Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-02
LOSES S15O,0OO,0OO
ON ROADS, RENTALS
Government to Pay Transporta-
ton Lines $e5o,000,o0O;
Collects $80O,oO0,00O.
ALL RECORDS ARE BROKEN
Under Public Control Railway
Revenues and Expenses
Reach New Levels.
ALL RECORDS ARE BROKEN
tBy Associated Press.I

WASHINGTON. January 1.-The gov
ernments loss in operating the rail-
roads in 1915 is calculated by railroad
administration officials at less than
Sl50.eOO.00J. This represents the differ
cnce between the aggregate amount the
government will be compelled to pay
railroad companies as rental for the
use of their properties-the so-callcd
guaranteed return-and the net income
which the government will receive
from the railroads.
II will take six months more of re-
ceipts from the increased freight rates
70 permit the government to rccoup its
losses, officials believe. If Congress
does not approve the proposed five
year extension of Federal control, and
as consequence President Wilson car
ries out his announced intention of re-
turning the roads to private manage
ment at an early date. the governments
loss will not be made up.
This deficit does not include the big
sums-between SIS 100000 and 5000
ooo.ooo-which have been loaned the
railroads to help them pay for the en-
tensive program of improvements and
purchase OF new cars and locomotives.
These loans will be repaid eventually
The governments loss cannot be
stated exactly until the compensation
of each road is finally determined. and
until the Interstate Commerce Com
and expenses for November and De-
cember. Officials believe. however. that
the aggregate government compensa-
ton for all roads will he about $780,
100000. and that the net income from
railroad operations, credited to the
government. will be little more than
sSoo0oo.000. For the ten months UP to
November /, the governments net in
come from the railroads. as reported
hv the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. was s635. 100000
OPERATING REVENUES
REACH s4,SN0. .O0n. .nG0
operatins, revenues for the entire
amounted TO s4:s00.00O. oOo. more than
ever before in railroad history. and
oonera ting expenses probably ran up to
soo of nst Teye,e This left 900
more than s200.Oo0,06n by reductions
FOR ordinary taxes, rentals. for equip
ment not owned by railroad companies.
and other incide ntal- losses! Z '' e.. 4 =
Warataxes. and expenses of mains a In :
ing hnanc and other corporate Of
ices. Including salaries OF officers mt
actually employed in physically opera t.
re atlroad companies out Of the $3.50. 900
o"0 which the government guarantees IS
them.
For the railroads. 1918 was wear
which broke all records OF revenue
ard expenses. Although receipts were
early 20 ncr cent create. exnenses
were even more. Il took so per cen;
operating expenses. although only %
ner cent was taken for this purpos.
In 1917. Operating expenses which.
With estimated figures for the past two
months amounted to s3.SOo. 600. 900.
1917. 'i'
Increased wages are estimated vari-
ousy to have heen responsible for
Eetween s6oo.o00.000 and $500. 900. 600
rf this billions.
TEN MONTHS INCOME AS
MUCH AS ALL OF 10I,
In the ten months ending November
l. for which the Interstate Commerce
Commission has compiled definite re-
ports. receipts from freight. passenger
and other revenue sources, were s4-
C32; 900 900, or little less than the
year OF 1917. In the ten months, So
slS.o0o,oo0 came from freight and
Ss96,oo0,o00 from passenger traffic.
MONTHS 10 s9T hs ten
about s4oo,0o0.o0O more than the So
SS2.000.000 expenses for the entire
year Of 1917. So-called transportation
expenses. including the bulk of the
to .666.O00.0o0: maintenance of cars
and locomotives cost sS97 100000 and
maintenance of tracks. roadway. and
structures cost $521000.o00.
Most Of these figures probably viii
he raised 30 per cent by returns for
The last two months.
The reports do not include small
roads with less than 100000 revenue
year.
Eastern roads in the ten months re-
ported s1.s2S.ooo.Oo0 revenues and ST.
:"l.0OO,0OO expenses: Western roads
si,3t9ooo.ooO revenue and sS90.o00.oo0
expenses; and Southern roads s642.-
toO.OoO revenues and s493.000,000 ex-
penses.