New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-14
Burlington Policy
Begins to Show ON
Colo. & Southern
Change From Competitive to
Feeder Basis Is Gradually
Being Effected; Earnings
i'm 1920 Indicate Gains

AiLHOugn Inc InlCdBO, DuTiiuSt on q
Quincy has controlled the Colorado &
Southern for more than ten years, the
Bur]ington's distinctly policies and
operating methods are only just begin
ming to bear fruit on the Colorado e.
Southern, and in the annual report for
1920, which has just been made public,
the earnings, figures and operating sta
tistics show more clearly than ever be-
fore the stamp of Burlington methods.
Like the parent company, the Colorado
& Southern showed up comparatively
well in 1920 and the ratio Of total
operating expenses to revenue was
1880, as compared with operating ratios
for the same year on a great many
other roads that were in the Dos. Had
the road been operated without rental
Or guarantees ret railway operating in
come would have been S2,771 900, an in
crease of s1,182. 900.
The following table shows the figures
for the actual operation of the prop
erty, regardless Of whether the gov
eminent or the compay operated it:
1920 1921
Average mileage OPP
Freight revenue 1870. s1l 9s6.5o2 s9.7of,s57
Passenger revenue 3,028,os5 $50 925
Total operating reve-
Maintenance of way
and structures .... 2,s2s.425 2os2. 5s7
Maintenance Of equip
Tarffic expenses. $3.50. I46.I20 104. o19
transportation ex
General expenses 6os555 4e2 1856
Total operating
penses .....'...... i2,77s.s45 1o71I.5i7
Taxes ..-......... S86.205 5s7.62s
Operating income. $50. 2.607. 4o2 | SOC, COS
In ore particular especially is Bur
lington methods noticeable this year
IN the Colorado & Southern annual re-
port. There are five and one-half pages
devoted to a description of extensions
and of methods adopted to develop the
territory through which the Colorado
& Southern runs. In this respect
President Hale Holden in his report
says that the dry lands sections ada
cent to the Colorado e. Southern are
only IS per cent cultivated and can
support successfully 800 per cent more.
He also draws attention to the fact
that IN 1910 there were only 1858 car
loads of livestock landed into the Den
yer stockyards, whereas in 1920 10.046
cars were handled.
In regard TO dairying. Mr. Holden
says: I'm dairy the production has in
creased rapidly in Colorado and South
ern territory. Union County, N. M,
leads that state in varied production,
having over 10 900 cars in the county
classed as milk stock in 1920, as COM
pared with 5000 in 1917. OF the sixty
three counties in the State of Colo
RADIO fourteen counties, or % per cent.
which are served by the Colorado &
Southern, have approximately 10000, or
"a per cent of the total number Of
milk cows in the state"
When the Burlington bought the
Colorado & Southern it was probably
a move on the part of the late James
j. Hill to forestall q competition for
traffic which could be handled over the
Hill lines to and from the West. but
on which the Colorado & Southern
could compete in connection with the
ship lines through the Panama Canal.
Since the Colorado e. Southern had
been developed especially as an outlet
for Colorado to the Gulf it is probable
that one thing that affected c. & s.
earnings adversely for some years was
the change in policy in regard to
through traffic. but now the results of
intensive development Of the territory
served and the making of the line into
feeder for the Burlington instead Of
a competitor is becoming apparent.
The corporation receives rental for
the first two months of 1920 guaran-
teed net for the next six months and
operated on its own responsibilities for
the last four months Gross income
was s509S,544 and after the payment
of interest charges, etc. there was net