Evening star., 1924-12-16
GAIN OF S,0O,0O
IN RAIL DIVIDENDS
Payments Inaugurated or
Raised by Many Lines
During Present Year.
By the Associated Press.

NEW YORK. December 16.-Divi-
dend disbursements by the railroads
OF the country during 1924, il is
estimated. have been increased by
approximately. s6,o00,00 to a total
of s30s, zoo. 900. Constructive develop
ments along this line were taken by
a half dozen or more carriers this
year. although their full effects will
not be felt until 1895.
f.. Inauguration Of dividends on the
preferred stock Of the Missouri, KAN
sas and Texas Railroad Company at
the annual rate Of per cent yes
terday added that road to the grow
ing list of companies which have
authorized extra. initial or increased
payments. Before the end of next
year the directors probably will
carry out their intention of raising
the rate to the full per cent which
the stock is entitled to draw.
Southern Common Included.
One of the most important de-
velopments of the past year was the
action OF the Southern Railway Com
pany in placing it's common stock
on a 5 per cent annual dividend
basis last March, when the initial
quarterly payment of s1.25 a share
was voted. Widespread interest was
attracted by the inauguration of
dividends for which the common
stockholders had waited so years.
Stockholders Of the Atlantic Coast
Line were benefited by the declara-
tion OF an extra dividend of 1 per
cent in addition to regular payments
totaling Z per cent. The annual
dividend rate on the capital stock OF
its closely aff1liated road. the Louis
vile and Nashville. was increased
from 5 to s per cent.
l.. & N. Dividend Increased.
One raiIroad-the st. Louis-S San
Francisco-reorgani only a, few
yeaps ago, inaugurated dividends on
both it's preferred and common stocks
during the year. After placing the
preferred shares on a 6 per cent basis
In October, the directors q month
later declared an initial payment at
the annual rate of per cent on the
common and also indicated their
confidence in the future by voting the
full years preferred dividends for
1925
Some OF the smaller roads which, took
favorable dividend action were the Ala
bama and Vicksburg, which cut a 100
per cent stock melon" and the Chicago
Indianapolis and Louisville which in
creased it's semi-annual disbursement
from TO 212 per cent. +s
In railroad circles it is agreed that
next year will see a. more general dis
position on the part of the carriers to
share their prosperity with stockholders.
Merger Means Larger Returns.
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, which
has maintained a conservative dividend
policy for many years. is reported ready
to increase its regular common dividend
or to make an attractive offering of
stock to present Shareholders Southern.
Pacific is prominently mentioned as an
other road likely to take favorable divi-
dend action, along with Kansas City
Southern, Missouri Pacific and Wabash
In the Western group.
Completion of the Van Swerineens'
projected Nickel Plate merger will re-
suit in larger returns for many stock
holders. especially those of the Erie,
who have never received dividends. Con-
tinuation of the record-breaking traffic
and favorable earnings Of the last few
months, 1t is believed, would result in
placing many other roads on more
substantial dividend footing.