The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-08
Operate WelIs-FargO Business
on 10000 Miles of Road.
MAY MEAN MUCH TO Topeka
Offices of New Enterprise Would
Be Located Here.
First Estimates of Increase in
Gross Revenues.

The Santa Fe is laying plans to go
into the express business. Reports,
from reliable sources, are that the
railroad will take over all business
done on it's system and auxiliary lines
by Wells Fargo. Based on the earn
ings of Wells Fargo on Santa Fe lines
in the fiscal year of 1915, such a step
would add, approximately, $685.
229.29 to the net earnings of the rail-
road.
Coming on the heels of intelligence
that the Santa Fe will include in its
next budget extensive building and
construction appropriations, including
an appropriation for two additional
stories to the general offices in To-
peka, the report is given add1tlonai
credence. A part of the offices neces-
sary to take care of the express busi-
ness would be in Topeka, with add1-
tionaI offices in Chicago, Galveston
and La Junta-
A New Step.
Official announcement of the an
nexation of the Wells Fargo business
if reports are true, will come in the
next few weeks, providing the nego-
tiating are not sidetracked. Such a
step on the part of the Santa Fe would
be the first of its kind ever made by
an American railroad. Since the be-
ginnin of the railroad industry express
companies have been given railroad
privileges by the carriers for between
so and So per cent of gross earnings
of express companies.
Dividends in Kansas.
The Wells Fargo Express company
figures obtained from the records OF
NJ. A. Chambers, accountant for the
Kansas utilities commission, show the
Wells Fargo as the only express car
or in L n 1ixrf-
dends in 1915. More than that, the
Wells Fargo's net income stood higher
than that of the majority of the
twelve other express carriers, as the
net income of all express companies
showed a deficit.
Gross receipts of all express com
panies operating in the United State.
in 1915 totaled 4,S26,743. The ex
press carriers paid out of that $7S,.
5O7,565 for railway privileges.
Fargo's Earnings
The gross earnings of Wells Fargo
were $3S, sos, ,664.15. Railway privi.
leges amounted to s19,724,414. Ne
earnings were S1S,S31,249.71 Revenue
from sources other than transportation
came to $734.633.25. Total earning.
were s19.565. .SS2.96. The net income
was $2,33S,677.47.
The express company paid dividend.
| amounting to $1.43S,044, leaving &
surplus of $900,633.47 Gross earn
ings on the Santa Fe, all lines, amount
ed to $6.7S5, 5,S71.20. Fifty-five pc,
cent, $3,702, 2,229.29, was paid the Sants
Fe for railway privileges Well.
Fargos total revenue in Kansas alone
in 1915 amounted to $1,115, 5,4179I.
When the parcel post was inaugur.
ated by the government, express earn
ings began tobogganning. However
since that time they have been recov-
ering gradually. Septembe 1. 1915
express companies were granted a rate
nike, on class commodities, amounting
to a gross increase of 1856 per cent
Had that increase been added to 1915
business it would have meant a gross
earning increase of S5,000,00O for al
twelve express companies operating or
American railroads.
A material increase, due to the rate
increase and an increased volume o.
business, is expected to be reported by
the companies for this fiscal year The
report will be compiled soon