The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1916-12-28
1915 bANNERYEAR
FOR RAILROADS
THE NET INCOME FROM
OPERATIONS OVER ONE
BILLION DOLLARS.
SOUTHERN ROADS
SHOW BIG GAINS
Interstate Commerce Statistics
Furnished Basis for Calcu-
lation.

l
$1,000, 100000 net income from op
erations was made by the railroads
of the country during the year now
closing. The huge total is the peak
of prosperity in railroad operations
and stands more than one-third high
er than the total of 1918, hitherto
the banner year. Eastern roads led
in revenue per mile by a great mar
gin, with southern roads next.
Statistics gathered by the inter
state commerce commission, COM
plete for nine months and made the
basis for calculation for the entire
year, Indicate that the total net in
come from operations will be approx
imately $1,09S,000,000.
For the first nine months of the
year complete returns show $685.
558,266. Even this does not repre-
sent the amount, as roads whose in
come is less than $1,000,000 are not
included.
The estimate of $1,09S, 100000 is
regarded by officials as conserva-
tive. 1t makes no allowance for nor
NAL increase in business during the
last three months of the year--re-
turns for which are unavailable
but places the income for October,
Novem Der and December at the same
figures as for July, August and Sep
tember. There is no question, Of
ficials say, but that there will be
an increase; the only doubt is as to
its aize.
Analysis of the returns for the
first nine months shows a startling
increase from January to September,
amounting to more than 81 per cent.
Thus, net income in January, $64,-
915,286, had mounted to $107,910,-
S14 in September, an increase of
nearly 43,UUU,UO
For the first nine months of the
year the commissions figures show
that the railroads collected S2,654,-
S29,647 from all sources of opera
ton, the chief items of which were
as follows:
Freight, $1,S75,O19,990; passenger
traffic, 1922, ,103,907; mails, $45,-
348,609; from express companies,
$65, ,089,474; MISUNDERSTANDING and
buffet car service, operation of ho-
tells and restaurants, sale of vending
privileges on trains and at stations,
parcel rooms at stations, demurrage,
storage of freight and Baggage, tele-
graph and telephone wires leased to
other companies, operation of grain
elevators, etc.-$60,414,597; and all
other transportation charges, &c.,
0S7,611. The last item embraces
sleeping and parlor car service;
freight on milk, which has virtually
an express service; switching charges
and the operation of special trains.
This total, using the first nine
months as basis, will reach S3,600,-
640,50 when the year closes, Off
cials estimate, and without doubt will
exceed it. Never before in the his
tory Of railroad operations have the
roads had so great an income.
Expense has not kept pace with
the rapid rise in receipts, although
they have measurably increased
From total of s1S2 ,Ss1 ,269 in jan
uary expense had increased to $685.
235,394 in September, approximately
Ii per cent. During that period re-
ceipts had increased from $3.50, 0,054,-
SOC to $324,954,901, approximately
25 per cent.
The chief items of expense for the
nine months period for which returns
are available are as follows:
Maintenance of way, $320,l57,-
526; maintenance of equipment,
SAL, ,750, ,069; transportation, $685.
973.536; traffic, s46,679, APP; mis-
cellaneous operations, $l9,9O4,76s;
general expenses, including admins
tration, SCI, ,996.42s. All operating
expenses totalled s1,744, 4,160,O22.
On the same basis, the years ex-
penses will approximate $2,346,99o,
leaving net revenue from operations
$1,254,573,512. From the last fig
ure, however, must be deducted the
railroads annual tax bill, approx
mately S155,625,546, and bad debts
down on the books as uncollectable
revenue-approximating ss65,s2s, a
total of s165.56l.474.
About 230,50O miles of railroad