The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-12-29
SHIPPERS. SAVE
MILLIONS IN
1924
American Railroad Operating
Efficiency Provided Eco
nomicaIi Transportation

Class railroads Of the United
States will meet the New Year with
the conviction that In 1924 they
gave the shippers Of the country
the most efficient and most
economical transportation service
In the world.
Operating efficiency in 1924 saved
the shippers approximately $780,,
000, 900 in reduced freight rates
alone, as compared with the rates
in effect in 1921, the American
Railway Association declared to-
day in a review Of railroad service
in 1924. Hundreds Of millions Of
dollars will be added to that saw.
ing, It is declared, when complete
reports for the year will make pos
sible estimates of total savings
accruing from efficient manage.
ment of the rail properties.
THE American railroads are the
most economically operated Of any
in the world today and, SO TAR as
consistent progress and advance.
ment toward greater efficiency ane
economy in operation is concerned
stand on a pair, IL not exceed, any
other industry" the association as
serted.
Furthermore. the railroads are
doing everything possible to cor
tinue this policy"
Complications made by railroa'
statisticians show that the nuTabe
of tons Of freight originating OF
Class railroads rs years az
was half a billion while the invesl
ment OF those roads was $4,000,
100000. This meant an investment
per ton OF freight originated OF $40
Since that time the railroads have
invested another $12,000.000,000
Much of this increase in investment
was made in period of risinE
prices, yet, it is pointed out, III
1924 the investment account Of the
railroads was only $17.70 per tot.
off reight originated.
at is safe to say that no Other
industry of this country has mad
any such showing" the American
Railway Association said.
In 1893 the railroads carried 1,24l
tons of revenue freight one mile,
for every 500 investment, in 1924
they carried 1,767 tons for every
500 investment.
"Part OF this saving from economy
in operation in 1924 was due to
lesser costs for materials and lower
rates for labor the association
said. 1.-The great bulk OF It. how
ever, was due to improved methods
of operation rendered possible by
large capital expenditures for
equipment and other improvements
plus the intelligent cooperation and
working together Of the Federal and
State regulatory bodies, shippers,
in tackling the problem, not as
legislative one, but as a purely
economic proposition, as It is,
initiative, enthusiasm and co.opera.
ton"
In 1924 the railroads authorized
capital expenditures amounting to
81. 100, 000, 900. More than $500 ,000,.
ly $500 100000 to be carried over
into 1925.
Revenue freight loading for 1924
is estimated at 4S,500,000 cars, ap.
proximately 1900, 900 cars short Of
the record established in 1923.
There were eleven weeks in which
car loadings exceeded 100000 cars.
Grain loading records were broken
by western railroads.
Prompt movement Of commodities
to market saved millions Of dollars
to the shipping public, the railway
association declared Credit is given
the regional advisory boards made
up Of shipper and carrier repre-
sentatives for bringing about a
great degree of cooperation between
the buyers and sellers Of trans
portation service.
Net railway operating income of
class I roads for 1924 will total from
1910, 900 900 to $3.50 900 900, 1t il es-
timated This will represent a re-
turn OF a trifle less than Az per
cent on the property investment Of
the railroads.