The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1916-12-28
MORE THAN BILLION
EARNED BY ROADS
Greatest Prosperity Ever Known
for U. S. Carriers.
REPORT BY COMMERCE BODY
Statistics Gathered by Commission
indicate the Total Net Income
r. for the Year viii Be
$1,oes, 900, 600.


Washington. Dec. 26.-NIore thar
81 900, 100000 net income from opera
lions was made by the railroads OF
the country during the year now clos
ing. The huge total is the peak OF
prosperity in railroad operations, anG
stands more than one-third higher than
the total of 1913 hitherto the banner
year. . ....... ~.
Statistics gathered by the interstate
commerce commission, complete fol
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,000,00O. For the first nine months
Of the year complete returns show
STS5. 55S, 266. Even this does not rep.
resent the full amount, as roads whose
income is less than 100000 are not
included. a-'. .
Estimate Is Conservative.
The estimate--$1, 09S, 600, 000--is re.
garded by officials rs 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 De-
cember at the same figures as for July,
August and September. There is no
question, officials say, but that there
will be an increase; the only doubt is
as to the size. .....
Analysis of the returns for the first
nine months shows a startling increase
from January to September, amount
ing to more than CT per cent. Thus,
net income, in January SG4.915, $50.
had amounted to $107,91O,S14 in Sep
TENDER, an increase of nearly $4,000
600. .,. .-. .. A..
Where Money Came From.
For the first nine months of the
year. the commissions figures show
that the railroads collected $2,654,S29.-
CAT from all sources of operation, the
chief items of which were as follows
Freight, s1,s75,O19,9 800; passenger traf-
fic, $500, 103,907; mails, $40, COG ;
from express companies, $65,0S9.474.
q To Exceed $500, $40, 500. I'D.
This total, using the first nine
months as a basis, will reach $780,
640,502 when the year closes. officials
estimate, and without doubt will ex-
coed it. 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
they have measurably increased. From
a total of $1S2, SS1, 2G9 in January ex.
penses had increased to $203, 235. 1914
in September, approximately il per
cent. During that period receirrS had
increased from $26O,O54,306 to 1924.
954,3O1, approximately Is per cent.
All operating expenses tOtaled ST..
IA, 160.022
Expenses $2,34s, 0e6, $50.
On the same basis, the years ex.
penses will approximate S2,34G06G, 800
leaving net revenue from operations
81, 254, 573,512. From the last figure
however, must be deducted the rail.
roads annual tax bill, Approximately
$155G25,54G and bad debts-down or
the books as uncolIectable revenue
approximating $965,92S, a total OF
Sis 591, 474.
About 2305O0 miles of railroad were
In operation during the year.
Compared with previous earnings
net income for 1916 shows an increase
of more than 50 per cent over the
fiscal year of 1915; SO per cent over
1914, and "a per cent over 1913.
Wide divergence in receipts among
the roads of various sections is dis
closed. The overwhelmed railroad!
of the East have skinned the cream
of the traffic. The congestion at east
ern seaports and on almost every east
ern road has spelled, in glutted siding!
and slow-moving traffic, flood Of
revenue the like of which was un
dreamed of even a year ago. For every
mile of the 5000 in the eastern grouI
more than $4,000 has been received
in revenue, and every mile has earned
a net income of nearly $500.
Why East Gets Profits. .,
While the usual eastward trend o.
traffic, the great demands of nations
at war. and the location of most o
the country's factories, munition an,
otherwise, in the East are given a
prime causes for this condition, sec
andary reasons are said to be tina
eastern roads for the most part hay,
short hauls and traverse densely pop
ulated areas. Especially is this no
ticeable in the revenue from passen
ger traffic, eastern roads, with $500
miles, having received almost a
much in passenger fares as all tn
rest of the roads in the country pu
together, with total of 170,8O0 miles