The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-15
200 MILLIONS Is
US. RAILL0SS
1918 Income From Glass /
Roads Amounts to Total of
688,2OO,O88.
WAGES UP $583,0OO,OOO
Report of First Year Of Fed
cral Operation Is Made
Public.

wAsH1NGroN, Feb. "details OF the
first year of Government operation of
he nations transportation system were
made public tonight by the Railroad
Administration.
Net Federal income In 1915 of class
/ roads. those having annual operat-
inS incomes In excess of 100000,
amounted to s6ss. ?0o. oS3. leaving a
denoi. OF t2o2.135.so2. from the
standard return guaranteed the roads.
Operating revenues totalled H.sta.s95,-
sa, an increase of 2i.4 per cent. over
1911, and operating expenses $685.
S1b,ie2, an increase Of 4o.3 per cent.
Wage increases in 1918 added s5S3.-
100000 TO the operating expenses, and
all materials cost more than in the
previous year. Locomotive fuel alone
was said to have cost s125. 100000 more
While operating expenses took 70.4 per
cent. OF the 1917 operating revenues, the
percentage last year rose to S1.3. The
administration called attention to the
adverse weather of January and Feb
in the net Federal income OF 500, o00.-
100 as compared with tho same months
ofiel7.
Increase in Freight Trafilc
An increase in freight traffic was
handled last year despite actual decrease
Of 20 per cent. in train miles and OF
80 per cent. in loaded car miles. This
vas accomplished by an increase of -
per cent. in the trainload and rs per
cent in the carload.
Passenger traffic for the year will
show an increase of approximately 3
per cent. the report said, although total
figures have not yet been compiled. The
administration estimated that the total
would be more than 100000 passen-
csr miles, including the movement of
troops
Opposition to extension OF the period
OF Federal control OF railroads was ex-
pressed to-day by C. NJ Freer. president
II the National Industrial Traffic League.
before the Senate Industrial Commerce
Committee. He said the railroad situa-
ton could be adjusted in the twenty
one months after the declaration of
peace. as provided in the railroad con-
;rol get.
Mr.. Freer advocated the repeal of the
antitrust and the anti-pooling leglsla-
ton as II applies to railroads, and said
that the roads should be permitted 10
POOL their traffic and financial interests.
with authority In the Interstate Com
fnerce Commission to dissolve or modify
he pools.
Urges New Corporation.
Nathan L. Amster. president OF the
Investors Protective League. advocated
the formation of a national transporta-
lion corporation TO absorb the stocks Of
roads under Federal control, with a capt.
tai OF $4,000 900, 900.
In response to questions at the close
o: his testimony. Mr.. F'reer said that the
iiEst move Of railroad owning interests
toward cooperation with shippers In the
solution of transportation problems had
come recently through activities of the
National Association OF owners OF Rail-
road Securities. plan submitted to the
committee on behalf OF the security own
.rs embodied many features proposed by
Mr.. Freer.
s. Davies warheld. president of the
rational Association of Owners of Rail-
road Securities, was granted perrni ssion
to-day by Chairman Smith 10 place In
he record answers TO questions which
we're asked him yesterday by members
u: he committee. and which lack of time
prevented answering 1T that time
Mr.. Warfeld asked the committee TO
hermit attorneys OF the association TO
tie brief on the legal phases Of plans
presented