OPERATING EXPENSES, INTEREST AND RENTAL COMPARED WITH EARNINGS.

By reference to table 8 it will be seen that several of the roads have not made their returns; of those that have, the earnings for their entire lines are, $117,049,062.68, operating expenses $76,356,241.19, interest paid $23,552,191.35, unpaid $282,190.70, taxes paid $2,728,595.80, total operating expenses, interest, rental and taxes $102,101,860.60, excess $14,948,802.08, excess of operating expenses over earnings $1,717,281.61, excess of earnings over operating expenses, interest, rental and taxes for Iowa $1,849,558.12, excess of operating expenses $575,642.79. This statement, with the returns in full, would vary somewhat from the above; the approximation is as close as can be made with the figures in the hands of the Commissioners.

Proportion of expenses for Iowa as returned is $25,286,309.30. The Chicago, Burlington & Kansas City, the St. Louis, Keokuk & Northwestern, the Chicago, Iowa & Dakota, the Ottumwa & Knoxville and the Ft. Madison & Northwestern make no returns. For Iowa, last year they returned $321,656.87, which, added to $25.286,309.30, equals $25,607,966.17, or $3,029.75 per mile.

OPERATING EXPENSES AND EARNINGS FOR IOWA.

Gross earnings for Iowa for year ending June 30, 1888.$ 37,295,586.82
Operating expenses.

26,297,163.92

Net earnings.

.$ 10,998,422.90

Per mile as reported....

Earnings for the year ending June 30, 1889, as reported

and estimated by the board..

Operating expenses

Net earnings..

Per mile......

1,378.00

.$ 37,469,276.26
25,607,966.17

.$ 11,861,310.09

1,421.19

The reduction of expenses of $689,197.75, which is partly due to a decrease of passenger train service, while it resulted in some instances in public inconvenience, seems on the whole to have been

an advantage to the railroads from a financial standpoint. The branch trains have been lately restored.

While public needs and the low prices of farm products demand the lowest practicable rate, it seems wisdom that railroad management should sympathize with the condition of the country and reduce operating expenses to the lowest rates consistent with reasonable service and the maintenance of way in safe condition. Frequent passenger trains are a convenience to cities and towns, and especially to the commercial traveler. A reduction in freight rates largely and favorably affects the producer.

It is utterly impossible, with the returns furnished, to give reliable information on many matters which are of interest to the people of the State. The Chicago, Burlington & Kansas City, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, the St. Louis, Keokuk & Northwestern, the Chicago, Iowa & Dakota, at date of writing, November 22d, have not as yet made their returns. Excluding these roads and some others of minor importance, it appears that on the whole lines represented, the

294,551,993

311,635,237

Grand total train mileage.............

Mileage of loaded freight cars, north and east
Mileage of loaded freight cars, west and south..
Mileage of empty freight cars, north and east...
Mileage of empty freight cars, south and west

119,198,132 106,933,003

THE AVERAGE RECEIPTS AND COST OF CARRYING PASSENGERS PER MILE.

The Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway Company reports that it receives 3.17 cents per mile for each passenger carried, and estimated cost of service at 2.65 cents; the Central Iowa, 2.52 and 2.47; the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, 2.41 and 2; the Chicago & Northwestern, 2.29 and 1.83; the Chicago, Rock

Island & Pacific, 2.28 and 2.15; the Chicago, St. Paul & Kansas City, 2.23 and 2.16; the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha -2.52 and 2.35; the Dubuque & Sioux City, 2.55 and 2.76; the Humeston & Shenandoah, 2.81 and 4.14; the Keokuk & Western, 2:34 and 3.72; the Mason City and Ft. Dodge, 2.39 and 3.27; the Minneapolis & St. Louis, 2.49 and 1.96; the Sioux City & Pacific, 2.61 and 1.84; the Des Moines & Northwestern, 2.65 and 5.19.

These figures merit more attention than the Commissioners have been able to give them, and should any action be taken upon the question of passenger rates, it would be well for the accounting officers of these companies to furnish the data from which they make their estimates.

FREIGHT CAR MILEAGE.

Seventy-one per cent of cars going north and east were loaded, 29 per cent empty; 74 per cent of the cars going south and west were loaded; 26 per cent empty. It is difficult to account for the fact that the tonnage going west is in excess of that going east. The mileage of empty cars is a little over 25 per cent, which is probably as close as is practical to operate extended lines of road.

EMPLOYES IN IOWA AND THEIR COMPENSATION.

The total number of persons employed on the roads in Iowa, estimating last year for the roads not reporting, was 24,642; the amount paid, $14,212,590.27. Last year the number was 30,236; the amount, $15,619,417.16. The causes that led to this reduction were diminished tonnage on inter-state business, and the reduction of expenses resulting from the reduction of the number of trains, and the economies introduced to meet these conditions. While the tonnage on inter-state traffic shows a decrease of nearly six million tons, the tonnage on Iowa business has increased about three hundred and fifty thousand tons on local traffic.

TAXES.

The total amount of taxes paid by the railroads in Iowa during the year (taking last year's figures for those companies that failed to report), is $1,108,831.72. The amount reported for the previous year was $1,060,572.53.

MILEAGE.

In addition to that mileage heretofore given, the Sioux City &• Northern Railway Company has constructed a road to the north line of the State, sixty miles or more. This, however, was not in operation June 30, the end of the fiscal year, under the provisions of the law. The fact is stated here as evidence that there are parties who are still willing to invest in building roads in the State.

EQUIPMENT.

The total number of locomotives reported on all lines is 3,716; passenger cars, 2,578; box cars, 48,803; flat cars, 10,722, stock cars, 8,013; coal cars, 7,421; refrigerator, 721; other cars, 4,552; or a total of 105,999; leased cars, 14,758; or a grand total of 120,757.

CONSUMPTION OF FUEL BY LOCOMOTIVES.

The number of tons of coal consumed during the year was 3,229,940.88; cords of hard wood, 69,862; soft, 33,718; total fuel consumed, reduced to tons, 3,274,680. The number of miles run was 92,827,611; the average pounds consumed are 70.5 per mile.

SUPERSTRUCTURE.

The number of tons new rail reported laid during the year was 62,379.65, varying in weight from 52 to 70 pounds, the prices ranging from $30 to $37.50 per ton. The number of new ties laid was 5,551,721; the cost at distributing points, from 34 to 55 cents.