New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
RAILROADS EARN
 BILLION IN YEAR
Based on Nine Months, Net Will
 Total $1,09S,000,000

Washington, Dec. 2b.-More than one billion dollars net income from operations was made by the railroads of the country in the year now clos ing. The huge total is the peak ot prosperity in railroad operations. 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 $1,- O9S, 1000. For the first nine months of the year complete returns show $7S5,55s,266. Even this does not represent the full amount, as roads whose income is less than $1,000,000 are not included.
 The estimate of $1,09S, 100000 is regarded by officials as conservative. It makes no allowance for normal in crease in business during the last three months of the year-returns for which are unavailable-but places the income for October, November and December at the same figures as for July, August and September. There is no question, officials say, that there will be an increase, the only doubt is as to it's size.
 An analysis of the returns for the first nine months shows startling increase from January to September, amounting to more than 67 per cent. Thus net income in January, s64,915,- 2S6 had mounted to 7,91O,814 in September, an increase of nearly $43,- 00O,0
 For the first nine months of the year the commissions figures show that the railroads collected $2,654,- S29,647 from all sources of opera ton, the chief of which were as fol- lows: Freight, s1,s75, ,019,99O; pas senger traffic, s522, 2,103,907; mails, s45,34S, 500; from express companies, $65,o89, ,474; identals-dining and buffet car service, restaurants. and the like-s6o, 414,597; and all other transportation charges, s76,0S7,611. The last item embraces sleeping and parlor car service, freight on milk which has virtually an express serv- ice, switching charges, and the opera ton of special trains.
 This total, using the first nine months as a basis, will reach $3,60O,- 64O, 1902 when the year closes, officials estimate, and without doubt will ex- ceed 1t. Never before in the history of railroad operations have the roads had so great a gross income.
 Expenses have not kept pace with the rapid rise in receipts, although 1 they have measurably increased. | From total of $182,SS1,269 in 1 January, expenses had increased to l s203, ,235,394 in September, approxi- 1 mately Il per cent. During that pe- l riod receipts had increased from $26O,054, ,306 to $324,954, ,301, approxi- mately 25 per cent.
 On the same basis the years ex- penses, it is estimated, will approxi- mate $2,346, ,066,990, leaving net revenue from operations $1,254,573,- 512. From the last figure, however, must be deducted the railroads an- nual tax bill, approximately s155,- 625,546 and bad debts-down on the books as uncollectable revenue-ap- proximating $965,92S, total of $156, 591, ,474.
 About 23O,5O0 miles of railroad were in operation during the year. In the first months the total fell be- low 230,000. During the later part of the year it exceeded 23O,0OO. Us- ing 23O,00O as an average, returns show that for every mile of road oper- ated in the country the railroads will receive this year approximately $15,- 655 in gross receipts and a net in- come of $4,774, or a little more than 30 per cent. of the gross.
 Compared with previous earnings, net income for 1916 shows an in- crease of more than 52 per cent. over the fiscal year 1915, 59 per cent over 1914 and 34 per cent. over 1913.