The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-03-27

which began in November, 1920 and
which has progressed steadily up to the
present time, is a surplus of freight cars,
that is to say the number of cars Tor
which there is no present USE On De-
cember 81, 1920, the number of such cars
was 2O4 Cos. The number rose during
January, 1921, and at the close of that
month was 24,1S6; and the last report,
on February IA, 1921, the number was
go $50.
These statistics very clearly show that
while the volume of traffic for the last
10 months of 1920, taken as whole, was
greater than during the same period IN
1919, or indeed at any former similar Pc
roid, yet, beginning as early as Novem-
Der and proceeding rapidly to the pres
ent moment, there has been tremendous
diminution in traffic. These, statistics
accord with our observation with respect
to the decline in business during the lat
ter part of 1920 and the early part OF
1921.
OPERATING COSTS
.sI direct attention now to the opsrat-
ing revenues and operating expenses
from March /, 1920, to December 81. 1870
The operating revenues of all Class 1
roads amounted to $3.50. ga, 454. Operat-
ing expenses. including taxes and the
adjustment of equipment and joint Ia
cility rates, amounted to $3.50 S,sSi
leaving a net operating income Tor these
10 months of s10.3oS,5H, and II we as
sumo that the remaining two months or
the year from March l. 1920, to March /.
1921, show no better results. then. for the
whole period, the net operating income
will amount to no more than one-ff-
tenth of / per cent of the value Of the
railroads as estimated by the interstate
commerce commission.
1T is interesting and instructive to
know that the net operating income for
March, 1920, was N4:20,5n. In April
there was net deficit of $29, All; in
May of $13, 1851; in June of SIG, 284. 800;
in July of $40, APT ,9S9. and in August OF
$155, 227,617. The great deficit Of August
is probably accounted for by the back
compensation ordered paid to the emf
ployes by the railroad labor board in
July.
I'm September, that being the first
month under the increased rates which
were established by the interstate COM
merce commission, there was net op-
Grating income of $75s1o.3l1; in October.
a net operating income of $S6, ASS, 3S in
November, of $54, 343,793; and in Deem
Der, of $40, 225, 5S3 The decreasing net in
come in November and December seems
coincident with the decreasing volume OF
traffic which began in November ana
which is still in progress
COST, MINUS TAXES
1T may be helpful to institute COM
parison here and there. For January,
1915. considering only Glass I roads. rail-
way operating expenses were $16S,664, 49,
In December. 1916 these expenses were
1854 .510,067: in January, 1916, $lS3. 702. sos,
and in December of that year. sos. 6l5,966;
n January 1917, $2l5, 1885. and in De-
As.-hcr Of that year $25l S0c, lag: in jan
ua.y, 1918. $271. 521, 5s2, and in December
of that year. 1896. ,S65; in January, 1919
$3.50, As. Sl5. and in December Of that year.
1855, 756
1.-THE expenses have just given do not
includes taxes or the adjustment OF
equipment and joint facility rents IN
March, 1920, these expenses had risen to
$a2l. ma, 1S4: in July. to ssh. IN. 800; in Au-
gust to $s7S, 72s, 6S2. and in December.
lao. they had fallen to $523. 06, $780,"