The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-09-28
Santa Fe Net Revenues Show
$S,457,39S Increase.
No Debts Outstanding, Report
for Year States.
ADVANCE DUE TO WAR ABROAD
Three Great Disasters Marked
Year for Railroad.
VIII Fight Kansas Rate, Says
President Ripley.

New York, Sept. 2s.-The Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Co., for
the year ending June 80, last, reports
operating revenues or gross earnings
of $133,762,392 an increase of slightly
more than SIG, 000,0 900 over the preced-
ing year, operating expenses of $685.
10000, an increase of about $780,
600, and net operating revenues of
$50,031,432, an increase of $S,457,39S.
Neither the company nor any of its
subsidiaries has any notes or bills out
standing and the company had in its
treasury, at the end of the fiscal year
cash to the amount of $44, 364.922.
Net incomes of $45,109,46S, avail
able for interest, dividends. etc., plus
sundry profit and loss adjustments ag-
gregating S2o2.6SS, represent about
6.19 per cent on the property invest
ment.
The operation of the road was
marked during the year by three dis
asters-the tropical storm which
Hooded Galveston, an explosion at
Ardmore, Okla, both causing serious
loss of life and property, and an ex-
traordinary rainfall in California and
Arizona, these resulting in a loss of
$4,000 to s2,500,00O which was
charged to operating expenses.
Due to European War.
In his general remarks. President
Edward P. Ripley said, in part:
"Close analysis of operations for
the year clearly indicates the en-
HANGED earnings to be almost wholly
due to the war in Europe. Even
things apparently remote can be
traced to this source. On the Pacific
coast there is no shipping for Atlantic
ports, resulting, of course, in greatly
increased tonnage by rail. In Arizona
and ew Mexico the copper and zinc
industries have had abnormal stimula-
tion-the demand for foodstuffs has
produced large prices for heavy
grain crop, thus creating large pur-
chasing power-the oil industry COT
great and increasing importance) has
felt the interruption of supplies from
old world sources, and the enormous
increase in the use of gasoline-in
fact, business of all kinds has been
there have practically been no dull
periods during the entire year. So
abnormal has the business been that
it will doubtless be several years be-
fore we again reach the volume of
the past year.
In the course of his report Presi-
dent Ripley remarks: 90 Isl
Use Increase for Improvement.
THE striking fact emphasized by
the foregoing statement is that the
earnings on the entire Investment.
during this. the most prosperous year
OF the company's history, are but little
over per cent and, even in recent
years average but little more than 5
per cent per annum; and 1t must be
borne in mind. that of these earnings
1t is necessary to appropriate a sub
stantial amount each year for i'm
prcvemeDts and betlerments.
Mr.. Ripley characterized the Okla
homa 2-cent passenger rate law as
"fn1quitous" and declared that a con-
siderable amount had beens spent in
contesttng the provision in the federal
courts.
The evidence is now all in" he
continued, and while 10 decision has
as yet been rendered. we feel 1t will
be in favor of the company A similar
rate is in force in Kansas and in all
probability similar litigation will be
necessary in that state"