf7 passenger-miles per mile OF
line. az per cent. Of the travel is
tb'rd-class. 40 per cent is fourth
class and only Of per cent is first
class. Belgium has a passenger den
sity OF 1,046.614
IAN indication Of the difference In
the accommodations furnished in the
different countries is afforded by the
statement Of the average number OF
passengers per tran, which in the
United states is 55. Denmark, with
an average Of 50, is the only country
which has a smaller number Of pas
sengers in proportion to the train
service than the United States In