The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-16
Annual B. 6 o. Report Shows
Decrease in Traffic Handled.
Business Depression One Cause
of Marked Decline.
ROAD ENDS 95TH YEAR OF LIFE
Operated Mileage of B. & O.
Railroad Is 5,1S7 Miles.
There Are 5,405 Miles on Sys-
tem-Owns 1877 Tugboats.

Tho annual report for-the calendar
year 1921, which the president and
directors of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company submit today to
the Stockholders Of the Company.
marks the ninety-fifth year of the
abroad Company's existence.
During the entire year of 1921 the
transportation property of the COM
pany was operated solely by the
company on it's own behalf and upon
it's own responsibility, the first whole
year SO operated since 1917.
1t is explained that the business
depression, which began in the fall
Of 1920. and continued throughout
the year, resulted in a very marked
decline in the traffic handled. While
the loss of revenue due to the decline
in the volume of traffic was partly
offset by the increase in rates and
charges made effective August 26th,
than anticipated because of the
numerous rate reductions made
throughout the year 1921 on certain
commodities, particularly those re-
lating to agriculture, building oper-
atoms. road construction, etc, such
as grain and grain products, lumber.
IRON ore, sand, gravel. coal, etc, which
commodities constitute a large por-
ton of the company'S traffic. In
these circumstances it became neceS-
sary to curtail the expenses to the
lowest point consistent with safe and
in revenues was in part offset by
reduction in wages authorized by the
United States Railroad Labor Board
and made effective July list, 1921,
and also by some decrease in the
price of material and fuel.
The operated milage of the Bati
more and Ohio Railroad IS 5,1s7 miles
and including 21S miles of it's sub
sidiary companies. the total first
main track mileage of the system is
5,4o5 miles.
The company's equipment, valued
at $157, 7S3,12S, consists of 2,es3
locomotives. 94,932 freight train cars.
1900 passenger train cars 2,633
work train cars and other work
equipment, 1877 tug boats. car floats
and other floating equipment, and
miscellaneous equipment or various
kinds.
Freight Revenues Down IL Per Cent
Freight revenues for 1921, in COM
parison with 1920, decreased
S26,2S9,416, or 14s9 per cent, reflekt-
ing in part the decline in industrial
activity which began in the fall of
1920 and continued throughout the,
year 1921. The extent OF the decline'
in freight traffic may also be meas
ured by the revenue tons carried,
which for the year 1921 amounted to
71,536,702 tons. compared with
101,924,520 tons in 1920, a decrease
of 1881 per cent. AS a further in
dication of the extent of the decline in
business it may be mentioned that the
revenue tons carried one mile, de-,
creased from 20.932, 667,112 tons in
1920 to 14,19s.727,702 tons in
1921. or 32.17 per cent, due to a
shorter average haul as well as a
lesser volume of tonnage.
In comparison with the year 1920
the decline in tonnage by commod-
tiles indicates A.decrease of~12.4O per
cent in products of agriculture, 30.44
per cent in products of mines, 31.05
per cent in products of forest. and
34.5S per cent in manufactures and
Passenger earnings for 1921 de-
creased $I,S52,s36, or 5.94 per cent
below 1920. There were 4,325,427 or
1905 per cent fewer passengers
carried, and 167,T95,T12, or 1888 per
cent fewer passengers carried one
mile per mile of road in 1921, when
with 1920.
Mail revenue for, the year shows a
decrease under 1920 of $1,57e,954,
which is due wholly to the inclusion
In the figures for 1920 of S2,104,6S0.
above the earnings of that year rep
additional allowances by the
Government for services rendered in
the years 1915 to 1919. SO that if this
additional allowance is eliminated in