The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-12-26
OVER A BILLION
|SR, R. EARNINGS
1916 PROSPERITY
REACHES HIGH NOTCH
Actual Net Income Estimated
at 81 ,098,00O, 900. 90,
Which is Conservative.

| WASHINGTON. D. c.. Dec. 25.-
! More than one billion dollars net in
come from operations was made by the
railroads Of the country during the
year now closing. The huge total IS
the peak of prosperity in railroad op-
erations, and stands more than one
third higher than the total OF 1913,
hitherto the banner year.
Statistics gathered by the Interstate
Commerce Commission, complete for
nine months and made the basis for
calculation for the entire year, indi-
cate that the total net income from
operations will be approximately ST.
O9S, 900 900. For the first nine months
Of the year complete returns show
sTS5,55S,266 Even this does not rep
resent the full count as roads whose
income is less than $1,000,00O are not
Included.
The estimate-$1, ,OsS, 900, O,O00-is re-
garded by officials as conservative. 1t
makes no allowance for normal in
crease in business during the last
three months Of the year-returns tos
which are unavailable-but places the
income for October. November and
December at the same figures as for
July, Angus: and September. There IS
no question, officials say, but that
there will be an increase: the only
doubt is as to its size.
Shows Big Increase.
Analysis of the returns for the hrst
nine months shows startling increase
from January to September, amounting
to more than 81 per cent. Thus. net
income in January, $64,915,2S6, had
mounted to $107.91O,S14 in September,
an increase of nearly S43,000,O00.
For the first nine months OF the
year. the commissions figures show
that the railroads collected $2,654,S29,-
647 from all sources OF opeSation, the
chief items of which were as followsi :
Freight S1.SI5,019,g90; passenger traf-
fic S522,103,907; mails $45,34S.6O9;
from express companies S65,OS9.474;
notwithstanding and buffet car ser
iyce, operation of hotels and restau-
rants. sale Of vending privileges on
trains and at stations, parcel room at
stations, demurrage, storage OF fre1ght
and baggage, telegraph and telephone
wires, leased to other companies, ope1-
alton of grain elevators, ETC., S6O.414r
59T: and all other transportation
charges $76.087,61l. The last item en-
braces sleeping and parlor car SER
vice; freight on milk. which has Vlrtn-
ally an express service; switching
charges and the operation of special
trains.
Will Reach Millions
This total, using the first nine
months as basis, will reach $500
640 502 when the year closes, officials
estimate, and without doubt will eA
ceed it. Never before in their history
of railroad operations have the roads
had so great q gross income. =.
Expenses have not kept pace with
the rapid rise in receipts. although
they have measurably increased. From
a. total Of $1S2,8S1, ,269 in January ex-
penses had increased to S203, ,394
in September, approximately eleven
percent. During that period receipts
had increased from s260,054.306 to
s324,954.3O1. approximately 25 per
cent. The chief items Of expense for
the nine months period for which re-
turns are available, are as follows:
Maintenance Of way S32O,O57 ,326,
maintenance of equipment $441,75O,-
O69: transportation sS5S,973,536; traf-
fic s46,679.422: miscellaneous opera
tions s19,904,169: general expenses,
including administration $61,996,42
All operating expenses totaled S1,744,-
160.022.
The Net Revenue.
On the same basis. the years eX-
penses will approximate S2.346, ,O66,990,